Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as new gene regulators and prognostic markers in several types of cancer, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In this study, we identified an upregulated lncRNA, DLX6-AS1, in RCC tumor tissues compared with normal kidney tissues. Our data suggested that DLX6-AS1 promoted RCC cell growth and tumorigenesis via targeting miR-26a. In addition, we observed that PTEN overexpression restored the renal cancer cell growth and also rescued the RCC tumorigenesis. In summary, we conclude that DLX6-AS1 promotes renal cell carcinoma development via regulation of miR-26a/PTEN axis.

We aimed to explore the mechanisms of sunitinib‐resistance in renal cell cancer (RCC) and provide new therapeutic evidence and biomarkers for RCC treatment using human clear‐cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) cell line, 786‐O. Microarray analysis, quantitative real time PCR (qRT‐PCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect Ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase (NT5E) expressions in sunitinib‐resistant tissues in RCC. 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2‐H‐tetrazolium bromide, Thiazolyl Blue Tetrazolium Bromide (MTT), cell‐count kit 8 (CCK‐8), wound healing, and Transwell assays were used to investigate the influences of sunitinib and NT5E on 786‐O cell line and sunitinib‐resistant 786‐O cell line (S786‐O). Protein expressions related to epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and AKT/GSK‐3β signaling pathway in 786‐O cells and S786‐O cells were determined by Western blot. In vivo experiment was performed using NCr‐nu/nu mice to explore the effects of NT5E on cell growth and EMT signal in sunitinib environment. NT5E expression was upregulated in sunitinib‐resistant RCC tissues and cells. NT5E downregulation repressed RCC cell proliferation, migration as well as invasion. EMT course and AKT/GSK‐3β signal pathway both in vitro and in vivo in sunitinib environment was suppressed to varying degrees via NT5E inhibition. NT5E inhibition could suppress the growth of sunitinib‐resistant RCC cells and restrain EMT course and AKT/GSK‐3β signal pathway in sunitinib environment in RCC. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 71(1):113–124, 2019

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