Long noncoding RNAs cancer susceptibility candidate 2 (CASC2) have been demonstrated as playing crucial regulatory roles in a few of cancers. However, the biological function of lncRNA CASC2 in bladder cancer are still unclear. In this study, we found that lncRNA CASC2 was significantly down-regulated in bladder cancer tissues and cell lines by quantitative real time-PCR and associated with advanced TNM stage (III/IV). Moreover, overexpression of lncRNA CASC2 remarkably reduced the cell growth, migration and invasion, as well as promoted early apoptosis of bladder cancer cell in vitro. Furthermore, we illustrated that lncRNA CASC2 inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway activity by decrasing the β-catenin expression and reversing the downstream target gene expression of Wnt signaling pathway. Taken together, lncRNA CASC2 plays an pivotal role in bladder tumorigenesis and progression and may act as a potential biomarker for the treatment of bladder cancer.

The purpose of the present study was to explore the role and mechanism of extracellular ecto-5'-nucleotidase (CD73) in human colorectal cancer growth. Firstly, CD73 expression was detected in colorectal cancer cell lines both at the mRNA and protein levels. Secondly, recombinant CD73 interference and overexpression lentiviruses were used, respectively. Colony formation assay, CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry were used to investigate the impact of CD73 on colorectal cancer cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution. Then, adenosine and CD73 enzyme activity inhibitor (APCP) were used to study the effect of CD73 on Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and β-catenin/cyclin D1 signaling pathways. Finally, a human colorectal cancer transplantation nude mouse model was used to observe the effect of CD73 on tumor growth in vivo. As the results showed, CD73 was highly expressed in the colorectal cancer cell lines. CD73 promoted colorectal cancer cell proliferation both in vivo and in vitro. CD73 activated EGFR and the β-catenin/cyclin D1 signaling pathways through its enzyme and non-enzyme activities. All of the results confirmed that CD73 promotes the growth of human colorectal cancer cells through EGFR and the β-catenin/cyclin D1 signaling pathway. CD73 may be used as a valuable biomarker of colorectal cancer.

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) colon cancer-associated transcript 2 (CCAT2) has been demonstrated to play an important role in diverse tumorigenesis. However, the biological function of lncRNAs in glioma is still unknown. In this study, we found that lncRNA CCAT2 was overexpressed in glioma tissues and cell lines and associated with tumor grade and size. Furthermore, patients with high levels of lncRNA CCAT2 had poorer survival than those with lower levels of lncRNA CCAT2. Knocking down lncRNA CCAT2 expression significantly suppressed the glioma cell growth, migration, and invasion, as well as induced early apoptosis of glioma cells in vitro. Moreover, lncRNA CCAT2 regulated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated gene expression. In conclusion, lncRNA CCAT2 plays an important role in glioma tumorigenesis and progression and may act as a potential biomarker for therapeutic strategy and prognostic prediction.