Microrna-20a Targeting Lass2 Promotes The Proliferation, Invasiveness And Migration Of Bladder Cancer

Background: Abnormal expression of miR-20a is reported in various types of malignancy neoplasms. However, its function is not consistent in different tumors. This study aims to explore the potential functions of miR-20a and its underlying mechanisms in bladder cancer.Methods: Ninety-six patients diagnosed with bladder cancer were recruited into the study. The expression levels of miR-20a in bladder cancer samples and adjacent non-tumor samples were investigated by qRT-PCR. Wound healing, CCK8, and transwell migration assays were carried out for determining the functions of miR20a. Bioinformatics analysis was used for predicting the downstream gene of miR-20a. Western blot, qRT-PCR, and fluorescent reporter assays were used to verify the target gene.Results: MiR-20a was significantly increased in bladder cancer tissues, and its rising level was closely correlated with histological grade, clinical stage, recurrence and metastasis in bladder cancer. Exogenous up-regulation of miR-20a expression obviously enhanced the aggressive biological functions of bladder cancer in vitro. LASS2 was verified to be a target gene of miR-20a. Moreover, miR-20a can negatively regulate LASS2 at protein and mRNA levels.Conclusions: Increasing miR-20a is closely related to aggressive clinicopathological features. MiR-20a plays an oncogenic role in bladder cancer, which contributes to target LASS2 directly.