miR-653-5p suppresses the growth and migration of breast cancer cells by targeting MAPK6

Breast cancer is the worldwide leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in the carcinogenesis and progression of breast cancer. miR-653-5p was previously reported to be involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, the role of miR-653-5p in the progression of breast cancer has not been studied. In the present study, it was found that overexpression of miR-653-5p significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells in vitro. Moreover, overexpression of miR-653-5p promoted cell apoptosis in breast cancer by regulating the Bcl-2/Bax axis and caspase-9 activation. Additionally, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and activation of the Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway were also inhibited by miR-653-5p. Furthermore, the data demonstrated that miR-653-5p directly targeted mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 (MAPK6) and negatively regulated its expression in breast cancer cells. Upregulation of MAPK6 could overcome the inhibitory effects of miR-653-5p on cell proliferation and migration in breast cancer. In conclusion, this study suggested that miR-653-5p functions as a tumor suppressor by targeting MAPK6 in the progression of breast cancer, and it may be a potential target for breast cancer therapy.