Long non-coding RNA gastric
carcinoma high-expressed transcript 1 (
lncRNA GHET1) is highly expressed in many
tumors. The aim of the present study was to determine whether GHET1 inhibition decreases growth and
metastasis of MCF-7
breast cancer cells by modulating
epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression. In vitro,
lncRNA GHET1 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and enhanced cell apoptosis by maintaining MCF-7 cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore,
lncRNA GHET1 knockdown reduced the expression of EGFR and related
proteins. Treatment of mice with a GHET1 inhibitor prevented
tumor growth in vivo. The results indicate that
lncRNA GHET1 inhibition directly suppresses EGFR expression, significantly inhibiting the downstream PI3K/AKT/
Cyclin D1/MMP2/9 pathway. This mechanism may underlie the suppression of
breast cancer cell activities including proliferation, migration, and invasion. In conclusion,
lncRNA GHET1 knockdown suppresses
tumor growth and
metastasis by suppressing the activity of EGFR and downstream pathways.