miRNA-101 acts as a tumor suppressor in oral squamous cell carcinoma by targeting CX chemokine receptor 7.

miR-101 is significantly downregulated in various human cancers, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the role of miR-101 in OSCC has not been elucidated. In this study, miR-101 lowly expressed in OSCC tissues and cell lines compared with that in adjacent normal tissues and human normal oral keratinocyte cells. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that miR-101 could potentially target CX chemokine receptor 7 (CXCR7), a promoter of tumor development, to attenuate OSCC progression. Restoring miR-101 expression in OSCC cells suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. The ectopic expression of CXCR7 in OSCC cells overexpressing miR-101 restored the proliferation and motility capabilities abolished by miR-101. The inhibitory effects of miR-101 on OSCC growth and metastasis were mimicked by CXCR7 knockdown in vivo. CXCR7 expression was upregulated in OSCC tissues. The high expression level of CXCR7 was negatively correlated with miR-101 level and poor prognosis of patients with OSCC. Overall, miR-101 exerts tumor-suppressive functions by targeting CXCR7, leading to inhibition of OSCC cell growth, invasion, and migration. Hence, miR-101 may be a potential target for OSCC diagnosis and therapeutic applications.