Long non-coding RNA HULC interacts with miR-613 to regulate colon cancer growth and metastasis through targeting RTKN.

Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Long non-coding RNA highly up-regulated in liver cancer (HULC) is an essential cancer-associated long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), contributing to the development and progression of several cancers. However, the exact effects of HULC in colon cancer progression and the underlying molecular mechanism are still unknown. In the study, we explored the detailed role of HULC in human clinical tumor tissue samples and colon cancer cell lines. The results indicated that lncRNA-HULC was markedly increased in colon cancer cell lines and accelerated colon cancer cell growth by targeting miR-613. HULC knockdown suppressed the proliferation, DNA synthesis and metastasis of human colon cancer cells in vitro. Additionally, the modulation of rhotekin (RTKN) by miR-613 was necessary in HULC-induced colon cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. The findings in the study suggested that HULC might inhibit the tumor growth through miR-613 dependent RTKN modulation. Together, our data suggested that HULC might be an oncogenic lncRNA, promoting the progression of colon cancer and could be considered as an effective therapeutic target in human colon cancer.