Inhibiting malignant phenotypes of the bladder cancer cells by silencing long noncoding RNA SChLAP1.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play key roles in process of cancer cell growth and apoptosis and have received increasing attention. SChLAP1 is a novel lncRNA that is required for development and progression of prostate cancer. We hypothesized that SChLAP1 also has important biological functions in human bladder cancer which is another type of urological cancer.

METHODS: The expression of SChLAP1 in bladder cancer was determined using real-time qPCR. Bladder cancer T24 and 5637 cells were transfected with SChLAP1 siRNA or negative control siRNA. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration were determined using CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry analysis and wound healing assay, respectively.

RESULTS: SChLAP1 was overexpressed in bladder cancer tissues compared to paired normal bladder tissues. Cell growth arrest, apoptosis induction and migration inhibition were also observed in bladder cancer T24 and 5637 cells after transfection with SChLAP1 siRNA.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that SChLAP1 plays oncogenic roles and can be used as a therapeutic target for treating human bladder cancer.