SOX2 Overlapping Transcript (SOX2-OT) Enhances the Lung Cancer Malignancy Through Interaction with miR-194-5p/SOX5 Axis

Background: Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related deathsworldwide. Therefore, it is useful to know the biomarkers involved in the malignancy of lung cancer.Objectives: This study aimed to show that SOX2-OT as a long non-coding RNA (IncRNA) regulates gene expression viathe SOX2-OT/miR-194-5p/SOX5 axis molecular pathway in lung cancer.Materials and Methods: A549 cells transfected with siRNA-SOX2-OT and the expression of SOX2-OT and miR-194-5pgenes were analyzed by real-time PCR before and after transfection. In addition, the expression of the B-catenin, MMP9,phosphorylated and activated STAT3 (p-STAT3), SOX5, and VEGF proteins before and after transfection was investigatedby Western blotting.Results: After using siRNA-SOX2-OT, an increase in the expression of miR-194-5p and a decrease in the expression ofB-catenin, SOX5, p-STAT3 activated STAT3, VEGF, and MMP9 proteins was observed.Conclusions: According to the results of the present study, an increase in SOX2-OT in lung cancer seems to stimulate theexpression of beta-catenin, SOX5, MMP9, and VEGF thus support the malignancy of lung cancer cells.