MicroRNA-98/PTEN/AKT pathway inhibits cell proliferation and malignant progression of hypopharyngeal carcinoma by MTDH

Laryngeal carcinoma is one of the most common tumors concerning otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery, however, the pathogenesis of laryngeal carcinoma remains unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to play vital roles in the pathogenesis of laryngeal carcinoma Herein, the present study was designed to explore the function and mechanism of miRNA-98 in hypopharyngeal carcinoma. In brief, qRT-PCR, MTT assay, western blot analysis, Transwell assay and luciferase reporter assay were performed. Based on the results, miRNA-98 expression was downregulated in patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Downregulation of miRNA-98 promoted cell growth and migration, and decreased the apoptotic rate of hypopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Overexpression of miRNA-98 increased the apoptotic rate, and inhibited cell growth and migration of hypopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Moreover, luciferase reporter assays revealed that MTDH is a direct target of miRNA-98 and overexpression of miRNA-98 induced the protein expression of PTEN and suppressed that of PI3K and p-Akt. si-MTDH attenuated the anticancer effects of miRNA-98 on hypopharyngeal carcinoma via the PTEN/AKT pathway. To the best of our knowledge, the present study confirmed for the first time that miRNA-98 inhibits hypopharyngeal carcinoma cell proliferation and induces apoptosis via the PTEN/AKT pathway by MTDH.