Upregulated miR-411-5p levels promote lymph node metastasis by targeting RYBP in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Metastasis is the primary cause of the high mortality rates in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). MicroRNA (miR)-411-5p has been discovered to serve an important role in cancer metastases. However, to the best of our knowledge, the association between miR-411-5p expression levels and HNSCC metastasis has not been thoroughly investigated. The present study aimed to research the function of miR-411-5p in HNSCC metastasis. The results of the present study revealed that miR-411-5p expression levels were upregulated in patients with HNSCC with lymph node metastasis and the upregulated expression levels of miR-411-5p were positively associated with the metastatic potential of HNSCC. Moreover, miR-411-5p promoted HNSCC cell migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The results of the dual-luciferase reporter assays identified RING1 and YY1 binding protein (RYBP) as a functional downstream target gene for miR-411-5p. Therefore, whether miR-411-5p downregulated the expression levels of RYBP in HNSCC cells was subsequently investigated. Notably, the silencing of RYBP expression restored the stimulatory effects of miR-411-5p on HNSCC cell migration, invasion and EMT. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of miR-411-5p and RYBP were found to be inversely correlated in HNSCC samples. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that the miR-411-5p-mediated downregulation of RYBP expression levels may exert an important role in HNSCC metastasis and may provide a novel target for the treatment of HNSCC.