Long noncoding RNA LINC‐PINT is inhibited in gastric cancer and predicts poor survival

Abstract Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) LINC‐PINT expression is inhibited in many types of cancer cells, suggesting its role as a tumor suppressor. However, the functionality of LINC‐PINT in gastric cancer and the clinical values are unknown. In the present study, we found that lncRNA LINC‐PINT was downregulated, while microRNA‐21 ( miR‐21 ) was upregulated in tumor tissues than in adjacent healthy tissues of gastric cancer patients. A significant and inverse correlation between expression levels of lncRNA LINC‐PINT and miR‐21 was found in both tumor tissues and adjacent healthy tissues. The low expression level of LINC‐PINT and high expression level of the miR‐21 tumor were correlated with poor prognosis. LINC‐PINT overexpression casued miR‐21 inhibition in cells of human gastric cancer cell lines, while miR‐21 overexpression did not alter LINC‐PINT expression. LINC‐PINT overexpression led to inhibited, while miR‐21 overexpression led to promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells. Effects of LINC‐PINT overexpression on cellular behaviors of gastric cancer cells were attenuated by miR‐21 overexpression. Therefore, LINC‐PINT may participate in gastric cancer through the crosstalk with miR‐21 .