title: miR-216b suppresses tumor growth and invasion by targeting KRAS in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that are involved in various diseases, including cancer. In the present study, we found that miR-216b was downregulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines and specimens. Decreased expression of miR-216b was directly related to advanced clinical stage and lymph node metastasis. miR-216b levels correlated inversely with levels of KRAS protein during nasopharyngeal tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that miR-216b can bind to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of KRAS and inhibit expression of the KRAS protein. Both in vitro and in vivo assays revealed that miR-216b attenuated NPC cell proliferation, invasion and tumor growth in nude mice. miR-216b exerts its tumor suppressor function through inhibition of the KRAS-related AKT and ERK pathways. Our findings provide, for the first time, significant clues regarding the role of miR-216b as a tumor suppressor by targeting KRAS in NPC.
authors: Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, 110 Xiang-Ya Road, Changsha 410078, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Deng
authors: Hailin
authors: H
authors: Tang
authors: Yanhong
authors: Y
authors: Zhou
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Zhou
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Xiong
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Zheng
authors: Qiurong
authors: Q
authors: Ye
authors: Xi
authors: X
authors: Zeng
authors: Qianjin
authors: Q
authors: Liao
authors: Xiaofang
authors: X
authors: Guo
authors: Xiaoling
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Ma
authors: Guiyuan
authors: G
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015536:Down-Regulation; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D014162:Transfection; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; C117307:KRAS protein, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins