Figure 5: CASC2 functions as a ceRNA by competitively binding PIAS3-targeting miR-18a.

(A) The expression of CASC2 and PIAS3 mRNA in CACO2 and HT-29 cells treated with CASC2-siRNA or negative control. The data are presented as the meanā±āSD (nā=ā3), *Pā<ā0.05; Two-sided Studentās t-test. (B) Representative western blot of PIAS3, STAT3, pSTAT3 and c-Myc from CRC cell lines transfected with CASC2-siRNA or negative control. (C) The relationship between CASC2 and PIAS3 in 68 CRC tissues (Pā<ā0.01, R2ā=ā0.439). The data were obtained using the logistic regression analysis. (D) A schematic model of CASC2 functioning as a decoy by competitively binding miR-18a, upregulating the specific repressor PIAS3 of STAT3 signaling, and suppressing colorectal carcinogenesis.