The lncRNA prostate androgen-regulated transcript 1 (PART-1) promotes non-small cell lung cancer progression by regulating the miR-204-3p/IGFBP-2 pathway

Abstract Objectives Lung cancer is a common malignant tumour of the lung and the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80–85% of lung cancers, and 40% of NSCLCs have spread beyond the lungs by the time they are diagnosed. The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) prostate androgen-regulated transcript 1 (PART-1) has been reported to promote the development of several cancers. Methods In the current study, we investigated the role of PART-1 in the proliferation, invasion, and migration of NSCLC. Results The expression levels of the PART-1 gene were higher in NSCLC cell lines, including A549, H1229, H1650, H1975, and PC9, than in human bronchial epithelia (HBE) cell lines. Knocking down PART-1 inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of A549 cells and decreased tumour proliferation in nude mice. We confirmed that PART-1 targeted miR-204-3p directly and that miR-204-3p targeted insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2) directly. Furthermore, we discovered that PART-1 impacts NSCLC progression by regulating the miR-204-3p-targeted IGFBP-2 pathway. Conclusions The lncRNA PART-1 might be a target for treating NSCLC and an early marker in the diagnosis of early lung cancer.