BACKGROUND/AIMS: Emerging evidence have demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs 
are involved in the development and metastasis of various cancers including 
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role of LINC00339 in HCC 
progression is still unknown.
METHODS: The LINC00339 expression in HCC cancer cells (HUH7, HepG2, HUH-6, and 
SK-Hep-1) and tissues was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain 
reaction (qRT-PCR). Functional experiments including cell counting Kit-8 
wound-healing assay and transwell assay were used to explore the cell 
proliferation, migration, and invasion, respectively. The related molecular 
mechanisms were determined by Western blot. The RNA pull-down assay, luciferase 
reporters assay, qRT-PCR, and Western blot were performed to explore and confirm 
the interaction between LINC00339 and miR-152, between miR-152 and ROCK1. The 
role of LINC00339 in tumor formation and metastasis were explored through in 
vivo experiments.
RESULTS: LINC00339 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and cell lines. LINC00339 
promoted the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells, while 
knockout of LINC00339 showed the opposite trends. The proliferation and 
migration of HCC cells induced by LINC00339 overexpression were mostly reversed 
after transfected with miR-152 mimics. LINC00339 exerted oncogenesis effect on 
HCC progression by targeting miR-152/ROCK1, and the expression of LINC00339 was 
negatively correlated with miR-152 expression and positively correlated with 
ROCK1 expression in clinical HCC samples. Moreover, we also proved that 
LINC00339 overexpression exacerbated the tumor formation and metastases in nude 
mice and LINC00339 silence showed the opposite results.
CONCLUSION: LINC00339 might act as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.