MicroRNA-153 inhibits the proliferation and invasion of human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma by targeting KLF5.

microRNA (miR)-153 has been shown to play a role in several solid malignancies; however, its expression and function in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) have not been fully explored. In the present study, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed in order to detect the expression levels of miR-153 in mucosal specimens isolated from patients undergoing total laryngectomy. In addition, in vitro experiments were performed to analyze the cellular proliferation and invasion abilities of human epithelial type 2 (HEp-2) cells transfected with miR-153 mimics or miR-153 antisense oligonucleotide (ASO). It was found that miR-153 was downregulated in LSCC tissues. Furthermore, while miR-153 mimics inhibited cell proliferation and invasion, miR-153 ASO promoted HEp-2 cell growth and invasion. At a molecular level, it was predicted by bioinformatics that kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) has a miR-153 binding site. Luciferase and protein expression analyses revealed that miR-153 inhibited the protein expression of KLF5. These results suggest that miR-153 may act as a tumor suppressor during LSCC progression via the suppression of KLF5, and could potentially serve as a therapeutic target for LSCC.