miR-185-3p regulates nasopharyngeal carcinoma radioresistance by targeting WNT2B in vitro

Aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression contributes to a series of malignant cancer behaviors, including radioresistance. Our previous study showed differential expression of miR-185-3p in post-radiation nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. To investigate the role of miR-185-3p in NPC radioresistance, CNE-2 and 5-8F cells were transfected with miR-185-3p mimic and miR-185-3p inhibitor, respectively. CCK-8 assay and colony formation experiment confirmed that the expression of miR-185-3p affected the radioresistance of NPC cells. A negative correlation between miR-185-3p and WNT2B expression was observed in NPC cells and tissues. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-185-3p directly targeted the coding region of WNT2B. Furthermore, we found radioresistance decreased in WNT2B-silenced NPC cells. Activation of the WNT2B/β-catenin pathway was accompanied by epithelial-mesenchymal transition biomarker changes in NPC. We concluded that miR-185-3p contributed to the radioresistance of NPC via modulation of WNT2B expression in vitro.