Downregulation of long noncoding RNA FENDRR predicts poor prognosis in renal cell carcinoma

Long noncoding RNA FOXF1 adjacent non-coding developmental regulatory RNA (FENDRR) dysregulation associates with multiple types of human cancer. However, the biological functions of FENDRR in renal cell carcinoma are unresolved. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to determine the expression level of FENDRR in renal cell carcinoma tissues. An RNA interference assay and ectopic expression experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of FENDRR on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and colony formation in vitro. RNA immunoprecipitation was conducted to identify proteins associated with FENDRR. It was observed that FENDRR is frequently downregulated in renal cell carcinoma and overexpression of FENDRR attenuated proliferation, migration, invasion and colony growth of renal carcinoma cells. Conversely, knockdown of FENDRR promotes proliferation and invasiveness of renal carcinoma cells. Downregulation of FENDRR associates with poor prognosis of renal cell carcinoma. Mechanistically, it was identified that FENDRR may bind to Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 and lysin methyltransferase 2A histone modifying complexes. In summary, FENDRR acts as an tumor suppressor in renal cell carcinoma and may serve as a candidate target for gene therapy.