LncRNA LUADT1 Promotes Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Proliferation by Regulating miR-34a/GAS1 Axis

INTRODUCTION: The oncogenic role of lncRNA LUADT1 has been investigated only in lung cancer. This study aimed to investigate the role of LUADT1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression levels of LUADT1 in paired OSCC and non-tumor tissues from OSCC patients were determined by RT-qPCR. A 5-year follow-up study was performed to analyze the prognostic value of LUADT1 for OSCC. Dual-luciferase assay and overexpression experiments were performed to assess the interactions among LUADT1, miR-34a and GASL1. Cell proliferation was analyzed by cell proliferation assay. RESULTS: In this study, we found that LUADT1 was upregulated in OSCC and predicted poor survival. LUADT1 was predicted to interact with miR-34a, which was confirmed by dual-luciferase activity assay. However, overexpression experiments showed that they did not affect the expression of each other. Interestingly, overexpression of LUADT1 resulted in upregulation of GAS1, a target of miR-34a. Cell proliferation assay revealed that overexpression of LUADT1 and GAS1 resulted in promoted cell proliferation. MiR-34a played an opposite role and reversed the effects of LUADT1 overexpression. CONCLUSION: LUADT1 may promote OSCC proliferation by regulating miR-34a/GAS1 axis.