LINK-A lncRNA functions in the metastasis of osteosarcoma by upregulating HIF1α

Long intergenic non-coding RNA for kinase activation (LINK-A) long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is an oncogenic lncRNA in triple-negative breast cancer. The involvement of LINK-A lncRNA in other diseases is unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the possible involvement of LINK-A lncRNA in osteosarcoma. The results demonstrated that plasma levels of LINK-A lncRNA were significantly higher in patients with metastatic osteosarcoma (MO) compared with healthy controls and patients with non-metastatic osteosarcoma (NMO). LINK-A lncRNA overexpression significantly promoted cancer cell migration and invasion in osteosarcoma cell lines MG-63 and U20S. Upregulated expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) was observed in cancer cells following LINK-A lncRNA overexpression. Exogenous HIF1α treatment did not significantly affect the expression of LINK-A lncRNA in cancer cells, whereas treatment with an HIF1α inhibitor significantly attenuated the effects of LINK-A lncRNA overexpression on cancer cell migration and invasion. Based on the results it was concluded that LINK-A lncRNA participated in the metastasis of osteosarcoma by upregulating HIF1α; upregulation of LINK-A lncRNA may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker for patients with MO but not in those with NMO.