{"type": "root", "children": [{"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n BOK‐AS1 (also referred to as BOKAS) is a long non‐coding RNA that is transcribed from the Bok locus in an antisense orientation and plays a regulatory role in cell survival and response to stress. In one study addressing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, radiotherapy was found to up‐regulate BOKAS, which in turn promoted the expression of the oncofetal gene WISP1. This upregulation contributed to radioresistance by mitigating irradiation‐induced DNA damage and activating the PI3K pathway, thereby creating a positive feedback loop that further enhanced WISP1 expression."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "1"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " In a separate investigation, BOKAS was characterized as a natural antisense transcript of the proapoptotic Bok gene. Although BOKAS overexpression on its own did not markedly affect apoptosis, it was capable of inhibiting Bok‐induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. This observation suggests that BOK‐AS1/BOKAS serves as a negative regulator of Bok‐mediated apoptotic signaling, with expression detected in testis and certain cancer tissues."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "2"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n In summary, BOK‐AS1/BOKAS appears to function in a context‐dependent manner by modulating apoptosis and influencing cellular responses to radiotherapy. Its role in promoting WISP1 expression and radioresistance in esophageal cancer cells, coupled with its ability to attenuate Bok‐induced apoptosis, underscores its potential relevance in tumorigenesis and as a candidate target for improving therapeutic strategies.\n "}]}, {"type": "rg", "children": [{"type": "r", "ref": 1, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Hongfang Zhang, Honglei Luo, Zhaoyang Hu, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Targeting WISP1 to sensitize esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to irradiation."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Oncotarget (2015)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.18632/oncotarget.3358"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.3358"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "25749038"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25749038"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 2, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Hong Zhang, Shuping Gao, Christian De Geyter "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "A natural antisense transcript, BOKAS, regulates the pro-apoptotic activity of human Bok."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Int J Oncol (2009)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.3892/ijo_00000241"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000241"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "19287972"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19287972"}]}]}]}