MicroRNA-339, an epigenetic modulating target is involved in human gastric carcinogenesis through targeting NOVA1

The role of miR-339 in human gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. Here, we found that miR-339 is remarkably decreased in primary GC tissues. Overexpression of miR-339 in GC cells significantly suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity. Furthermore, NOVA1 was confirmed as a target of miR-339. Restoration of NOVA1 in miR-339-overexpressing GC cells partially impaired the inhibitory effects of miR-339. More importantly, epigenetic modification may be involved in the modulation of miR-339 expression. These findings uncover a novel role for miR-339 in gastric carcinogenesis, and restoration of miR-339 could be considered as a potential therapeutic strategy for GC treatment.