Long non-coding RNA DDX11-AS1 facilitates gastric cancer progression by regulating miR-873-5p/SPC18 axis

Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignant tumour with high lethality. Accruing evidence elucidates the critical adjusting role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) in human cancers. DDX11 antisense RNA 1 (DDX11-AS1) was previously found to be involved in GC pathogenesis. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of DDX11-AS1 need to be further investigated. In this study, we found that DDX11-AS1 expression was up-regulated in GC tumour tissues and cells. Increased DDX11-AS1 expression was associated with advanced TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. Functionally, knockdown of DDX11-AS1 repressed cell proliferation and clone formation, while induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. As expected, DDX11-AS1 overexpression displayed the opposite effect. Mechanically, DDX11-AS1 enhanced SPC18 expression through acting as a ceRNA for miR-873-5p. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of DDX11-AS1 silencing on malignant biological behaviour of GC cells was attenuated by either miR-873-5p inhibitor or SEC11A up-regulation. Moreover, suppression of DDX11-AS1 also decreased GC tumorigenesis in vivo. In conclusion, DDX11-AS1 may serve as an oncogene in GC progression by sponging miR-873-5p and promoting SPC18 expression, providing a new insight into the mechanisms of DDX11-AS1 and elucidating a promising therapy target in GC.