MicroRNA-675-3p promotes esophageal squamous cell cancer cell migration and invasion

Esophageal cancer ranks fourth in cancer-associated mortality in China and the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has risen dramatically over the past two decades. MicroRNA (miRNA/miR) serves a pivotal role in human cancer cell growth, invasion and migration. MiR-675-3p is highly expressed in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) tissues, and may have an influence on ESCC cell migration and invasion. ESCC tumor tissue samples from 35 patients were profiled. MiR-675-3p expression was confirmed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Manipulation of miR-675-3p via knockdown was carried out with subsequent evaluation of effects on cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and use of western blotting and ELISA assays. MiR-675-3p was overexpressed in ESCC tissues compared with normal tissues, and had higher expression levels in ESCC cells compared with the healthy esophageal epithelial cell line. The results revealed a predominant upregulation of cell migration and invasion ability. MiR-675-3p inhibitor inhibited ESCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion ability. It was also demonstrated that downregulation of miR-675-3p decreased the levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9 and increased the level of E-cadherin. In addition, the effects of miR-675-3p inhibitor on ESCC cell lines were eliminated by con-transfection with miR-675-3p inhibitor and miR-675-3p mimic. In conclusion, the results indicated that miR-675-3p may be involved in the progression of ESCC through regulating ESCC cell migration and invasion capacity via modulating epithelial mesenchymal transition markers (MMP2, MMP 9 and E-cadherin).