miR-218-5p/RUNX2 Axis Positively Regulates Proliferation and Is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Cervical Cancer

The overexpression of miR-218-5p in cervical cancer (CC) cell lines decreases migration, invasion and proliferation. The objective was to identify target genes of miR-218-5p and the signaling pathways and cellular processes that they regulate. The relationship between the expression of miR-218-5p and RUNX2 and overall survival in CC as well as the effect of the exogenous overexpression of miR-218-5p on the level of RUNX2 were analyzed. The target gene prediction of miR-218-5p was performed in TargetScan, miRTarBase and miRDB. Predicted target genes were subjected to gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The miR-218-5p mimetic was transfected into C-33A and CaSki cells, and the miR-218-5p and RUNX2 levels were determined by RT-qPCR. Of the 118 predicted targets for miR-218-5p, 86 are involved in protein binding, and 10, including RUNX2, are involved in the upregulation of proliferation. Low miR-218-5p expression and a high level of RUNX2 are related to poor prognosis in CC. miR-218-5p overexpression is related to decreased RUNX2 expression in C-33A and CaSki cells. miR-218-5p may regulate RUNX2, and both molecules may be prognostic markers in CC.