Abstract
BACKGROUND: Given the poor prognosis of metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients, molecular mechanisms underlying the progression and metastasis of ESCC are highly desired in the scientific community. Prostate cancer associated transcript-1 (PCAT-1) is a lncRNA up-regulated in major types of cancers and is associated with the poor prognosis of cancer patients. This study aimed to understand the expression and role of PCAT-1 in the progression and metastasis of ESCC and to identify the potential lncRNA-miRNA interactions and signaling pathways underlying the mechanisms of action of PCAT-1 in ESCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gene expression levels were determined by qRT-PCR; protein levels were determined by Western blot assay; cell proliferation, invasion and migration were determined by CCK-8, Transwell invasion and wound healing assays, respectively; in vivo tumor growth was evaluated by xenograft nude mice model. RESULTS: Our data showed the up-regulation of PCAT-1 in different human ESCC cell lines and in clinical ESCC tissues. Knockdown of PCAT-1 in ESCC cells significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of the cancer cells. Moreover, we showed the interactions between PCAT-1 and miR-508-3p and demonstrated that PCAT-1 was able to repress miR-508-3p expression in ESCC cells via acting as a competing endogenous RNA. Besides, Annexin A10 (ANXA10) was identified to be the downstream target of the PCAT-1 and miR-508-3p interactions. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the functional role of PCAT-1 in promoting the proliferation, invasion and migration of ESCC cells. We also identified a PCAT-1/miR-508-3p/ANXA10 axis in mediating the promoting role of PCAT-1 in the progression of ESCC. The findings provide experimental evidence to support lncRNA PCAT-1 as a potential therapeutic target of ESCC.