Abstract

In our research, we studied the regulatory effect of miR-29c-3p on HNSCC progression. First, bioinformatics approach was utilized to find significantly differentially expressed genes in The Cancer Genome Atlas-HNSCC. Then the target miRNA and its target mRNA were screened out. Next, qRT-PCR was utilized to examine miR-29c-3p expression in HNSCC and the adjacent tissue. Western blot was introduced to test the protein level of C1QTNF6. Besides, the results of MTT, wound healing, transwell and angiogenesis assays verified the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of HNSCC cells. Finally, the targeted relationship of miR-29c-3p and C1QTNF6 was confirmed through dual-luciferase assay. Our study found the negative correlation of miR-29c-3p and C1QTNF6 in HNSCC. Besides, overexpressed miR-29c-3p suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of HNSCC cells. Additionally, overexpressed C1QTNF6 facilitated these biological functions of HNSCC cells while upregulating miR-29c-3p reversed such effect. Altogether, miR-29c-3p was proven to suppress the tumor-promoting effects and angiogenesis in HNSCC by targeting C1QTNF6. We also revealed a novel mechanism of HNSCC progression. MiR-29c-3p/C1QTNF6 might be a target in HNSCC treatment.