Mechanism of the microRNA-373-3p/LATS2 Axis in the Prognosis and Metastasis of Thyroid Cancer Patients

This study focused on the role of the microRNA (miR)-373-3p/LATS2 axis in the prognosis and metastasis of thyroid cancer patients. miR-373-3p and LATS2 expression were assessed in thyroid cancer tissues and cells. The relationship between miR-373-3p and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with thyroid cancer and the impact of miR-373-3p and LATS2 expression levels on the survival and prognosis of thyroid cancer patients were analyzed. The targeting relationship between miR-373-3p and LATS2 was predicted and verified, and their impact on the malignant cell phenotype was assessed. Compared with adjacent normal tissues and normal human thyroid cells, miR-373-3p was highly expressed, while LATS2 was expressed at low levels in thyroid cancer tissues and cells (both p < 0.001). miR-373-3p expression was independent of age (p = 0.201) and gender (p = 0.516), and it was correlated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage of thyroid cancer (both p < 0.001). Moreover, high miR-373-3p expression was associated with poor patient prognosis (p = 0.034). Interference with miR-373-3p or overexpression of LATS2 repressed KMH-2 cell malignant phenotypes (all p < 0.05). miR-373-3p targeted and suppressed LATS2 expression. Interference with miR-373-3p blocked its inhibition on LATS2, thereby repressing thyroid cancer progression and metastasis.