Abstract: Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of miR-130b-3p regulating PI3K/AKT pathway on the biological behavior of renal cancer cells. 
Methods A total of 78 renal cancer patients were clinically selected. The protein levels of miR-130b-3p and PTEN in tumor tissues and adjacent tissues were detected, and the relationship between miR-130b-3p and pathological features of renal cancer was analyzed. The correlation between miR-130b-3p and PTEN protein in renal cancer tissue was explored by correlation analysis. 786-O cells were divided into negative control (NC) group, miR-130b-3p, PTEN and miR-130b-3p+PTEN groups. NC, miR-130b-3p mimic and/or pcDNA 3.1 PTEN were transfected to overexpress miR-130b-3p and/or PTEN, respectively. The cell viability, apoptosis rate, invasion ability and PI3K/AKT pathway level in each group were detected respectively. 
Results The level of miR-130b-3p in renal cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues (P＜0.05). The expression level of miR-130b-3p was independent of gender, age and tumor diameter. High level of miR-130b-3p was associated with high clinical stage and lymphatic metastasis (P＜0.05), with miR-130b-3p targeted binding to PTEN (P＜0.05). Compared with the NC group, the PTEN protein and apoptosis rate of the miR-130b-3p group were significantly decreased, and the proliferation activity, invasion ability and PI3K/AKT pathway were significantly increased (P＜0.05). In the PTEN group, the PTEN protein and apoptosis rate were significantly increased, while the proliferation activity, invasion ability and PI3K/AKT pathway were significantly inhibited (P＜0.05). The PTEN protein and apoptosis rate of the miR-130b-3p+PTEN group were significantly higher than those of the miR-130b-3p group and significantly lower than those of the PTEN group, while the proliferation activity, invasion ability and PI3K/AKT pathway were significantly lower than those of the miR-130b-3p group, and significantly higher than those of the PTEN group (P＜0.05). 
Conclusion miR-130b-3p is upregulated in renal cancer tissues, and high levels of miR-130b-3p are associated with high clinical stage and metastasis in renal cancer patients. miR-130b-3p can regulate PI3K/AKT pathway, inhibit the expression of PTEN protein, promote the invasion of renal cell carcinoma cells and inhibit apoptosis. 

Key words: kidney neoplasms, microRNA, miR-130b-3p