MiR-601 inhibited small cell lung cancer progression by modulating SIRT1

Background Dysfunction of microRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) progression. Accumulating evidence indicated miR-601, acted as a tumor suppressor gene, has shown an altered expression pattern in multiple cancers. However, little was known about in terms of the function of miR-601 during SCLC progression. Objective Our project intended to illustrate the functions of miR-601 during the development and metastasis of SCLC. Results We found a decreased expression of miR-601 in SCLC tumor tissues and cell lines. Moreover, functional studies suggested that miR-601 overexpression resulted in a reduced cell growth and induced apoptosis of SCLC cells. Notably, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) was identified as a putative target of miR-601. MiR-601 suppressed SIRT1 expression via interacting with the 3 '-untranslated region (UTR) of SIRT1 in SCLC cells. Also, SIRT1 expression was negatively associated with that of miR-601 in SCLC tissues. The restoration of SIRT1 alleviated the inhibitory effect of miR-601 on SCLC progression. Conclusion Our data documented the tumor-suppressive function of miR-601 in SCLC via targeting SIRT1, suggesting miR-601 as a new potential therapeutic approach for SCLC treatment.