Long non-coding RNA LINC00152 promotes cell proliferation, metastasis, and confers 5-FU resistance in colorectal cancer by inhibiting miR-139-5p

Long intergenic non-coding RNA 152 (LINC00152) is a recently identified tumor-promoting long non-coding RNA. However, the biological functions of LINC00152 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear and require further research. The aim of the present study is to explore the roles of LINC00152 in cellular function and its possible molecular mechanism. In this study, we discovered that LINC00152 was overexpressed in CRC tissues and negatively related to the survival time of CRC patients. Functional analyses revealed that LINC00152 could promote cell proliferation. Furthermore, LINC00152 could increase the resistance of CRC cells to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by suppressing apoptosis. We also discovered that LINC00152 could enhance cell migration and invasion. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that LINC00152 could regulate the expression of NOTCH1 through sponging miR-139-5p and inhibiting its activity from promoting CRC progression and development. Altogether, our work points out a novel LINC00152/miR-139-5p/NOTCH1 regulatory axis in CRC progression and development.