MiR-802 inhibits the malignant biological behavior of oral squamous cell carcinoma by targeting proto-oncogene MET

H.-Y. Xu, Q. Dai, Q.-X. Chen, F. Xiao, Y.-H. Dai

Department of General Emergency, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanchang University, The Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China. xiangrikui126@139.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the frequently occurring malignancies, but effective treatments are lacking. It is believed that exploring new molecular targets could help us to improve the treatment of OSCC. Therefore, we hope to find a new miRNA target to control OSCC.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: qPCR and Western blots were used to test the expressions of miR-802 and target gene in OSCC tissues and cell lines. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to check whether miR-802 could directly target MET. CCK-8, wound healing, cell invasion, colony formation, and tumor growth assays were used to determine the functions of miR-802 and MET in the malignant biological behavior of OSCC.
RESULTS: The results suggested that miR-802 was low expressed in OSCC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-802 inhibited the cell viability, colony formation, migration and invasion of Tca8113 and SCC9 cells, and tumor growth in vivo. It was predicted that miR-802 might target the mRNA of proto-oncogene MET. Overexpressing miR-802 suppressed the expression of wild-type MET at both protein and mRNA levels in Tca8113 and SCC9 cells. Moreover, the expression of MET was high and significantly correlated with the low expression of miR-802 in OSCC tissues. Overexpression of MET in Tca8113 and SCC9 cells reduced the tumor-suppressive effects, which was induced by miR-802 overexpression.
CONCLUSIONS: MiR-802 suppresses the malignant biological behavior of OSCC by targeting proto-oncogene MET. This work provides a new potential molecular target for treating OSCC.

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