Long noncoding RNA AK023096 interacts with hnRNP-K and contributes to the maintenance of self-renewal in bladder cancer stem-like cells.

LncRNA contribution to self-renewal of bladder cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs) remains largely unknown. We investigated the expression profile and biological function of lncRNAs in urothelial CSLCs by microarray analysis. Among these, lncRNA-AK023096 was identified as potentially playing a role in maintaining self-renewal of CSLCs.