LncRNA MIR99AHG serves as a diagnostic marker for early lung cancer and regulates cancer cell growth and metastasis via miR-194-5p

Background: Lung cancer ranks among the foremost causes of mortality associated with cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents the predominant subtype, and the survival rate is suboptimal.

Objectives: This study investigated the clinical relationship between MIR99AHG and NSCLC, as well as elucidated the potential mechanisms. This study identified novel molecular targets for NSCLC.

Patients and methods: This study involved 119 NSCLC patients and 105 benign lung lesions patients. qPCR was employed to assess the expression of MIR99AHG and miR-194-5p. The clinical correlation, diagnostic value, and predictive capacity of MIR99AHG were evaluated utilizing chi-square tests, ROC analysis, and logistic regression models, respectively. A cell model exhibiting overexpression of MIR99AHG was established, and the impact of MIR99AHG overexpression, and in conjunction with miR-194-5p overexpression, on the functional characteristics of lung cancer cells was investigated through CCK-8 and Transwell assays.

Results: MIR99AHG exhibited down-regulation in NSCLC patients’ serum and lung cancer cell lines, while miR-194-5p showed up-regulation. The expression of MIR99AHG was correlated with TNM staging and LNM status in early-stage NSCLC patients. MIR99AHG demonstrated predictive capabilities for the early NSCLC occurrence, both independently and in conjunction with serum tumor markers, and exhibited significant diagnostic potential for this condition. Moreover, the overexpression of MIR99AHG could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells. However, the concurrent overexpression of MIR99AHG and miR-194-5p appeared to negate this inhibitory effect.

Conclusion: MIR99AHG might as a supplementary diagnosis tool for early NSCLC. Furthermore, MIR99AHG could regulate the initiation and advancement of NSCLC via miR-194-5p.