BackgroundAbnormal microRNA expression is closely related to cancer occurrence and development. miR-365a-3p plays an oncogenic role in skin cancer, but its role in lung cancer remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate its role and underlying molecular mechanisms in lung cancer.MethodsWestern blot and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) were used to detect the expression of miR-365a-3p in lung adenocarcinoma and lung cancer cell lines. The effects of miR-365a-3p on lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were also explored in vitro. The potential miR-365a-3p that targets USP33 was determined by dual luciferase reporter assay and verified by qPCR and western blot analysis. miR-365a-3p acts as an oncogene by promoting lung carcinogenesis via the downregulation of the miR-365a/USP33/SLIT2/ROBO1 axis based on western blot analysis. Subcutaneous tumourigenesis further demonstrated that miR-365a-3p promotes tumour formation in vivo.ResultsmiR-365a-3p was upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma and lung cancer cell lines. Overexpression of miR-365a-3p promoted and inhibition of miR-365a-3p suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells. We identified USP33 as the downstream target of miR-365a-3p and observed a negative correlation between miR-365a-3p and USP33 expression in lung adenocarcinoma patients. The miR-365/USP33/SLIT2/ROBO1 axis, a new mechanism, was reported to inhibit the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer. A nude mouse model of lung cancer further verified these findings.ConclusionsIn summary, miR-365a-3p acts as an oncogene by promoting lung carcinogenesis via the downregulation of the USP33/SLIT2/ROBO1 signalling pathway, making the miR-365/USP33/SLIT2/ROBO1 axis a new mechanism of lung cancer promotion and a novel therapeutic target for predicting prognosis and response to gene therapy.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12935-018-0563-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Purpose Primary pulmonary lympho-epithelioma-like carcinoma (PPLELC) is a rare subtype of primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, there is still lack of research data on anti-angiogenic therapy of advanced PPLELC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of anti-angiogenic therapy combined with chemotherapy compared with traditional chemotherapy for these patients. Methods Advanced PPLELC patients admitted to six grade A hospitals from January 2013 to January 2021 were selected. The patients received anti-angiogenic therapy combined with chemotherapy (AT group) or chemotherapy (CT group) alone. Results A total of 65 patients were included in this study, including 31 patients in the AT group treated with anti-angiogenic therapy combined with chemotherapy and 34 patients in the CT group treated with chemotherapy alone. As of October 1, 2021, the median progression-free survival (PFS) in the AT group was 11.2 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.9–16.5]. The median PFS in the CT group was 7.0 months [95%CI, 5.1–8.9] [Hazard Ratio (HR), 0.49; 95%CI, 0.29–0.83; P = 0.008]. The 1-year PFS rates were 41.9% and 17.6%, respectively. The overall response rates (ORR) of two groups were 45.2% (95% CI, 0.27–0.64), 38.2% (95% CI, 0.21–0.56), (P = 0.571). The disease control rates (DCR) of two groups were 93.5% (95% CI, 0.84–1.03), 88.2% (95% CI, 0.77–1.00), (P = 0.756). Conclusion Among patients with advanced PPLELC, the PFS of patients with anti-angiogenic therapy combined with chemotherapy is better than that of patients with chemotherapy alone. Anti-angiogenic therapy combined with chemotherapy is an optional treatment scheme.