We propose that miR-338-3p functions as a tumor suppressor in gastric cancer, and the methylation status of its CpG island could serve as a potential diagnostic marker for gastric cancer.
Taken together, our results highlight that PTP1B is an oncogene and is negatively regulated by miR-338-3p in GC, which may provide new insights into novel molecular therapeutic targets for GC.
Accumulating evidence suggests that miR‑338-3p exerts a tumor suppressor role and is downregulated in tumors, including gastric cancer and colorectal carcinoma.
Previous studies suggested microRNA-338-3p (miR-338-3p) was down-regulated and play tumor suppressor roles in gastric cancer, colorectal carcinoma and lung cancer.
microRNA array can be used to select the microRNAs associated with radiochemotherapy sensitivity in gastric cancer. miR-338-3p and miR-142-3p may be promising predictive biomarkers for such patients.
Overall, our findings indicate that miR-338-3p acts as a tumor suppressor in GC and tissue miR-338-3p might serve as a novel prognostic biomarker of GC.
We additionally found that decreased miR-338-5p expression in GC tissues, relative to normal tissues, was significantly negatively correlated with increased BMI1 expression.
Therefore, we conclude that miR-338 acts as a novel tumor suppressor gene in gastric cancer. miR-338 can decrease migratory, invasive, proliferative and apoptotic behaviors, as well as gastric cancer EMT, by attenuating the expression of NRP1.