title: The long noncoding RNA CASC2 functions as a competing endogenous RNA by sponging miR-18a in colorectal cancer.
abstract: Recent evidence highlights the crucial regulatory roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) in tumor biology. In colorectal cancer (CRC), the expression of several lncRNAs is dysregulated and play essential roles in CRC tumorigenesis. However, the potential biological roles and regulatory mechanisms of the novel human lncRNA, CASC2 (cancer susceptibility candidate 2), in tumor biology are poorly understood. In this study, CASC2 expression was significantly decreased in CRC tissues and CRC cell lines, and decreased expression was significantly more frequent in patients with advanced tumor-node-metastasis stage disease (TNM III and IV) (P = 0.028). Further functional experiments indicate that CASC2 could directly upregulate PIAS3 expression by functioning as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-18a. This interactions leads to the de-repression of genes downstream of STAT3 and consequentially inhibition of CRC cell proliferation and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo by extending the G0/G1-S phase transition. Taken together, these observations suggest CASC2 as a ceRNA plays an important role in CRC pathogenesis and may serve as a potential target for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guanli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Operating room, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of endoscopic surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiangjian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C522576:MIRN18A microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C484713:long non-coding RNA CASC2, human