Long noncoding RNA RP11-766N7.4 functions as a tumor suppressor by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Numerous studies have proved that long non-coding RNAs participate in the initiation and metastasis of various cancers including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Recently, a novel long non-coding RNA RP11-766N7.4 was discovered in a variety of human tissues. However, its role in oncogenesis and tumor metastasis remains unknown.


METHODS
To investigate the function of long noncoding RNA RP11-766N7.4 in ESCC, RT-qPCR was used to monitor the expression level of long non-coding RNA RP11-766N7.4 in ESCC cell lines and 50 paired ESCC tissues. Moreover, the association between long non-coding RNA RP11-766N7.4 expression level and clinicopathological characteristics as well as 5-year survival rate of ESCC patients was evaluated. Furthermore, function assays containing cell proliferation assay, flow cytometry, Colony Formation, wound healing assay and Transwell assays were conducted to investigate the role of long noncoding RNA RP11-766N7.4 in ESCC. Western blotting assay were used to explore the regulation mechanism.


RESULTS
In this study, we found that long noncoding RNA RP11-766N7.4 was downregulated in ESCC tissues and cell lines and correlated with lymph node metastasis, tumor stage and survival rate. Results also revealed that long noncoding RNA RP11-766N7.4 had no significant effect on cell proliferation, cell cycle or cell apoptosis of ESCC cells. In addition, long noncoding RNA RP11-766N7.4 knockdown promoted cellular migration and invasion via inducing EMT process, and overexpression of long noncoding RNA RP11-766N7.4 inhibited cellular migration and invasion by suppressing EMT process.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggested that long noncoding RNA RP11-766N7.4 acts as a tumor suppressor in ESCC carcinogenesis and metastasis, and may be a potential prognostic mark and a therapeutic target for ESCC.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, PR China.
Guo-Liang
GL
Yao
Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, PR China.
Chun-Feng
CF
Pan
Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, PR China.
Hairong
H
Xu
Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, PR China.
Ke
K
Wei
Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, PR China.
Bin
B
Liu
Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, PR China.
Rong
R
Zhai
Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, PR China. Electronic address: yijiangchenhj@126.com.
Yi-Jiang
YJ
Chen
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000502:physiology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014410:Tumor Stem Cell Assay; D014945:Wound Healing
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding
EMT; ESCC; Long non-coding RNA; Metastasis; RP11-766N7.4