The altered expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is associated with human carcinogenesis. We performed a high-throughput analysis of lncRNA expression in strictly selected pairs of metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and non-metastatic HNSCC samples. We identified a novel lncRNA, which was highly expressed in metastatic HNSCC, named Metastasis Associated Squamous Cell Carcinoma 1 (MASCC1), for further study. Using qRT-PCR, we further compared MASCC1 expression in 60 HNSCC samples. The results show that high expression of MASCC1 in patients with HNSCC was related to poor prognosis. In vitro, MASCC1 knockdown (KD) inhibited HNSCC proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor sphere formation, while promoting apoptosis. In vivo, MASCC1 KD inhibited HNSCC growth and lymph node metastasis. Mechanistically, MASCC1 acted as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by binding to miR-195, subsequently regulating the expression of Cyclin D1, BCL-2, and YAP1. Moreover, miR-195 overexpression rescued the effects of MASCC1 on the biological behaviors of HNSCC. Taken together, our results suggest thatMASCC1is a novel oncogene that can predict the prognosis of patients with HNSCC and is a potential therapeutic target for HNSCC intervention.
长链非编码RNA（lncRNA）的表达改变与人类肿瘤发生相关。本研究通过对严格筛选的转移性头颈部鳞状细胞癌（HNSCC）与非转移性HNSCC样本进行高通量lncRNA表达分析，鉴定出一种在转移性HNSCC中高表达的新型lncRNA，命名为转移相关鳞状细胞癌1（MASCC1）。通过qRT-PCR技术进一步检测60例HNSCC样本中MASCC1的表达水平，结果显示MASCC1高表达与HNSCC患者不良预后显著相关。体外实验表明，敲低MASCC1可抑制HNSCC细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭及肿瘤球形成能力，同时促进细胞凋亡。体内实验证实，敲低MASCC1能够抑制HNSCC肿瘤生长及淋巴结转移。机制研究发现，MASCC1作为竞争性内源RNA（ceRNA）通过结合miR-195，进而调控Cyclin D1、BCL-2和YAP1的表达。此外，过表达miR-195可逆转MASCC1对HNSCC细胞生物学行为的影响。综上所述，本研究提示MASCC1是一种新型癌基因，可作为HNSCC患者预后预测指标及潜在治疗靶点。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家