lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 knockdown inhibits colorectal cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness via the PI3K/AKT pathway

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common primary malignancies worldwide. Numerous studies have demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered as crucial regulators of tumor progression. In particular, upregulation of the lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 was reported in various types of malignancy as a promoter of tumor progression. However, the role and underlying mechanism of KCNQ1OT1 in CRC remain unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the role of KCNQ1OT1 in colorectal cancer through GEPIA, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blot analyses, and cell assays. GEPIA analysis demonstrated that high expression levels of KCNQ1OT1 in CRC tissues predicted a poor prognosis for patients with CRC. KCNQ1OT1 was overexpressed in CRC tissues and cell lines via RT-qPCR analysis. Furthermore, the results from the cell viability assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, invasion assay and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that KCNQ1OT1 knockdown significantly inhibited CRC cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness, and promoted CRC cell apoptosis, leading to cell cycle arrest. Western blot analysis demonstrated that KCNQ1OT1 knockdown inhibited the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These results suggest that KCNQ1OT1 may act as an oncogene through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in CRC.