Function of miR-200a in proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells.

Lung cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer worldwide and is the leading cause of cancer-associated cases of mortality in the USA and China. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80-85% of lung cancer cases. microRNAs (miRs) serve multiple roles in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. The current study investigated the lower level of miR-200a in tumor tissues compared with healthy tissue. Overexpression of miR-200a inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. miR-200a was identified to target Rhophilin Rho GTPase binding protein 2 (RHPN2) and higher levels of RHPN2 were observed in tumor tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. The current study proposes that miR-200a exhibits a tumor suppressive role in NSCLC and suggests that miR-200a could target RHPN2.