Effect of immune-related lncRNA BZRAP1-AS1/miR-541-3p and its molecular mechanism in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) remains a significant health concern for women worldwide, with poor prognosis often linked to late diagnosis. This study aimed to explore the clinical significance and molecular mechanisms of long non-coding RNA BZRAP1-AS1. A total of 105 CC patients were enrolled, and paired tumor and normal tissues were collected. The expression levels of BZRAP1-AS1 and miR-541-3p were quantified by qRT-PCR. The direct binding between BZRAP1-AS1 and miR-541-3p was validated using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Functional assays, including CCK-8, Transwell, and flow cytometry analysis, were performed in CC cell lines. BZRAP1-AS1 was upregulated in CC tissues and correlated with advanced FIGO stage and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that patients with high BZRAP1‑AS1 expression had significantly shorter overall survival (log‑rank P = 0.007). Multivariate Cox regression confirmed high BZRAP1‑AS1 expression as an independent predictor of poor prognosis (HR = 3.031, 95% CI = 1.136–8.090). Silencing of BZRAP1-AS1 inhibited cell proliferation and invasion, while promoting apoptosis. Mechanistically, BZRAP1-AS1 acted as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to sponge miR-541-3p. Rescue experiments indicated that inhibition of miR-541-3p reversed the tumor-suppressive effects resulting from BZRAP1-AS1 knockdown. Our findings suggest that BZRAP1-AS1 may serve as an independent prognostic marker in cervical cancer. Mechanistically, it appears to promote tumor progression by downregulating miR‑541‑3p. The BZRAP1‑AS1/miR‑541‑3p axis thus warrants further investigation, though its translational potential requires validation through larger multi‑center studies.