Long noncoding RNA ROR1‑AS1 overexpression predicts poor prognosis and promotes metastasis by activating Wnt/β-catenin/EMT signaling cascade in cervical cancer

L. Zhang, H.-R. Yao, S.-K. Liu, L.-L. Song

Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, China. lake44713@163.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: Several long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) display functional effects in the tumorigenesis and progression of cervical cancer (CC). We aimed to investigate the roles of lncRNA tyrosine protein kinase transmembrane receptor 1 antisense RNA 1 (ROR1‑AS1) in the development of CC patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for the determination of ROR1‑AS1 levels in both CC tissues and cell lines. The clinical value of ROR1‑AS1 expression in CC patients was statistically analyzed. After transfection with si-ROR1‑AS1 in SiHa and HeLa cells, cellular growth and apoptosis were examined by Cell Counting Kit (CCK-8) assay, cell colony formation, and flow cytometry. Then, wound-healing assays and transwell assays were performed to evaluate cell migration and invasion, respectively. The related proteins of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was assessed using Western blot assays.

RESULTS: We found that that the expressions of ROR1‑AS1 were distinctly increased in CC tissues and cell lines. Clinical study revealed that high ROR1‑AS1 expression was associated with distant metastasis, FIGO stage, and shorter five-year survival. Functional assays by performing in vitro assays revealed that inhibition of ROR1‑AS1 distinctly suppressed CC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion, and promoted apoptosis. Based on results of Western blot, we showed that the downregulation of ROR1‑AS1 inhibited the levels of N-cadherin and vimentin. In addition, the distinctly decreased levels of c-myc, β-catenin, and cyclin D1 were observed in CC cells transfected with si-ROR1‑AS1.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ROR1‑AS1 is likely to serve as an efficient therapeutic approach in respect of CC treatment. Our results suggest that KLF5 may be a potential therapeutic target in laryngeal carcinoma.

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