Long non-coding RNA MAFG-AS1 promotes proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer by modulating STC2 pathway
Abstract Objective Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Chinese women. A number of studies proposed that long non-coding RNA plays an essential role in the regulation of invasion and metastasis of various forms of malignancy, including lung cancer, gastric cancer and bladder cancer. In this study, a long non-coding RNA MAFG-AS1 was explored in detail to understand the significance in the etiology of breast cancer.Methods Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to examine the expression level of LncRNA MAFG-AS1 in tissues and cell lines. The association of LncRNA MAFG-AS1 expression and the postoperative prognosis was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Cell proliferation was evaluated in vitro and in vivo . Transwell assays were performed to examine the cell migration. Cell cycle and apoptosis was evaluated by flowcytometry analysis. The downstream target gene STC2 of LncRNA MAFG-AS1 was screened using the microarray analysis, which was validated by qRT-PCR, functional analysis, and rescue experiment.Results Expression of LncRNA MAFG-AS1 in the breast cancer tissues was significantly higher than the precancerous lesions. Elevated expression level of LncRNA MAFG-AS1 was correlated to the larger GTV (gross tumor volume), negative expression of ER, PR, Her2, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis. The potency of breast cancer proliferation, invasion and metastasis was inhibited in the absence of LncRNA MAFG-AS1.Tumorigenic capacity of breast cancer cells was inhibited in the absence of LncRNA MAFG-AS1. The downstream target gene regulated by LncRNA MAFG-AS1 was screened out by gene chip technology, GO analysis and QRT-PCR ultimately. Disrupted STC2 suppressed the cell proliferation and metastasis when the level of LncRNA MAFG-AS1 elevated.Conclusion The LncRNA MAFG-AS1 triggers tumorigenesis in the breast cancer and regulates breast cancer proliferation and metastasis by modulating the downstream target gene STC2. Results from our study indicates that LncRNA MAFG-AS1 can be used.
