miR-140-5p regulates cell migration and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer cells through targeting VEGFA

Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide, the most prevalent form of which is non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MicroRNAs (miRs) are involved in the progression of NSCLC; however, the specific function of miR‑140‑5p in NSCLC remains unclear. The present study demonstrated that miR‑140‑5p was downregulated in the tumor tissues of patients with NSCLC, and it was associated with a poor prognosis. Furthermore, miR‑140‑5p significantly suppressed cell migration and invasion of the NSCLC cell line A549. In addition, the direct regulatory effect of miR‑140‑5p on vascular endothelial growth factor‑A (VEGFA) was predicted by TargetScan and verified using a luciferase reporter gene assay. The present study also hypothesized that miR‑140‑5p may inhibit the expression of phosphorylated‑protein kinase B by targeting VEGFA. In conclusion, miR‑140‑5p may be a potential target for the development of anti‑neoplastic therapies in lung cancer.