MiR-338 suppresses the growth and metastasis of OSCC cells by targeting NRP1.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that have been suggested to play an essential role in tumorigenesis. Reduced expression of miR-338 has been reported in several types of cancers; however, the role of miR-338 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not been elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated that miR-338 was dramatically downregulated in OSCC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-338 significantly inhibited proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells. In addition, neuropilin1 (NRP1) was identified as a target of miR-338 in OSCC cells and inversely correlated with miR-338 in OSCC tissues. Furthermore, restoration of NRP1 attenuated the tumor-suppressive effects of miR-338. Taken together, miR-338 might inhibit growth and metastasis of OSCC cells by targeting NRP1.