Long noncoding RNA RUSC1-AS-N promotes cell proliferation and metastasis through Wnt/β-catenin signaling in human breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers among females worldwide. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been revealed to serve significant roles in diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. In the present study, the novel lncRNA RUSC1-AS-N was demonstrated to promote cell viability and metastasis. A total of 100 patients with breast cancer were recruited for this study and it was revealed that RUSC1-AS-N was upregulated in tumor tissues compared with in adjacent non-cancerous counterparts. In addition, using several breast cancer cell lines, it was demonstrated that the mRNA levels of RUSC1-AS-N were highest in the notably metastatic cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468. Knockdown of RUSC1-AS-N in breast cancer cells inhibited cell proliferation in the colony formation and cell proliferation assays. Furthermore, depletion of RUSC1-AS-N suppressed cell metastasis, as revealed by wound-healing and western blot assays. In addition, the protein levels of Wnt1 and β-catenin were significantly decreased when RUSC1-AS-N was knocked down. However, Wnt signaling pathway activator Wnt agonist 1 reversed the effects of RUSC1-AS-N knockdown on cell proliferation and metastasis. The present study demonstrated that lncRNA RUSC1-AS-N promoted cell viability and metastasis via Wnt/β-catenin signaling in human breast cancer, which may indicate novel targets for the treatment of breast cancer in clinic.