Abstract
PURPOSE: This research aimed to ascertain the clinical implications of lncRNA CKMT2-AS1 and its underlying molecular mechanism in patients with breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CKMT2-AS1 expression were assessed in breast cancer. The prognostic implication of CKMT2-AS1 was evaluated using Cox regression analysis. Functional assays were conducted to explore the effects of CKMT2-AS1 on the cellular activities associated with breast cancer. Mechanistic investigations included dual-luciferase reporter assays, bioinformatics, and Western blot analyses to elucidate the molecular pathways involving CKMT2-AS1. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that CKMT2-AS1 was significantly reduced in breast cancer tissue specimens and cell lines (P<0.05). Its expression was correlated with advanced stages of tumors (P=0.031) and the presence of lymph node metastasis (P=0.044). The upregulation of CKMT2-AS1 led to an obvious decline in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while also enhancing apoptosis in breast cancer cells (P<0.05). Furthermore, mechanistic studies indicated that CKMT2-AS1 directly interacts with miR-106b-5p, a microRNA that is elevated in breast cancer, thereby influencing the expression of its target gene MECP2, which is recognized as a tumor suppressor. CONCLUSION: CKMT2-AS1 exerts its tumor-suppressing function in breast cancer via sequestering miR-106b-5p and modulating MECP2 expression. Its decreased levels are linked to the unfavorable prognosis, positioning CKMT2-AS1 as a prospective indicator for prognosticating breast cancer.