Circ0021205 aggravates the progression of non-small cell lung cancer by targeting miRNA-16-5p/VEGFA

Y. Yang, X.-J. Huang

Department of Respiratory Medicine, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. 163987@zju.edu.cn

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: To uncover the role of circ0021205 in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its molecular mechanism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression level of circ0021205 in NSCLC tissues and cells was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The relationship between circ0021205 level and the pathological indexes of NSCLC was analyzed by the Chi-square test. The Kaplan-Meier curves were depicted for evaluating the influence of circ0021205 on the survival of NSCLC patients. After altering circ0021205 level in A549 and PC9 cells, the changes in the proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities were assessed. The interaction among circ0021205, miRNA-16-5p, and the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) was verified by Dual-Luciferase Reporter Gene Assay and the Spearman correlation test. At last, the role of circ0021205/miRNA-16-5p/VEGFA axis in regulating the progression of NSCLC was identified.

RESULTS: Circ0021205 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. Its level was positively correlated to tumor size, tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging, and distant metastasis of NSCLC. Upregulation of circ0021205 predicted worse prognosis of NSCLC patients. The overexpression of circ0021205 in A549 and PC9 cells accelerated proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities. Moreover, circ0021205 could bind to miRNA-16-5p to further mediate VEGFA level. The overexpression of miRNA-16-5p or knockdown of VEGFA could reverse the role of the overexpressed circ0021205 in regulating the cellular behaviors of NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONS: Circ0021205 aggravates the malignant progression of NSCLC by binding to miRNA-16-5p to regulate the VEGFA level.

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