lncRNA EZR‑AS1 knockdown represses proliferation, migration and invasion of cSCC via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Although long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in various human cancer types, the role of lncRNA ezrin antisense RNA 1 (EZR‑AS1) in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of lncRNAEZR‑AS1 on cSCC and identify the underlying molecular mechanisms. EZR‑AS1 expression was measured in cSCC tissue and cells detected using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. Gain‑of‑function assays were performed in A431 cells, which have a relatively low expression of EZR‑AS1, while loss‑of‑function assays were performed in SCC13 and SCL‑1 colon cancer cells, which have a relatively high expression of EZR‑AS1. Cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were assessed using MTT, plate cloning, wound healing, Transwell and flow cytometry assays, respectively. EZR‑AS1 mRNA expression levels were significantly upregulated in cSCC tissues and cells compared with adjacent healthy tissues and HaCaT cells, respectively. Compared with the small interfering RNA (si)‑negative control (NC) group, si‑EZR‑AS1 significantly inhibited SCC13 and SCL‑1 cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but promoted cell apoptosis. By contrast, compared with the pc‑NC group, EZR‑AS1 overexpression significantly enhanced A431 cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but inhibited cell apoptosis. Moreover, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) was identified as a target of EZR‑AS1, and EZR‑AS1 knockdown significantly decreased FAK expression compared with the si‑NC group. Moreover, EZR‑AS1 knockdown significantly downregulated the protein expression levels of phosphorylated (p)‑PI3K/PI3K and p‑AKT/AKT in cSCC cells compared with the si‑NC group. The PI3K agonist 740Y‑P significantly reversed si‑EZR‑AS1‑mediated effects on SCC13 and SCL‑1 cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that si‑EZR‑AS1 inhibited cSCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis, potentially via regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Therefore, the present study provided novel insights into the diagnosis and treatment of cSCC.