LINC01605 regulates proliferation, migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells via targeting miR-3960/SOX11.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the expression level of long intergenic non-coding ribonucleic acid 1605 (LINC01605) in colorectal cancer (CRC), and to explore the effects of the LINC01605/microRNA (miR)-3960/sex-determining region Y-box 11 (SOX11) regulatory axis on the biological behaviors of CRC cells and the molecular mechanism therein. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Tissue specimens were collected from 38 patients with CRC, and the relative expression level of LINC01605 in the CRC tissues and CRC cells was measured using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Then, the effects of LINC01605 on the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis of CRC cells were observed via in vitro assays [cell counting kit (CCK)-8 assay, flow cytometry and transwell assay]. Besides, the possible miRNAs binding to LINC01605 were predicted by the bioinformatics method, and they were screened and verified using qRT-PCR and Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay. Finally, the downstream target genes of miR-3960 were predicted by means of bioinformatics, and they were also screened and confirmed via qRT-PCR and Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay. RESULTS: According to the results of qRT-PCR, the expression of LINC01605 was up-regulated in 31 out of 38 cases of CRC tissue specimens, and its expression in CRC cells was higher than that in normal colorectal cells. The results of in vitro assays revealed that the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of CRC cells were weakened, with an increased apoptosis rate after interference with LINC01605 expression. Based on the results of qRT-PCR and Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay, miR-3960 was the target of LINC01605, while SOX11 was the target of miR-3960. Moreover, the expression of miR-3960 rose, but that of SOX11 declined after interference with LINC01605 expression. It was found through Western blotting that the protein expression of SOX11 was lowered after interference with LINC01605 expression. CONCLUSIONS: LINC01605 has an up-regulated expression in CRC, and accelerates the proliferation, migration and metastasis of CRC cells by the miR-3960/SOX11 regulatory axis.