MiR-675 is frequently overexpressed in gastric cancer and enhances cell proliferation and invasion via targeting a potent anti-tumor gene PITX1

•MiR-675 was elevated in GC tissues and associated with poor prognosis•MiR-675 accelerated GC cell proliferation and invasion•PITX1 is a target of miR-675 and reverses GC cell proliferation and invasion mediated by miR-675 overexpression•The effect of miR-675/PITX1 axis on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)•The effects of miR-675/PITX1 axis on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway