Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are vital regulators of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) development and tumorigenesis. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of miRNA (miR)-1296 expression in NSCLC. The expression of miR-1296 was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR in NSCLC tissues and matched normal tissues. The association of miR-1296 expression with clinicopathological factors of NSCLC patients was evaluated by the χ2 test. Prognostic value of miR-1296 expression levels in patients with NSCLC was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and a Cox proportional hazards model; Cell Counting Kit-8, Transwell migration and western blot assays were used to detect the association between miR-1296 and cell proliferation, invasion and Wnt signaling in NSCLC, respectively. The results of the present study demonstrated that miR-1296 expression was significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells compared to corresponding controls. Lower miR-1296 expression exhibited a significant association with lymph node metastasis and tumor-node-metastasis stage of patients with NSCLC. In addition, the survival analysis demonstrated that low miR-1296 expression predicted a poorer prognosis compared to high miR-1296 expression. Multivariate Cox analysis also demonstrated that reduced miR-1296 expression was an independent risk factor of NSCLC prognosis. Additionally, miR-1296 inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and Wnt signaling in NSCLC. Thus, the results of the present study indicated that miR-1296 expression may be a potential biomarker of NSCLC prognosis and potential target for NSCLC treatment.