SLCO4A1-AS1 mediates pancreatic cancer development via miR-4673/KIF21B axis

In this study, we intended to figure out the biological significance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 4A1 antisense RNA 1 (SLCO4A1-AS1) in pancreatic cancer (PC). Cell counting kit-8, colony formation, wound healing, transwell, and flow cytometry experiments were performed to reveal how SLCO4A1-AS1 influences PC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Thereafter, bioinformatics analysis, RNA immunoprecipitation assay, luciferase reporter assay, and RNA pull-down assay were applied for determining the binding sites and binding capacities between SLCO4A1-AS1 and miR-4673 or kinesin family member 21B (KIF21B) and miR-4673. The results depicted that SLCO4A1-AS1 was upregulated in PC, and SLCO4A1-AS1 knockdown suppressed PC cell growth, migration, invasion, and induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, SLCO4A1-AS1 was verified to modulate the expression of KIF21B by binding with miR-4673. SLCO4A1-AS1 exerted an oncogenic function in PC. The overexpression of SLCO4A1-AS1 aggravated the malignant behaviors of PC via the upregulation of KIF21B by sponging miR-4673. Our findings revealed a novel molecular mechanism mediated by SLCO4A1-AS1, which might play a significant role in modulating the biological processes of PC.