microRNA‐651‐5p affects the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells by regulating Calmodulin 2 expression

OBJECTIVE: Lung cancer is prevalent worldwide and a leading contributor to tumor death. This research intends to explore the molecular mechanism of the microRNA‐651‐5p (miR‐651‐5p)/Calmodulin 2 (CALM2) axis in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells. METHODS: Lung cancer tissues and para‐cancerous tissues were collected. The expression levels of miR‐651‐5p and CALM2 in lung cancer tissues and cells were tested, and the connection between miR‐651‐5p expression and clinicopathological characteristics of lung cancer patients was further analyzed. The binding sites between miR‐651‐5p and CALM2 were analyzed and validated. Lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were examined. RESULTS: miR‐651‐5p was lowly expressed in lung cancer tissues and cells. miR‐651‐5p expression had no correlation with patients' age and gender but had a correlation with patients' tumor size, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis. Overexpression of miR‐651‐5p repressed proliferative, migratory, and invasive behaviors of lung cancer cells. miR‐651‐5p targeted and negatively regulated CALM2 expression, and CALM2 reversed the inhibiting effects of miR‐651‐5p on lung cancer cell malignant behaviors, including proliferation, migration, and invasion. CONCLUSION: This study expounds that miR‐651‐5p affects the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells by regulating CALM2 expression.