title: MiR-654-5p attenuates breast cancer progression by targeting EPSTI1.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) dysregulation is a common event in a variety of human diseases including breast cancer. However, clinical relevance and biological role of miR-654-5p in the progression of breast cancer remain greatly elusive. Herein, the expression levels of miR-654-5p were aberrantly downregulated in human breast cancer specimens and four breast cancer cell lines. Low expression of miR-654-5p was strongly associated with advanced TNM stage and lymph node metastasis as well as a poor survival. Functional analysis showed that miR-654-5p overexpression inhibited cell growth and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis in two aggressive breast cancer cells. Further studies demonstrated that Epithelial stromal interaction 1 (EPSTI1) was a direct target gene of miR-654-5p and showed an inverse correlation with miR-654-5p expression. Forced expression of EPSTI1 could abrogate the inhibitory effect of miR-654-5p on the growth and invasion of breast cancer cells as well as apoptosis-induced ability. In conclusion, the present study highlights that miR-654-5p acts as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer through directly targeting EPSTI1, and their functional regulation may open a novel avenue with regard to the therapeutic target for breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges UniversityYichang 443003, Hubei, China; Department of General Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast UniversityNanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Unit, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University Yichang 443003, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yun
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University Yichang 443003, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University Yichang 443003, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Wu
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University Yichang 443003, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Chu
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: EPSTI1; breast cancer; miR-654-5p; miRNA; survival