Potential antisense oligonucleotide targeting LINC00673 on proliferation and apoptosis in tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: The incidence of tongue cancer, characterized by an aggressive nature, is rising annually in both Indonesia and globally. A molecular factor related to human tongue carcinoma is the high expression of long non-coding RNA 673 (LINC00673), which is associated with poor survival rates and larger tumor sizes. To address the challenge of poor outcomes, antisense therapy is a targeted method designed to degrade LINC00673 through the activity of RNAase-H1. Therefore, this study evaluated the potential of LINC00673 antisense oligonucleotide inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis in human tongue cancer cells (H357). Methods: H357 cells were transfected with LINC00673 antisense, sense, and scramble control oligonucleotide (SCO). Cell proliferation was assessed using the methylthiazol tetrazolium assay and apoptosis based on acridine orange-ethidium bromide staining. Results: The results showed that H357 cells treated with antisense oligonucleotide exhibited significantly reduced proliferation compared with those treated using the sense oligonucleotide, SCO, transfection only, and negative control groups at the same time points and concentrations. Apoptosis analysis showed that the cells treated with antisense oligonucleotide exhibited prominent orange-red fluorescence and apoptotic morphological changes, whereas cells in the control groups predominantly retained green fluorescence, showing their viability. Conclusions: LINC00673 antisense oligonucleotide treatment significantly inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in human tongue cancer cells.