Mechanism of LINC00174 in NPC

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated head and neck malignancy with high invasiveness and metastatic potential. Although long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recognized as crucial regulators in cancer biology via competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks, the function and regulatory mechanism of LINC00174 in EBV-positive NPC remain largely unknown.
In this study, we provide the first evidence that LINC00174 acts as an oncogenic lncRNA in EBV-positive NPC C6661 cells. Mechanistically, LINC00174 directly sponges miR3713 and relieves its suppression on TPX2, thereby promoting cell proliferation, invasion, and migration while inhibiting apoptosis. We rigorously validated this novel regulatory axis using qRTPCR, Western blotting, dualluciferase reporter assays, CCK8, colony formation, Transwell, and flow cytometry.
Our findings uncover a new molecular mechanism underlying NPC progression and identify the LINC00174/miR3713/TPX2 axis as a promising diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma.