STAT3-Induced Upregulation of lncRNA CASC9 Promotes the Progression of Bladder Cancer by Interacting with EZH2 and Affecting the Expression of PTEN.

OBJECTIVE

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) () has been reported to play a vital role in tumorigenesis. This study explored the biological role of and its regulation mechanism in bladder cancer (BC).

METHODS

Gene expression was evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. The functional role of in BC was studied using Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation assay, scratch wound healing assay, transwell invasion assay, and xenograft tumor assay. In addition, the mechanism of function in BC was determined using RNA immunoprecipitation assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay.

RESULTS

was upregulated in BC tissues and cell lines, and correlated with the staging and metastasis in BC. Knockdown of inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of BC cells. Similarly, silencing of inhibited tumor growth in vivo. () was upregulated in BC tissues and cell lines, and positively correlated with in BC tissues. Moreover, was shown to be regulated by in BC cells. Furthermore, regulated () expression by interacting with (). More significantly, silencing-mediated inhibition of BC progression was partly reversed by overexpression or inhibition.

CONCLUSION

Upregulation of induced by promoted the progression of BC by interacting with and affecting the expression of , representing a novel regulatory mechanism for BC progression.