LINC00339 promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells via miR-148a-3p/ROCK1 axes

Abstract

Background: Ovarian cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors of female genital organs. Long non-coding RNAs play an important role in the progression of ovarian cancer. In the present study, we aimed at identifying the role of LINC00339 in the occurrence and metastasis of ovarian cancer. Methods: The expression of LINC00339 in ovarian cancer was detected by qRT-PCR and FISH. The effect of LINC00339 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells was examined by CCK8, wound healing, and transwell assays, respectively. The effect of LINC00339 on in vivo tumor growth was examined using a xenograft mouse model. The mechanism by which LINC00339 regulated cellular biology of ovarian cancer cells was identified by bioinformatics analysis, RIP assay, and dual luciferase reporter assay. Results: LINC00339 was overexpressed in ovarian cancer tissues, showed a poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer, and correlated with tumor size and advanced clinical stages. Upregulation of LINC00339 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while downregulation of LINC00339 exhibited an opposite effect. LINC00339 promotedin vivo tumor growth. It interacted with miR-148a-3p/ROCK1, and miR-148a-3p inhibitors rescued the anti-tumor effect of LINC00339 knockdown on proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. Conclusion: LINC00339 regulated ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by targeting miR-148a-3p/ROCK1 axes, which provided novel insights for ovarian cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Keywords

• Long non-coding RNA
• LINC00339
• Ovarian cancer cells
• miR-148a-3p
• ROCK1
• Invasion