@Article{or.2024.044547,
AUTHOR = {CHAOQUN WANG, TING ZHANG, CHAOHE ZHANG},
TITLE = {LncRNA AFAP1-AS1 exhibits oncogenic characteristics and promotes gemcitabine-resistance of cervical cancer cells through miR-7-5p/EGFR axis},
JOURNAL = {Oncology Research},
VOLUME = {32},
YEAR = {2024},
NUMBER = {12},
PAGES = {1867--1879},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/or/v32n12/58607},
ISSN = {1555-3906},
ABSTRACT = { <b>Background:</b> Drug resistance is the main factor contributing to cancer recurrence and poor prognosis. Exploration of drug resistance-related mechanisms and effective therapeutic targets are the aim of molecular targeted therapy. In our study, the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) AFAP1-AS1 in gemcitabine resistance and related mechanisms were explored in cervical cancer cells. <b>Methods:</b> Gemcitabine-resistant cervical cancer cell lines HT-3-Gem and SW756-Gem were constructed using the gemcitabine concentration gradient method. The overall survival rates and recurrence-free survival rates were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The interaction was verified through a Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and a Biotinylated RNA pull-down assay. Cell proliferation ability was assessed through methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT), soft agar, and colony formation experiments. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. <b>Results:</b> Up-regulation of AFAP1-AS1 in cervical cancer predicted a poor prognosis. Besides, patients in the gemcitabine-resistance group had higher levels of AFAP1-AS1 than the gemcitabine-sensitive group. AFAP1-AS1 promoted tumor growth and induced gemcitabine tolerance of cervical cancer cells. In addition, AFAP1-AS1 mediated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression by serving as a molecular sponge for microRNA-7a-5p (miR-7-5p). This present study also proved that the knockdown of EGFR or overexpression of miR-7a-5p abolished the accelerative role of AFAP1-AS1 overexpression in cancer progression and gemcitabine tolerance. <b>Conclusions:</b> In general, the AFAP1-AS1/miR-7-5p/EGFR axis was tightly related to the progression and gemcitabine tolerance of cervical cancer, providing potential targets for the management of cervical cancer.},
DOI = {10.32604/or.2024.044547}
}