LINC00963 affects the development of colorectal cancer via MiR-532-3p/HMGA2 axis.

Background: LINC00963 is high-expressed in various carcinomas, but its expression and function in colorectal cancer (CRC) have not been explored. This study explored the role and mechanism of LINC00963 in CRC.

Methods: The expression of LINC00963 in CRC and its relationship with prognosis were examined by starBase and survival analysis. The effects of LINC00963, miR-532-3p and HMGA2 on the biological characteristics and EMT-related genes of CRC cells were studied by RT-qPCR, CCK-8, clone formation experiments, flow cytometry, scratch test, Transwell, and Western blot. Xenograft assay and immunohistochemistry were performed to verify the effect of LINC00963 on tumor growth. The correlation among LINC00963, miR-532-3p, and HMGA2 was analyzed by bioinformatics analysis, luciferase assay, and Pearson test.

Results: LINC00963 was high-expressed in CRC, and this was associated with poor prognosis of CRC. Silencing LINC00963 inhibited the activity, proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells, MMP-3 and MMP-9 expressions, moreover, it also blocked cell cycle progression, and inhibited tumor growth and Ki67 expression. However, overexpression of LINC00963 showed the opposite effects to silencing LINC00963. LINC00963 targeted miR-532-3p to regulate HMGA2 expression. Down-regulation of miR-532-3p promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and expressions of MMP-3 and MMP-9, and knockdown of HMGA2 reversed the effect of miR-532-3p inhibitor. Up-regulation of miR-532-3p inhibited the biological functions of CRC cells, and overexpression of HMGA2 reversed the miR-532-3p mimic effect.

Conclusion: LINC00963 affects the development of CRC through the miR-532-3p/HMGA2 axis.