LncRNA-ATB was upregulated in colon cancer tissues compared with adjacent mucosa. LncRNA-ATB levels were also higher in metastatic cancer tissues. Among the three highly invasive colon cancer cell lines, lncRNA-ATB levels were relatively higher with concurrent low levels of E-cad compared with levels in the three low-invasive cell lines. LncRNA-ATB expression correlated with pN stage and AJCC stage. Striking differences were observed in overall survival and disease-free survival in cases with both high lncRNA-ATB expression and low E-cad expression. Reduction of lncRNA-ATB increased expression of epithelial markers E-cad, ZO-1, and decreased expression of mesenchymal markers ZEB1 and N-cadherin (N-cad), and significantly influenced colon cancer cell progression. Plasma lncRNA-ATB was upregulated in colon cancer patients one month after surgery.