miR‐363‐3p inhibits migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition by targeting NEDD9 and SOX4 in non‐small‐cell lung cancer

Abstract miR‐363‐3p is downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma and can inhibit tumor growth. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of miR‐363‐3p on non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) metastasis. In our study, miR‐363‐3p overexpression inhibited cell migration and invasion via epithelial–mesenchymal transition inhibition, while miR‐363‐3p knockdown exhibited the opposite effects. Further studies demonstrated that miR‐363‐3p bound to 3′‐untranslated regions of NEDD9 and SOX4, and negatively regulated their levels. Interestingly, NEDD9 or SOX4 knockdown rescued the metastasis‐promoting effects of antagomiR‐363‐3p. The inhibitory effects of agomiR‐363‐3p were also blocked by NEDD9 or SOX4 overexpression. Moreover, lentivirus particles carrying pre‐miR‐363 (LV‐pre‐miR‐363) significantly decreased, while LV‐miR‐363‐3p inhibitor increased metastatic nodule numbers and the levels of NEDD9 and SOX4 in lungs. In conclusion, tumor suppressor miR‐363‐3p may be a potential target in NSCLC therapy.