<p>Long Noncoding RNA <em>ZFPM2-AS1</em> Enhances the Malignancy of Cervical Cancer by Functioning as a Molecular Sponge of microRNA-511-3p and Consequently Increasing FGFR2 Expression</p>

Abstract

Purpose: A long noncoding RNA called ZFPM2 antisense RNA 1 (ZFPM2-AS1) has been verified as a key modulator in multiple human cancer types. Nonetheless, the expression and functions of ZFPM2-AS1 in cervical cancer remain poorly understood. Therefore, our purpose was to characterize the expression pattern, clinical value, and detailed roles of ZFPM2-AS1 in cervical cancer. Methods: Reverse-transcription quantitative PCR was carried out to measure ZFPM2-AS1 expression in cervical cancer. A Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, Transwell migration and invasion assays, and a tumor xenograft experiment were conducted to determine the influence of ZFPM2-AS1 on cervical cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion in vitro and on tumor growth in vivo, respectively. Results: ZFPM2-AS1 was found to be aberrantly upregulated in cervical cancer, and its upregulation was associated with unfavorable values of clinical parameters. A ZFPM2-AS1 knockdown significantly reduced cervical cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and increased apoptosis in vitro. The ZFPM2-AS1 knockdown decelerated tumor growth of cervical cancer cells in vivo. Molecular investigation indicated that ZFPM2-AS1 acts as a molecular sponge of microRNA-511-3p (miR-511-3p) in cervical cancer cells. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) mRNA was validated as a direct target of miR-511-3p in cervical cancer, and its expression was positively modulated by ZFPM2-AS1. The effects of the ZFPM2-AS1 knockdown on malignant characteristics of cervical cancer cells were greatly attenuated by miR-511-3p inhibition. Conclusion: ZFPM2-AS1 promotes cervical cancer progression through upregulation of miR-511-3p-FGFR2 axis output, thereby pointing to possible diagnostics and therapeutics based on the ZFPM2-AS1-miR-511-3p-FGFR2 pathway.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: microRNA-375 released from extracellular vesicles of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells exerts anti-oncogenic effects against cervical cancer

“…Our study further demonstrated that the BMSC-derived EVs could transfer miR-375 to cervical cancer cells and consequently acted as antioncogene in cervical cancer cells, evidenced by promoted cell apoptosis and inhibited cell migration and invasion. Importantly, the inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion are significant indicators for the amelioration of cervical cancer [ 30 , 31 ]. Moreover, the present study clarified that BMSC-derived EV-incorporated miR-375 could ameliorate cervical cancer progression in vivo.…”

ZFPM2-AS1 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human non-small cell lung cancer cells involving the JAK-STAT and AKT pathways

“…ZFPM2-AS1 has also been shown to promote metastasis and proliferation, as well as inhibit renal cell cancer apoptosis by targeting miR-137 ( Liu et al, 2019 ). Additionally, ZFPM2-AS1 can promote NSCLC progression via the miR-511-3p/AFF4 and miR-18b-5p/VMA21 pathways ( Li et al, 2020 ; Xue et al, 2020 ), and enhance the malignancy of cervical cancer by sponging microRNA-511-3p ( Dai et al, 2020 ). By upregulating TRAF4, ZFPM2-AS1 facilitates cell proliferation in both esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and small cell lung cancer ( Sun & Wu, 2020 ; Yan et al, 2020 ).…”

Four Autophagy-Related lncRNAs Predict the Prognosis of HCC through Coexpression and ceRNA Mechanism

“…For instance, lncRNA ZFPM2-AS1 promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression by interacting with UPF1 to destabilize ZFPM2 [ 40 ]. Recently, researchers reported that the cancer-promoting activities of ZFPM2-AS1 were mediated by the MIF–p53 signaling pathway in gastric cancer, by the miR-18b-5p–VMA21 axis in lung adenocarcinoma, by miR-137 in renal cell cancer, and by miRNA-511-3p and consequently increasing the FGFR2 expression in cervical cancer [ 36 – 39 , 41 ]. ZFPM2-AS1 was previously identified as a prognostic lncRNA in a TCGA lncRNA-based prognostic signature investigation in HCC patient prognoses [ 42 ].…”