European journal of pharmacology
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Increasing evidence displays that microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the development of various human malignancies, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). MicroRNA-33a-5p (miR-33a-5p) has recently been reported to function as a tumor suppressor in many human cancers. However, the expression and role of miR-33a-5p in ESCC remains largely unknown. ⋯ Furthermore, zinc-finger-enhancer binding protein 1 (ZEB1) was predicted and confirmed to be a direct target of miR-33a-5p in ESCC. Further mechanistic investigation indicated that DANCR may function as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to sponge miR-33a-5p, and thereby up-regulate ZEB1 expression in ESCC. This study highlights the functions of miR-33a-5p in the progression of ESCC and suggests that the DANCR/miR-33a-5p/ZEB1 axis may be a potential prognostic and therapeutic target.