MIR‐138‐5P inhibits the progression of prostate cancer by targeting FOXC1

BACKGROUND: Studies have suggested that micro‐RNAs (miRNAs) can function as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor in cancers. However, the role of MIR‐138‐5P (613394) in prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear. METHODS: Expression level of MIR‐138‐5P in PCa cell lines and normal cell line was analyzed with the quantitative real‐time PCR method. Cell counting kit‐8 assay, colony formation assay, wound‐healing assay, and transwell invasion assay were performed to analyze the biological functions of MIR‐138‐5P. RESULTS: We showed MIR‐138‐5P expression level was significantly decreased in PCa cell lines compared with the normal cell line. Overexpression of MIR‐138‐5P inhibits PCa cell proliferation, colony formation, cell migration, and cell invasion in vitro. Mechanistically, we showed Forkhead box C1 (FOXC1, 601090) was a direct target for MIR‐138‐5P in PCa. We confirmed that overexpression of FOXC1 partially reversed the effects of MIR‐138‐5P on PCa cell behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, we showed that MIR‐138‐5P functions as a tumor suppressor gene in PCa via targeting FOXC1.