MicroRNA-7 inhibits metastasis and invasion through targeting focal adhesion kinase in cervical cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are aberrantly expressed in cervical cancer. miR-7 has been demonstrated to function as both an oncogene and a tumor suppressor in some types of human cancers. In the present study, miR-7 was significantly downregulated in cervical cancer, especially metastatic tumors. Ectopic expression of miR-7 significantly inhibited metastasis and invasion in Hela and C33A cells. Upregulated miR-7 significantly suppressed focal adhesion kinase (FAK) at transcriptional and translational levels. Furthermore, the level of FAK was negatively correlated with miR-7 in cervical cancer tissues. In conclusion, miR-7 inhibited the metastasis and invasion of cervical cancer at least partially through targeting FAK. The findings of this study provide novel insight with potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of metastatic cervical cancer.