miR-373 inhibits nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell migration and invasion by targeting MARCH5.

: The abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is critical for the development of human cancers. However, the functions of many miRNAs remain to be elucidated. miR-373 was reported to involve the tumorigenesis of multiple cancers, but its role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is not clear. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to analyze miR-373 expression in NPC cell lines. The connection between membrane associated ring-CH-type finger 5 (MARCH5) and miR-373 was analyzed using a luciferase activity reporter assay and western blot. A cell counting kit-8 assay, a colony formation assay, and a wound-healing assay were performed to investigate the biological functions of miR-373 and MARCH5. We showed miR-373 expression is downregulated, and MARCH5 expression is upregulated, in NPC cells. MARCH5 was validated as a direct target of miR-373. miR-373 regulates NPC cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration by regulating MARCH5. In conclusion, our study showed that miR-373 has a tumor suppressive role in NPC by targeting MARCH5. This may provide novel therapeutic targets for NPC.