Background: Upregulation of lncRNA BBOX1 antisense RNA 1 (BBOX1-AS1) has been examined in various tumors. However, its role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains poorly understood.
Methods: RT-qPCR was performed to measure the expression of BBOX1-AS1, KPNA2 , and miR-3940-3p. In vitro assays were performed to determine the alteration of cell phenotypes in NPC cells upon transfection or co-transfection with sh-BBOX1-AS1, sh-KPNA2, or miR-3940-3p inhibitor. The BBOX1-AS1–miR-3940-3p and miR-3940-3p-KPNA2 interplay was verified via luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays.
Results: High BBOX1-AS1 levels were detected in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues. BBOX1-AS1 silencing considerably suppressed the proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of NPC cells in vitro. Interestingly, BBOX1-AS1 could specifically bind to miR-3940-3 and abrogate the inhibition of KPNA2  induced by miR-3940-3. Additionally, analysis of tissue samples showed that miR-3940-3 was inversely correlated with BBOX1-AS1 and KPNA2.
Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the BBOX1-AS1/miR-3940-3/KPNA2 axis is pro-oncogenic in NPC progression, uncovering novel insights into targeted therapy for this disorder.
Keywords: migration, proliferation, invasion, nasopharyngeal carcinoma