Long non-coding RNA DANCR promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell proliferation and migration

Aberrant expression of numerous long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been reported to be associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The present study aimed to investigate the expression and function of lncRNA differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA (DANCR) in NPC pathogenesis. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction results suggested that DANCR was significantly upregulated in NPC cells. Overexpression of DANCR promoted 5-8F cell proliferation and migration, as detected by Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation and wound healing assays. DANCR was additionally identified to inhibit apoptosis, as determined by flow cytometric analysis. Furthermore, DANCR knockdown suppressed cell proliferation and migration, and promoted cell apoptosis in SUNE-1 cell. Western blot analysis suggested that DANCR regulated the phosphorylation of AKT serine/threonine kinase and the protein expression of PTEN in NPC cells. Knockdown of DANCR decreased tumor growth in a xenograft model following subcutaneous injection of SUNE-1 cells. Collectively, the present results suggested that DANCR regulated the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of NPC cells.