The long non-coding RNA FOXD2-AS1 promotes bladder cancer progression and recurrence through a positive feedback loop with Akt and E2F1.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as significant regulators in cancer progression. Positive feedback loops between lncRNAs and transcription factors have attracted increasing attention. Akt pathway plays a crucial role in bladder cancer growth and recurrence. In the present study, we demonstrate a novel regulatory pattern involving FOXD2-AS1, Akt, and E2F1. FOXD2-AS1 is highly expressed in bladder cancer and is associated with tumor stage, recurrence, and poor prognosis. Further experiments showed that FOXD2-AS1 promotes bladder cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Microarray analysis demonstrated that FOXD2-AS1 negatively regulates the expression of Tribbles pseudokinase 3 (TRIB3), a negative regulator of Akt. Mechanistically, FOXD2-AS1 forms an RNA-DNA complex with the promoter of TRIB3, the transcriptional activity of which is subsequently repressed, and leads to the activation of Akt, which further increases the expression of E2F1, a vital transcription factor involved in the G/S transition. Interestingly, E2F1 could bind to the FOXD2-AS1 promoter region and subsequently enhance its transcriptional activity, indicating that FOXD2-AS1/Akt/E2F1 forms a feedback loop. In summary, this regulatory pattern of positive feedback may be a novel target for the treatment of bladder cancer and FOXD2-AS1 has the potential to be a new recurrence predictor.