miR-638 acts as an oncogene and predicts poor prognosis in renal cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the function and prognostic value of miR-638 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). METHODS: Expression of miR-638 in RCC tissues and corresponding noncancerous tissues were examined by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). To explore the effects of miR-638 on cell migration, invasion, viability, and apoptosis of RCC cells, wound scratch, transwell, MTT, CCK-8, and flow cytometry assays were performed. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between miR-638 expression and prognosis of RCC patients. Potential target genes of miR-638 were predicted and validated via multiple bioinformatics analyses. RESULTS: miR-638 was upregulated in RCC tissues when compared with corresponding noncancerous tissues (P < 0.05). Upregulation of miR-638 expression by transfection with a synthetic miR-638 mimic promoted cell migration, invasion, and viability and suppressed cell apoptosis. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that upregulation of miR-638 associated with shorter overall survival (OS; P = 0.001). Cox univariate and multivariate regression analysis suggested that miR-638 expression is an independent predictive factor for the prognosis of RCC patients (P = 0.004). KCNQ1, DNAJC6, and PNP were identified as potential target genes of miR-638. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrated that miR-638 functions as an oncogene in RCC and has the potential to be a prognostic biomarker for RCC.