Long non-coding RNA XIST predicts poor prognosis and promotes malignant phenotypes in osteosarcoma

Increasing evidence indicates that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is involved in a number of types of human cancer and functions as an oncogene or tumor suppressor. However, little is known about the role of lncRNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) in osteosarcoma. In the present study, the expression of lncRNA XIST was analyzed in 56 osteosarcoma tissues and their corresponding normal bone tissues by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Increased lncRNA XIST expression was observed in osteosarcoma tissues compared with the normal tissues and was positively associated with advanced Enneking stage. In addition, lncRNA XIST may be used as an independent risk factor for the overall survival of patients with osteosarcoma. Knockdown of lncRNA XIST inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis and arrested the cell cycle. The inhibition of lncRNA XIST may also suppress cell migration and invasion in vitro. The present study suggested that lncRNA XIST acted as an oncogene in osteosarcoma, which may make it a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of osteosarcoma.