Circular RNA ZNF609 promotes laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma progression by upregulating epidermal growth factor receptor via sponging microRNA-134-5p

Emerging evidence has revealed that aberrantly expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs) play vital roles in tumorigenesis and progression of diverse human malignancies. CircZNF609 was found to be involved in hepatocellular carcinoma, but the role and underlying mechanism of circZNF609 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of circZNF609 in LSCC. qRT-qPCR was performed to detect the expression of circZNF609 and microRNA-134-5p (miR-134-5p) in LSCC. Colony formation assay, CCK-8 assay, BrdU incorporation assay, clone formation assay, transwell invasion assay and Western blot analysis were performed to evaluate LSCC cell proliferation, as well as the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and MMP-2. Luciferase reporter assay, target gene prediction and screening were used to validate downstream target genes of circZNF609 and miR-134-5p. EGFR expression was detected by Western blot analysis and RT-qPCR. Nude mice were used to detect tumor changes. CircZNF609 was upregulated in LSCC and associated with poor survival of LSCC patients. Knockdown of circZNF609 inhibited LSCC proliferation, invasion and the expression of PCNA and matrix matalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2). CircZNF609 can regulate miR-134-5p to upregulate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In addition, knockdown of EGFR or overexpression of miR-134-5p could reverse the tumor-promoting effects of circZNF609 in LSCC. In LSCC tissues, circZNF609 was negatively correlated with miR-134-5p and positively correlated with EGFR. CircZNF609 promotes the progression of LSCC via the miR-134-5p/EGFR axis, which might be the therapeutic target of LSCC.