MicroRNA‑203‑3p inhibits the proliferation, invasion and migration of pancreatic cancer cells by downregulating fibroblast growth factor 2

Fu,Xi-Feng; Zhao,Hai-Chao; Yang,Chuan-Li; Chen,Chang-Zhou; Wang,Kang; Gao,Fei; Tian,Yang-Zhang; Zhao,Hao-Liang

doi:10.3892/ol.2021.12887

MicroRNA‑203‑3p inhibits the proliferation, invasion and migration of pancreatic cancer cells by downregulating fibroblast growth factor 2

Authors:
- Xi-Feng Fu
- Hai-Chao Zhao
- Chuan-Li Yang
- Chang-Zhou Chen
- Kang Wang
- Fei Gao
- Yang-Zhang Tian
- Hao-Liang Zhao
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Affiliations: Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030032, P.R. China, Third Clinical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, P.R. China
Published online on: June 30, 2021 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2021.12887
Article Number: 626
Copyright: © Fu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Aberrant expression of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) is a major cause of poor prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer. MicroRNA (miRNA/miR) miR‑203‑3p is a newly identified miRNA that can affect the biological behavior of tumors. The present study investigated the function of miR‑203‑3p on the regulation of FGF2 expression, and its role in pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration. Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression levels of miR‑203‑3p and FGF2 in vitro. Cell Counting Kit‑8, Annexin V‑APC/7‑AAD double‑staining Apoptosis Detection kit, wound healing and Transwell assays were used to determine the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. The binding of miR‑203‑3p to FGF2 was assessed by a luciferase reporter assay. The results demonstrated that miR‑203‑3p expression was downregulated in pancreatic cancer cells. Gain‑ and loss‑of‑function experiments indicated that miR‑203‑3p inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted the apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. In addition, it was found that alteration of miR‑203‑3p abolished the promoting effects of FGF2 on pancreatic cancer cells. The present study demonstrated that FGF2 significantly promoted the proliferation, invasion and migration of pancreatic cancer cells. The mechanism involved the binding of miR‑203‑3p to the 3'‑untranslated region of FGF2 mRNA, resulting in the downregulation of FGF2. In conclusion, miR‑203‑3p inhibited FGF2 expression, regulated the proliferation and inhibited the invasion and migration of pancreatic cancer cells.

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