miR-934 as a Prognostic Marker Facilitates Cell Proliferation and Migration of Pancreatic Tumor by Targeting PROX1.

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer is an extremely lethal digestive cancer with late diagnosis and poor prognosis. miR-934 has been reported to serve as an oncogene in multiple cancers, such as ovarian cancer and bladder cancer. However, its role in pancreatic cancer remains undiscovered.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expression data of miR-934 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and from our own patient samples. The clinicopathological data and corresponding follow-up data were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. CCK8 and colony formation assays were conducted to measure cell proliferation capacity in vitro. Wound healing and transwell assays were performed to detect the migration ability of pancreatic cancer cell.

RESULTS

We found that miR-934 was significantly upregulated in pancreatic tumor samples and cell lines. The expression of miR-934 was related to pathological stages. Upregulated miR-934 was associated with poor prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer. Mir-934 inhibition reduced, while overexpression promoted, cell proliferation and migration. Mechanically, we found  miR-934 could directly bind to 3'-UTR of PROX1 leading to mRNA derogation. Furthermore, increased cell proliferation and migration caused by miR-934 overexpression could be reversed by forced PROX1 expression.

CONCLUSION

miR-934 is an oncogene in pancreatic cancer and could serve as a prognosis indicator for patients with pancreatic cancer, suggesting that miR-934 is a promising therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.