miR-218 expression in osteosarcoma tissues and its effect on cell growth in osteosarcoma cells.

Objective: To investigate the expression of miR-218 and its clinical significance in osteosarcoma tissues and explore its effect on proliferation and apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells.

Methods: miR-218 expression was detected in 76 samples of surgically resected osteosarcoma and matched normal tumor-adjacent tissues using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). MiR-218 was over-expressed by exogenous miR-218 plasmids in Saos-2 cells, and then BrdU cell proliferation assay and flow cytometry were used to determine cell proliferation and apoptosis.