miR-632 functions as oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma via targeting MYCT1.

microRNAs (miRNAs) have been widely recognized as crucial regulators for tumorigenesis. However, the role of miR-632 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains largely unknown. miR-632 expression in HCC cell lines was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. The role of miR-632 expression on overall survival of HCC patients was examined at KM plotter website. The dual-luciferase reporter method was performed to investigate whether myc target 1 (MYCT1) was a target of miR-632. Cell counting kit-8 assay, colony formation assay, and transwell invasion assay were performed to examine cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell invasion of HCC cells. Our results showed miR-632 expression was elevated in HCC cell lines compared with normal cell line. Loss-of-function experiments demonstrated that miR-632 downregulation was able to inhibit HCC cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell invasion. Moreover, miR-632 could negatively regulate the expression of MYCT1 in HCC cells. Importantly, we showed miR-632 and MYCT1 was negatively correlated by analyzing the public datasets obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus. Knockdown of MYCT1 by small interfering RNA partially reversed the effects of miR-632 on HCC cell events. The present study suggested that miR-632 regulated growth and invasion of HCC cells through targeting MYCT1.