Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been suggested to play vital roles in tumor initiation and progression. Recent studies have reported that the lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 16 (SNHG16) is highly expressed in breast cancer tissue. In the present study, we demonstrated that SNHG16 is an oncogene involved in cell proliferation and invasion in breast cancer. First, we examined the functional role of SNHG16 in breast cancer cells by knocking down SNHG16 expression via siRNA. We found that SNHG16 inhibition reduced the proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells in vitro. Then, based on bioinformatic prediction and functional assay validation, we demonstrated SNHG16 interaction with miR-30a and its role in breast cancer cells. Finally, we examined the functional role of RRM2 in breast cancer cells by knocking down RRM2 expression via siRNA. Our results indicated that the SNHG16/miR-30a axis regulated the expression of ribonucleotide reductase M2 (RRM2) in breast cancer cells. These results provide novel insight into breast cancer tumorigenesis and suggest that SNHG16 could serve as a therapeutic target in breast cancer.