• DOI:10.3892/or.2017.5548
• Corpus ID: 29280392

MicroRNA-187 modulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition by targeting PTRF in non-small cell lung cancer.

@article{Cai2017MicroRNA187ME,
  title={MicroRNA-187 modulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition by targeting PTRF in non-small cell lung cancer.},
  author={Yanjun Cai and Jian Ruan and Xueqing Yao and Liang Zhao and Baocheng Wang},
  journal={Oncology reports},
  year={2017},
  volume={37 5},
  pages={
          2787-2794
        }
}

• Yanjun Cai, J. Ruan, +2 authors Baocheng Wang
• Published 1 May 2017
• Biology, Chemistry
• Oncology reports

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) that negatively regulate gene expression play a key role in the development and progression of cancer. Aberrant expression of hsa-miR-187 (miR-187) has been reported in various malignancies. However, the function of miR-187 in tumor progression remains controversial and its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poorly understood. In the present study, the role of miR-187 in the progression of NSCLC was investigated. Our results revealed that miR-187 was frequently upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. Furthermore, ectopic introduction of miR-187 promoted cell migration, whereas miR-187 inhibitor had the contrary effect in NSCLC cells. Of significance, miR-187 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which plays a pivotal role in the initiation of metastasis and activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathways. Polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF) was identified as a direct target of miR-187 in the promotion of the migration of NSCLC cells. Restored expression of PTRF neutralized the promoting effect of miR-187 on cell migration and EMT of NSCLC cells. Collectively, our data highlight the pivotal role of miR-187 in the progression of NSCLC, indicating this factor as a potential candidate in molecular cancer therapy.