RP11-874J12.4 promotes oral squamous cell carcinoma tumorigenesis via the miR-19a-5p/EBF1 axis

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) ranks as the fifth most frequent Cancer worldwide, and the recurrence and migration of OSCC still pose large threats to patients. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently emerged as crucial players in Cancer development, and it is of great significance to understand the regulatory nexus of lncRNAs in OSCC.

Methods: Here, we identified a novel lncRNA, RP11-874J12.4, which is ectopically expressed in OSCC and facilitates OSCC.

Results: RP11-874J12.4 directly binds to and regulates miR-19a-5p. Interestingly, RP11-874J12.4 and miR-19a-5p form a negative regulatory loop that inhibits the expression of miR-19a-5p in OSCC. The expression of an oncogenic transcription factor, EBF1, is unleashed in OSCC due to the low expression of miR-19a-5p, which promotes the growth and migration of OSCC.

Conclusion: Our data illustrate a regulatory axis of RP11-874J12.4/miR-19a-5P/EBF1 and an inhibitory loop with RP11-874J12.4 and miR-19a-5p. These data provide insights into the tumorigenesis of OSCC and the novel drug targets for OSCC.