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Updated: Dec 12, 2025

An In Vitro Protocol for Evaluating MicroRNA Levels, Functions, and Associated Target Genes in Tumor Cells
Published on: May 21, 2019
miR-638 acts as an oncogene and predicts poor prognosis in renal cell carcinoma
Xiang Pan1, Tao He2, Xiqi Peng3,4
1Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University Yangzhou 225000, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the function and prognostic value of miR-638 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Methods:
Expression of miR-638 in RCC tissues and corresponding noncancerous tissues were examined by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). To explore the effects of miR-638 on cell migration, invasion, viability, and apoptosis of RCC cells, wound scratch, transwell, MTT, CCK-8, and flow cytometry assays were performed. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between miR-638 expression and prognosis of RCC patients. Potential target genes of miR-638 were predicted and validated via multiple bioinformatics analyses.
Results:
miR-638 was upregulated in RCC tissues when compared with corresponding noncancerous tissues (P < 0.05). Upregulation of miR-638 expression by transfection with a synthetic miR-638 mimic promoted cell migration, invasion, and viability and suppressed cell apoptosis. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that upregulation of miR-638 associated with shorter overall survival (OS; P = 0.001). Cox univariate and multivariate regression analysis suggested that miR-638 expression is an independent predictive factor for the prognosis of RCC patients (P = 0.004). KCNQ1, DNAJC6, and PNP were identified as potential target genes of miR-638.
Conclusions:
The results of this study demonstrated that miR-638 functions as an oncogene in RCC and has the potential to be a prognostic biomarker for RCC.
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