431 PVT1 is overexpressed in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and acts as an oncogenic long non-coding RNA

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common and fastest increasing forms cancer worldwide with metastatic potential. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group RNA molecules essential regulatory functions for both physiological pathological processes. In this study, we identified plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) as lncRNA upregulated in cSCC compared to healthy skin precancerous lesions (actinic keratosis). situ hybridization analysis PVT1-expression on large cohort cSCCs revealed that increased associated invasive phenotype. CRISPR-Cas9-deletion entire PVT1 locus resulted impaired proliferation, colony formation tumor spheroid abilities cells. Interestingly, CRISPR-Cas9-mediated deletion exon 7 similar phenotype locus. Moreover, antisense oligonucleotide-mediated knockdown transcript single formation, invasion cells apoptosis suggesting these effects not due genetic elements PVT1-locus. Finally, primary growth xenograft model cancer. Together, our study provides evidence oncogenic role offers potential point therapeutic intervention cSCC.