Abstract
Cervical cancer is the 4th most common malignant tumor type affecting women worldwide; however, its molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Previous studies have indicated that microRNAs (miRs) serve crucial roles in the cellular functions of tumors. miR‑96 is involved in the tumorigenesis of many cancer types. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role and mechanism of miR‑96 in the progression of cervical cancer. The present results suggested that overexpression of miR‑96 significantly enhanced the proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities of cervical cancer cells, while inhibiting miR‑96 had the opposite effects. Additionally, activation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was enhanced by miR‑96 overexpression, while it was inhibited by the miR‑96 inhibitor. Moreover, it was identified that miR‑96 may directly target caveolin‑1 (CAV‑1) to decrease its expression level. Furthermore, overexpression of CAV‑1 could reverse the increase in cell proliferation, migration and invasion induced by miR‑96, as well as the upregulation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. In conclusion, the present results suggested that miR‑96 may have an oncogenic role in the progression of cervical cancer by targeting CAV‑1. Therefore, miR‑96 may be a potential target for cervical cancer therapy.