LncRNA TSPEAR-AS1 predicts poor prognosis in patients with hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma and promotes metastasis via miR-1915-5p

•TSPEAR-AS1 expression was downregulated in HBV-HCC tissues, as well as in HBV-HCC cell lines. 2. The downregulation of TSPEAR-AS1 showed a significant association with TNM stage, clinical stage, and vascular invasion and predicted poor prognosis of HBV-HCC patients.•Overexpression of TSPEAR-AS1 inhibited HBV-HCC cell ability of proliferation, migration, and invasiveness by binding to miR-1915-5p.•TSPEAR-AS1 expression may serve as a potential prognostic factor. TSPEAR-AS1 might exert a suppressor role in HBV-HCC through inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.