The long non-coding RNA LINC01606 contributes to the metastasis and invasion of human gastric cancer and is associated with Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Abstract The dysregulation of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has increasingly been linked to human gastric cancer (GC). However, the LINC01606 expression level and clinical values, and its role in the molecular mechanism underlying GC remain largely unknown. In our research, we found that LINC010606 was elevated aberrantly and correlated with metastasis and invasion in GC patients. Moreover, we found that LINC01606 expression level was associated with Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In addition, subsequent functional experiments showed that JW74, a specific Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitor, inhibited the transcription of LINC01606 and suppressed migration and invasion in GC cell lines. We also revealed that LINC01606 might be associated with miR-423-5p to regulate the level to which the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is activated. In summary, the findings of this study, based on competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) theory, combine new data on the interaction between miR-423-5p and Wnt3a and introduce LINC01606 as a new focus for research, thus providing new insight into possible molecular-level approaches to preventing the migration and invasion of GC.