Serum miR-658 induces metastasis of gastric cancer by activating PAX3-MET pathway: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: MiR-658, paired box gene 3 (PAX3) and met proto-oncogene (MET) are overexpressed in gastric cancer while PAX3 and MET can be regulated by miRNA. Serum miR-658 may be associated with metastasis of gastric cancer (MGC) by affecting PAX3-MET pathway. METHODS: Ninety-eight gastric carcinoma patients with distant MGC (DM group) and ninety-six gastric carcinoma patients with no MGC (NM group) were recruited. Serum miR-658 was validated between DM and NM groups by using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). PAX3 and MET levels were measured by Western Blot. The molecular mechanism for the function of serum miR-658 was further validated in gastric cell lines. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that serum level of miR-658 is significantly lower in the NM group than in the DM group (P< 0.001). Meanwhile, the levels of PAX3 and MET are lower in the NM group than in the DM group too (P< 0.01). Both overexpression and silence of miR-658 significantly up-regulate or down-regulate the levels of PAX3 and MET in gastric cell lines (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present findings demonstrate that elevated circulating miR-658 is associated with MGC by activating PAX3-MET pathway.