Objective To investigate the effect of GHET1 on the biological behavior of gallbladder cancer cells and the regulatory mechanism of GHET1 on miR-27b.

Methods The expression of GHET1 and miR-27b in 50 samples of gallbladder cancer was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The si-NC vector, si-GHET1 vector, miR-27b inhibitor, and si-GHET1 vector+miR-27b inhibitor were transfected into SGC-996 cells and set as the control group, GHET1 interference group, miR-27b interference group, and GHET1+miR-27b interference group. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis in each group were detected by MTT, flow cytometry, and Transwell assays. The regulatory effect of GHET1 on miR-27b was validated by luciferase reporter gene assay.

Results GHET1 expression was higher in cancer tissues than that in paracancerous ones. miR-27b expression was lower in cancer tissues than that in paracancerous tissues. GHET1 was negatively correlated with miR-27b expression (P<0.05), and GHET1 expression was associated with TNM staging and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). High GHET1 expression was associated with poor prognosis of patients with gallbladder cancer (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the GHET1 interference group showed decreased cell-proliferation ability, increased apoptosis rate, and reduced number of cell metastasis. The miR-27b interference group showed increased cell-proliferation ability, decreased apoptosis rate, and increased number of cell metastasis (P<0.05). Compared with the GHET1 interference group, the GHET1+miR-27b interference group showed increased cell-proliferation ability, decreased apoptosis rate, and increased number of cell metastasis (P<0.05). GHET1 inhibited miR-27b expression by acting as a sponge of miR-27b.

Conclusion GHET1 promotes the proliferation and metastasis and inhibits the apoptosis of gallbladder cancer cells by targeting miR-27b, suggesting that GHET1/miR-27b axis plays a role in gallbladder cancer progression.