Low expression of microRNA-30c promotes invasion by inducing epithelial mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer.

MicroRNA (miR)‑30c has been identified as a tumor suppressor gene in numerous diseases. Aberrant miR‑30c expression has been associated with the invasion of different types of cancer. However, the potential mechanisms underlying the association between miR‑30c and invasion has been poorly elucidated in non‑small‑cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the present study, quantitative polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that the expression of miR‑30c was reduced in lung cancer specimens (n=85). Suppressing the expression of miR‑30c promoted the invasion of A549 cells, while overexpressed miR‑30c inhibited the invasion of A549 cells. Furthermore, aberrant miR‑30c expression was able to control the expression levels of markers (E‑cadherin, snail and vimentin) of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). In conclusion, miR‑30c regulated the invasion of NSCLC cells and low miR-30 levels induced EMT.