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OBJECTIVE: Studies have suggested that miR-21-5p and WWC2 are key players in most cancer types, yet the underlying mechanisms in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remain elusive. This study made in-depth research on the two factors-dependent mechanisms underlying LUAD occurrence and development. METHODS: Bioinformatics methods were employed to identify the miRNA and its target gene of interest. In all, 20 pairs of LUAD tumor tissue samples and matched adjacent normal samples along with 5 LUAD cell lines were collected for evaluating the aberrant expression of miR-21-5p and WWC2. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to validate the targeted relationship between miR-21-5p and WWC2. A series of in vitro experiments including colony formation assay, EdU, wound healing assay and Transwell were conducted for assessment of the LUAD cell biological behaviors. In addition, Western blot was carried out to determine the protein expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins. RESULTS: miR-21-5p was found to be considerably increased in LUAD tissue and cells relative to that in the adjacent tissue and the human bronchial epithelial cells, whereas WWC2 was significantly decreased. Dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-21-5p targeted WWC2 and down-regulated its expression. Besides, silencing miR-21-5p or overexpressing WWC2 played an inhibitory role in PC-9 cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but such effect was suppressed when miR-21-5p was overexpressed. Furthermore, Western blot uncovered that WWC2 overexpression impeded the EMT process in LUAD cells. CONCLUSION: miR-21-5p facilitates LUAD cell proliferation, migration and invasion through targeting WWC2, which provides a novel therapeutic target for LUAD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]