MicroRNA-203 inhibits cellular proliferation and invasion by targeting Bmi1 in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

MicroRNAs are proposed to serve vital functions in the regulation of tumor progression and invasion. However, the expression levels of miR‑203 in non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its clinical significance remain unknown. In the present study, the association between B‑cell‑specific moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1 (Bmi1) and miR‑203 was investigated. miR‑203 was demonstrated to act as a tumor suppressor by regulating the expression of Bmi1. miR‑203 expression levels were downregulated in NSCLC tissues while Bmi1 expression was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, downregulated Bmi1 or enhanced miR‑203 expression inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. In addition, a dual‑luciferase reporter assay was performed, which identified Bmi1 as a novel target of miR‑203. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that miR‑203 functions as a tumor suppressor and is important in inhibiting the proliferation of NSCLC cells through targeting Bmi1. These findings indicate that miR‑203 may be useful as a novel potential therapeutic target for NSCLC.