Long non-coding RNA FENDRR restrains the aggressiveness of CRC via regulating miR-18a-5p/ING4 axis

There is increasing evidence has indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in the tumorigenesis and development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Nevertheless, the clinical significances and functions of FENDRR in CRC remain unknown. In this study, we reveal that lncRNA FENDRR is downregulated in CRC and negatively correlated with advanced stage and poor clinical outcomes of patient with CRC. Overexpression of FENDRR represses the proliferation, migrate and invasive capacities of CRC cell in vitro, and upregulation of FENDRR inhibits the growth and distant metastatic capacity of CRC cell in vivo. Mechanistically, FENDRR interacts with miRNA-18a-5p (miR-18a-5p) and subsequently regulates the expression of inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4) in CRC cell. Interestingly, ING4 repression or miR-18a-5p rescues FENDRR induced proliferation and aggressive phenotypes inhibition of CRC cell. Altogether, our findings suggest that FENDRR exerts an inhibitory role in CRC by interacting with miR-18a-5p and future increases ING4 expression.