lncRNA MORT Regulates Bladder Cancer Behaviors by Downregulating MicroRNA-146a-5p

BACKGROUND Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the progression of various cancers. lncRNA MORT is downregulated in bladder cancer, while its function in this disease is unknown. METHODS lncRNA MORT and miR-146a-5p expression in 56 bladder cancer patients was detected by RT-qPCR. Correlations between MORT and miR-146a-5p were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient. CCK-8 and flow transwell assays were applied to examine the behavioral changes in HT-1197 and HT-1376. RESULTS We found that miR-146a-5p was upregulated, while lncRNA MORT was downregulated in bladder cancer. miR-146a-5p and MORT were inversely and significantly correlated in tumor tissues. Overexpression of miR-146a-5p promoted, while overexpression of lncRNA MORT inhibited the invasion, migration, and proliferation of cells of bladder cancer cell lines. In addition, overexpression of lncRNA MORT inhibited miR-146a-5p; miR-146a-5p overexpression failed to significantly affect lncRNA MORT expression but attenuated its inhibitory effects on cancer cell behaviors. CONCLUSION lncRNA MORT may regulate bladder cancer cell behaviors by downregulating miR-146a-5p.