MicroRNA-509-3p Inhibits Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration via Upregulation of XIAP in Gastric Cancer Cells

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cancer globally. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested to be closely associated with tumorigenesis. Aberrant expression of miR-509-3p has been reported in cancer studies. However, the expression and mechanism of its function in GC remain unclear. Here we showed that miR-509-3p was downregulated in GC specimens, which was associated with overall survival. Functional investigations demonstrated that the overexpression of miR-509-3p inhibited the migration and proliferation of the GC cells. Additionally, we identified X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) as a direct target of miR-509-3p. Knockdown of XIAP significantly attenuated the ability of proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells. The data therefore suggest that miR-509-3p plays an important role in the development and progression of GC, implicating possible applications in the clinic as a biomarker and a potential new target.