Long Non-coding RNA GAS5 Functions as a Tumor Suppressorin Renal Cell Carcinoma

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a malignancy with a poor prognosis. We aimed to explore whetherthe expression of Long Non-Coding RNA (LncRNA) growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) is associated withRCC genesis.
Methods: We selected twelve clinical samples diagnosed for renal clear cell carcinoma and foundthat the LncRNA GAS5 transcript levels were significantly reduced relative to those in adjacent unaffectednormal renal tissues.
Results: In addition, expression of GAS5 was lower in the RCC cell line A498 than that innormal renal cell line HK-2. Furthermore, using functional expression cloning, we found that overexpressionof GAS5 in A498 cells inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis and arrested cell cycling. At the sametime, the migration and invasion potential of A498 cells were inhibited compared to control groups.
Conclusion:Our study provided the first evidence that a decrease in GAS5 expression is associated with RCC genesis andprogression and overexpression of GAS5 can act as a tumor suppressor for RCC, providing a potential attractivetherapeutic approach for this malignancy.