The long noncoding RNA NORAD promotes the growth of gastric cancer cells by sponging miR-608.

Dysfunction of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been suggested to play pivotal roles in the initiation and progression of human cancers. The noncoding RNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD) is a recently identified, highly conserved lncRNA that is essential for the mitotic cell division. Recent studies demonstrated the potential oncogenic function of NORAD in bladder cancer and colon cancer, however, the role and clinical value of NORAD have not been illustrated in gastric cancer.