miR-935 Inhibits Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Targets Inositol Polyphosphate-4-phosphatase Type IA (INPP4A)

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignancy with poor prognosis. Therefore, novel therapeutic options are needed to improve prognosis of OSCC. Recently, microRNAs (miRs) have received increasing attention as a potential therapeutic tool for carcinomas. However, no definitive miR-based drugs for patients with OSCC have been reported to date. The aim of this study was to identify new miRs potentially involved in cellular processes associated with OSCC malignancy, which could lead to novel therapeutic strategies.

We identified miRs that are modulated in OSCC and possibly regulate OSCC malignancy, using miR microarray on OSCC cell lines.

miR-935 and miR-509-3p were down-regulated in OSCC cell lines and patient tissues. When miR-935 was overexpressed in HSC-3-M3 cells, proliferation, migration, and invasion of the cell line was suppressed, whereas apoptosis was increased. Moreover, we showed that the gene inositol polyphosphate-4-phosphatase type I A (INPP4A) is a potential target whose expression is positively regulated by miR-935.

miR-935 may function as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting OSCC malignancy via INPP4A induction. Therefore, miR-935 can be a new therapeutic candidate for OSCC treatment.