Oncotarget

Research Papers:

Long noncoding RNA SOX21AS1 modulates breast cancer stem cells properties and carcinogenesis via targeting SOX2

PDF  |  Full Text  |  How to cite

DOI pending

Metrics: PDF 730 views  |  Full Text 1692 views

Zhen-Duo Lu1, De-Chuang Jiao1, Jiang-Hua Qiao1, Sen Yang2 and Zhen-Zhen Liu1

1Department of Breast surgery, Breast Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, P.R. China

2China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, P.R. China

Correspondence to:

Zhen-Zhen Liu, email: [email protected]

Keywords: breast cancer; cancer stem cell; SOX21-AS1; long non-coding RNA; SOX2

Received: October 20, 2017     Accepted: December 04, 2017     Published: December 21, 2017

ABSTRACT

Breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) are important element in the tumorigenesis and relapse. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) had been proved to regulate the breast cancer carcinogenesis. In present study, our research team aims to investigate the deepgoing role of SOX21-AS1 on breast CSCs properties and carcinogenesis. Human lncRNA microarray analysis and RT-PCR showed that SOX21-AS1 was up-regulated in breast cancer tissue. Moreover, the overexpression of SOX21-AS1 indicated the poor prognosis of breast cancer patients. Loss-of-function experiments revealed that SOX21-AS1 knockdown reduced the stem factors (Nanog, LIN28, Oct4 and SOX2) and CD44+/CD24− rate, suggesting the inhibitory role on breast CSC properties and self-renewal ability. Besides, SOX21-AS1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, invasion and tumor growth of breast cancer CSCs in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatics online tools and luciferase reporter assay validated that miR-429 targeted SOX21-AS1 and SOX2 mRNA 3′-UTR, indicating the modulation of SOX21-AS1 and miR-429 on SOX2 protein expression. In summary, results conclude that lncRNA SOX21-AS1 modulates breast CSCs properties and carcinogenesis via targeting SOX2, providing a novel insight and therapeutic target for breast cancer.