Targeting miR-185-3p Inhibits Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Modulating RAB25

Xueping Wang; Xiaoyuan Zhu; Yulin Zhao

doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.721416

Targeting miR-185-3p Inhibits Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Modulating RAB25

Front Oncol. 2021 Nov 15:11:721416. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.721416. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Xueping Wang¹, Xiaoyuan Zhu¹, Yulin Zhao¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.

Abstract

Cancer cell-derived exosomes regulate tumor growth and progression. However, the effects of exosomes and its contents on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we found HNSCC displayed a dysregulation of exosomes biogenesis. miR-185-3p was one of the most upregulated exosome-derived miRNAs in HNSCC. Functional assay showed that RAB25 is a direct downstream target of miR-185-3p. miR-185-3p/RAB25 signaling controlled tumor progression and correlated with disease prognosis. Targeting miR-185-3p/RAB25 significantly inhibited tumor growth and promoted drug response to chemotherapy. To conclude, the findings demonstrate exosomal miR-185-3p promotes tumor growth by mediating RAB25 that could be effectively targeted for HNSCC treatment.

Keywords: RAB25; exosome; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; miR-185-3p; tumor growth.