Long noncoding RNA KCNQ1OT1 (KCNQ1OT1) has been identified to be deregulated in several kinds of cancers. However, its expression pattern and functions in ovarian cancer remain unknown. Bioinformatics analysis showed that miR-212-3p, an identified suppressor in ovarian cancer, was a direct target of KCNQ1OT1, suggesting that KCNQ1OT1 may play a role in ovarian cancer progression via targeting miR-212-3p. Here we aimed to explore the effect of KCNQ1OT1 on the carcinogenesis of ovarian cancer, as well as to investigate miR-212-3p roles in this process. The expression of KCNQ1OT1 and miR-212-3p in ovarian cancer tissues and cells was detected by qPCR. MTT, flow cytometry, wound healing, Transwell chambers, and in vivo tumor formation assays were carried out to assess cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and tumorigenesis, respectively. RNA pulldown and luciferase gene reporter assays were used to evaluate the RNA‐RNA interaction. The results showed that KCNQ1OT1 was overexpressed in ovarian cancer tissues and cells, which closely associated with the advanced clinic process and poor prognosis in ovarian cancer patients. Upregulation of KCNQ1OT1 significantly enhanced cell growth, migration, and invasion and inhibited cell apoptosis via miR-212-3p. In addition, we identified that lipocalin2 (LCN2) was a direct target of miR-212-3p and functioned as an oncogene to promote cell growth and to inhibit cell apoptosis. Furthermore, we observed that KCNQ1OT1 overexpression significantly enhanced the tumorigenesis of SKOV3 cells, whereas this effect was significantly impaired when LCN2 expression was downregulated. Overall, the present study reveals that KCNQ1OT1 functions as an oncogene in ovarian cancer via targeting miR-212-3p/LCN2 axis, which might provide new markers and targets for ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Abstract. Cervical cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. The human wings apart-like (hWAPL) gene, which is 30,793 bp long and located on 10q23.2., is a human homologue of the WAPL gene in Drosophila melanogaster. hWAPL has the characteristics of an oncogene in uterine cervical cancer. The present study investigated the expression of the hWAPL gene in tissues, including 9 common cancers, consisting of cervical, gastric and lung cancers, liver, bladder, esophageal, endometrial, renal and rectal carcinomas, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and benign squamous epithelia. The immunohistochemical analysis was conducted using paraffin-embedded tissues obtained from 413 patients, consisting of 27 benign squamous epithelial tissue samples, and 47 cervical cancer, 30 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)I, 33 CINII, 38 CINIII, 29 gastric cancer, 28 liver carcinoma, 26 bladder carcinoma, 35 esophageal carcinoma, 25 endometrial, 26 renal carcinoma, 36 rectal carcinoma and 33 lung cancer tissues. The expression of hWAPL mRNA was evaluated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 8 benign squamous epithelia and 11 cervical cancer tissues. Compared to benign squamous epithelia and the 8 other cancers, hWAPL protein was significantly increased in cervical cancer (P<0.001). The expression of the hWAPL protein in cervical cancer and CINIII tissues was markedly increased compared to the expression in CINI and CINII tissues (P<0.001). Despite the significant difference in the staining scores (P<0.001), no significant difference was observed in the percentage of tissues expressing hWAPL (P=0.102) between cervical cancer and CINIII. The hWAPL gene may therefore be specifically overexpressed in cervical cancer. The overexpression of hWAPL may play an important role in occurrence and development of cervical cancer.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.