LncRNA HCG18 suppresses CD8+ T cells to confer resistance to cetuximab in colorectal cancer via miR-20b-5p/PD-L1 axis.

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to explore the effect of long noncoding RNA HCG18 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Materials & methods: Relative gene and protein expression were screened. Colony formation and flow cytometry assays were performed to determine proliferation and apoptosis. Dual luciferase and RNA immunoprecipitationassays were conducted to validate the interaction between indicated molecules. Xenograft in nude mice was applied to verify the conclusion in vivo. Results:HCG18 and PD-L1 were upregulated while miR-20b-5p was downregulated in CRC tissue. Functional analysis revealed that lncRNA HCG18 promoted proliferation, migrationand resistance to cetuximab of CRCcells via the miR-20b-5p/PD-L1 axis. Conclusion:HCG18 facilitated progress of the tumor, conferred to cetuximab resistanceand suppressed CD8+ T cells via the miR-20b-5p/PD-L1 axis.