LncRNA TUSC8 suppresses the proliferation and migration of esophageal cancer cells by downregulation of VEGFA

Objective: This study aims to determine the expression pattern of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) TUSC8 in esophageal cancer tissues and cell lines, to investigate its effects on esophageal cancer cell proliferation and migration, and to explore the mechanism of TUSC8-mediated esophageal cancer suppression via VEGFA downregulation. Patients and Methods: TUSC8 levels in esophageal cancer tissues and cell lines were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The influence of TUSC8 on clinical features in esophageal cancer patients was analyzed. After intervening TUSC8 expression in esophageal cancer cells, the proliferative and migratory abilities were examined in OE19 and TE-1 cells through a series of function experiments. The interaction between TUSC8 and VEGFA was assessed by the bioinformatics prediction and dual-luciferase reporter assay. Finally, the co-regulation of TUSC8 and VEGFA on esophageal cancer cell functions was evaluated. Results: TUSC8 was downregulated in esophageal cancer tissues compared with normal ones. Identically, decreased TUSC8 expression was detected in esophageal cancer cell lines compared with control cells. Low TUSC8 expression predicted poor prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer. Knockdown of TUSC8 promoted the proliferative and migratory abilities in OE19 cells, whereas overexpression of TUSC8 resulted in opposite results in TE-1 cells. VEGFA was confirmed to be a target gene of TUSC8. Overexpression of VEGFA could reverse the regulatory effects of TUSC8 on esophageal cancer cell proliferation and migration. Conclusions: LncRNA TUSC8 is downregulated in esophageal cancer tissues and cell lines. TUSC8 inhibits the proliferative and migratory abilities in esophageal cancer cells in vitro by negatively regulating VEGFA.