MiR-30a-5p activates the AKT signalling pathway by targeting PHTF2 to inhibit migration and EMT of gastric cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a very important role in the development of gastric cancer (GC). MiR-30a-5p Participates in the formation and progression of various cancers. However, the role and clinical value of miR-30a-5p in GC remain unclear. The expression of miR-30a-5p in GC cells and Gastric Epithelial Strain-1 (GES-1) was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Wound healing assay, transwell assay and western blot analyses were used to examined the effects of miR-30a-5p on GC cells in vitro. In silico prediction, qRT-PCR, dual luciferase reporter assays and western blot were applied to confirm the target genes of miR-30a-5p. The results indicated that miR-30a-5p inhibited the migration and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) of GC cells by activating the AKT signalling pathway. Putative homeodomain transcriptional factor2 (PHTF2) was identified to be a direct target of miR-30a-5p. Knockdown of PHTF2 also suppressed the migration and EMT of GC cells, while overexpression of PHTF2 could promote the migration and EMT of GC cells and impede the AKT signalling pathway. miR-30a-5p can suppress the migration and EMT of GC cells by directly targeting PHTF2. Hence, miR-30a-5p may be a potential target for GC treatment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-33375-y.