Long non-coding RNA FOXD2-AS1 contributes to colorectal cancer proliferation through its interaction with microRNA-185-5p.

Emerging evidence has indicated that long non-coding RNA plays an important role in carcinogenesis at the transcriptional and post-translational levels. The regulation of carcinogenesis-related effectors is potent in the determination of tumor initiation and progression. In the current study, FOXD2-AS1 was found to interact with microRNA (miR)-185-5p to modulate proliferation, migration, and invasion of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Interestingly, expression of cell division control 42 was significantly influenced by FOXD2-AS1 and miR-185-5p. In CRC patients, the expression level of FOXD2-AS1 in CRC tissue was closely associated with miR-185-5p and cell division control 42, and implicated in the overall survival rate. Therefore, our study suggests that long non-coding RNA FOXD2-AS1 plays a positive role in CRC and could be developed and used as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and therapy of CRC. This will greatly improve the prevention and treatment of the third most common cancer worldwide.