Downregulation of miR-599 predicts poor outcome in cervical cancer patients and promotes the progression of cervical cancer

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Mar;61(2):249-254. doi: 10.1016/j.tjog.2021.11.010.

Abstract

Objective: Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of gynecological cancer-related death. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression pattern of miR-599 and its prognostic significance in cervical cancer.

Materials and methods: The RT-qPCR analysis was used to detect the expression levels of miR-599 in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. The association between miR-599 expression and clinical characteristics of cervical cancer patients was analyzed using the χ2 test. The Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model were used to explore the prognostic significance of miR-599. Then, CCK-8 assays, transwell migration, and invasion assays were used to assess the effects of miR-599 on tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of cervical cancer cells, respectively.

Results: miR-599 expression was significantly downregulated in cervical cancer tissues and cells compared with non-cancerous tissues and HaCaT cells, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that miR-599 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis and FIGO stage. The miR-599 expression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. Functionally, overexpression of miR-599 suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of cervical cancer cells, while downregulation of miR-599 had opposite effects.

Conclusion: miR-599 acts as a tumor suppressor in cervical cancer that inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of cervical cancer cells, suggesting that miR-599 may be a potential prognostic biomarker and novel targeted strategy for cervical cancer.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; Invasion; Migration; Prognosis; Proliferation.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • Prognosis
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • MIRN599 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs