LINC00346 accelerates the malignant progression of colorectal cancer via competitively binding to miRNA-101-5p/MMP9.

Objective: To clarify the promotive effect of LINC00346 on the malignant progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) by mediating miRNA-101-5p/MMP9 axis.
Patients and Methods: Expression pattern of LINC00346 in 46 paired CRC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was determined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Correlation between LINC00346 level and prognosis of CRC patients was analyzed, and the LINC00346 level in CRC cell lines was examined as well. Subsequently, potential influences of LINC00346 on cellular behaviors of CRC cells were evaluated through cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, transwell, and wound healing assays. Finally, Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay was conducted to verify the binding relationship between LINC00346 and miRNA-101-5p/MMP9.
Results: LINC00346 was upregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines. Compared with CRC patients with low level of LINC00346, those with high level suffered a poorer prognosis, and higher metastatic rates (lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis). Transfection of sh-LINC00346 attenuated proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of CRC cells. In addition, LINC00346 was confirmed to bind to miRNA-101-5p, and the latter was binding to MMP9. Moreover, the overexpression of miRNA-101-5p decreased colony number, viability, and numbers of migratory and invasive cells.
Conclusions: LINC00346 is upregulated in CRC and correlated with metastasis and poor prognosis of CRC. LINC00346 accelerates the malignant progression of CRC via targeting miRNA-101-5p/MMP9.