Low HOXC10 expression in liver cancer regulates proliferation via a mechanism involving miR-221 and the MAPK signaling pathway.

Homeodomain-containing gene 10 (HOXC10) is associated with the progression of a variety of different types of human cancer; however, the role of HOXC10 in liver cancer is not completely understood. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of HOXC10 on liver cancer tumorigenesis. Quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to detect the expression patterns of HOXC10 in cancer and adjacent healthy tissues. EdU, Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays were used to determine the functions of HOXC10 in liver cancer cell lines. ENCORI, TargetScan and miRTarBase were used to identify microRNAs that target HOXC10. The verification of the interaction between HOXC10 and microRNA-221 was determined by a luciferase assay. Compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues, the expression of HOXC10 was markedly decreased in liver cancer tissues. A HOXC10 small interfering (si)RNA significantly attenuated HOXC10 expression at the mRNA and protein levels, and enhanced cell proliferation compared with the siRNA-negative control group. In addition, the luciferase reporter assay indicated that microRNA-221 directly bound to the 3'-untranslated region of HOXC10, and interfered with the inhibitory effect of HOXC10 on proliferation. In addition, HOXC10 knockdown elevated the expression levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway markers compared with the siRNA-negative control group. Therefore, the results of the present study may aid with the development of novel therapeutic regimens and diagnostic markers of liver cancer.