Long noncoding RNA promotes the oncogenicity of gastric cancer by regulating SRY-box 9 expression via sponging of microRNA-539.

Differential expression of is involved in the malignancy of multiple human cancer types. Nonetheless, the expression profile, functions, and potential mechanisms of action of in gastric cancer are yet to be fully elucidated. This study aimed at measuring expression in gastric cancer and examining the prognostic significance of in patients with gastric cancer. The detailed functions of with regard to the aggressive characteristics of gastric cancer cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated. Here, we found that expression was aberrantly high in gastric cancer and significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, invasive depth, and TNM stage. Patients with gastric cancer in a high-expression group showed shorter overall survival than patients in a low-expression group. A knockdown of suppressed gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and induced apoptosis in vitro and slowed tumor growth in vivo. In terms of the mechanism, was found to act as a molecular sponge on microRNA-539 (miR-539). SRY-box 9 () was confirmed as a direct target gene of miR-539 in gastric cancer cells. An miR-539 knockdown attenuated the effects of the knockdown on the malignant characteristics of gastric cancer cells. Overall, plays a critical role in the malignancy of gastric cancer by regulating via sponging of miR‑539. Our findings highlight the importance of the -miR-539-SOX9 pathway in gastric cancer pathogenesis and may point to novel targets for the diagnosis, prognosis, and/or treatment of gastric cancer.