miR302a inhibits the proliferation of esophageal cancer cells through the MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are involved in the regulation of various types of cancer, either as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. miR302a has been reported that it could suppress tumor cell proliferation by inhibiting Akt in prostate cancer. The present study examined the effect of miR302a on proliferation and invasion in esophageal cancer cell lines. The expression levels of miR302a in esophageal cancer cell lines was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Subsequently, miR302a mimics were transfected into esophageal cancer cells, and cell viability and invasion were assessed by MTT and Transwell assays. In addition, the effects of miR302a on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathways were investigated by western blot analysis. The results revealed that miR302a expression was significantly decreased in the esophageal cancer cell lines compared with a healthy esophagus epithelium cell line. Upregulation of miR302a inhibited the proliferation and invasion of esophageal cancer cells, and decreased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and Akt. Taken together, the results of the present study indicated that miR302a overexpression inhibited the proliferation and invasion of esophageal cancer cells through suppression of the MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, indicating the potential value of miR302a as a treatment target for human esophageal cancer.