MicroRNA-429 inhibits gastric cancer migration and invasion through the downregulation of specificity protein 1.

microRNAs (miRs) have been reported to have an important role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Although miR-429 has been shown to be downregulated in gastric cancer (GC), the function of miR-429 in the metastasis of GC has yet to be investigated. In the present study, GC cells were transfected with miR-429, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, cell migration assays, cell invasion assays, western blot analysis and luciferase assays were conducted to investigate the role of miR-429 in GC cells. It was demonstrated that miR-429 expression was markedly increased following transfection of the cells with miR-429. Furthermore, miR-429 was shown to inhibit the migration and invasion of GC cell lines. In addition, this study provided evidence that miR-429 directly targets specificity protein 1 in GC cells. The results of the present study may enhance current knowledge regarding the molecular basis of cancer metastasis and provide a potential therapeutic strategy for GC.