LINC00963 predicts poor prognosis and promotes esophageal cancer cells invasion via targeting miR-214-5p/RAB14 axis

OBJECTIVE: To explore the roles and underlying mechanism of LINC00963 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative Real Time-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect LINC00963 expression in ESCC tissues. EdU, colony formation, and transwell invasion assays were used to detect the proliferation and metastasis ability of ESCC, respectively. The correlation between LINC00963 and miR-214-5p in ESCC was confirmed by a Luciferase reporter and RIP assays. RESULTS: LINC00963 expression was significantly increased in ESCC tissues and correlated with advanced TNM stage, metastasis, and poor prognosis. The knockdown of LINC00963 expression reduced ESCC cells proliferation, invasion in vitro, and reduced tumor growth in vivo. In mechanism, LINC00963 served as a sponge for miR-214-5p in ESCC progression. In addition, miR-214-5p could bind to RAB14 and regulate its expression. CONCLUSIONS: LINC00963 might promote ESCC cells proliferation and invasion via regulating the miR-214-5p/RAB14 axis and it might serve as a therapeutic target for ESCC treatment.