Long noncoding RNA OR3A4 promotes the migration and invasion of melanoma through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have revealed the crucial role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumor progression. This study aims to identify the biological function of lncRNA OR3A4 in the progression of melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: OR3A4 expression in melanoma cells and tissue samples was detected by Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). The regulatory effects of OR3A4 on melanoma cells were identified by performing transwell assay and wound healing assay in vitro. The underlying mechanism of OR3A4 in mediating the progression of melanoma was explored by RT-qPCR and Western blot. RESULTS: OR3A4 expression was remarkably upregulated in melanoma tissues compared with normal tissues. Moreover, migration and invasion of melanoma cells were inhibited after knockdown of OR3A4 in vitro, which were promoted after overexpression of OR3A4. Furthermore, the targeted proteins in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway were downregulated after knockdown of OR3A4 in vitro, which were upregulated by overexpressed OR3A4. CONCLUSIONS: OR3A4 could promote the invasion and migration of melanoma cells by inducing the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which may offer a new therapeutic intervention for melanoma patients.