We report in this study that microRNA-584-3p (miR-584-3p) is related to the vasculogenic mimicry (VM) of human glioma cells. Unsurprisingly, the postoperative survival time was significantly prolonged in those glioma patients without VM phenomena compared with those with positive VM. miR-584-3p may function as a potent tumor suppressor by inhibiting VM of malignant glioma. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these properties remain poorly understood. Our preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that miR-584-3p suppressed the VM by disturbing hypoxia-induced stress fiber formation and migration of glioma cells. Specifically, we defined ROCK1 as a potential functionally relevant target of miR-584-3p involved in this process in glioma cells. Our results demonstrate a tumor suppressor function for miR-584-3p in glioma, where it inhibits the VM of tumor cells by antagonizing hypoxia-induced ROCK1-dependent stress fiber formation. Our findings have potential implications for glioma gene therapy by targeting miR-584-3p and suggest that VM could represent a prognostic indicator for gliomas.

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