Long non‑coding (lnc)RNAs serve a pivotal role as regulatory factors in carcinogenesis. The present study aimed to assess the involvement of the lncRNA progression and angiogenesis‑associated RNA in hepatocellular carcinoma (PAARH) in liver cancer, along with the associated underlying mechanism. Through the use of reverse transcription‑quantitative (RT‑q)PCR, differences in the expression levels of PAARH in HepG2, HEP3B2.1.7, HCCLM3, Huh‑7 and MHCC97‑H liver cancer cell lines and THLE‑2 epithelial cell lines were evaluated. The liver cancer cell line with the greatest, significantly different, level of expression relative to the normal liver cell line was selected for subsequent experiments. Using ENCORI database, the putative target genes of the microRNA (miR) miR‑6512‑3p were predicted. Cells were then transfected with lentiviruses carrying short‑hairpin‑PAARH to interfere with PAARH expression. Subsequently, HepG2 liver cancer cells were transfected with a miR‑6512‑3p mimic and an inhibitor, and the expression levels of miR‑6512‑3p and the LIM and SH3 domain protein 1 (LASP1) in cells were assessed using RT‑qPCR analysis. Cell proliferation was subsequently evaluated using colony formation assays, and immunofluorescence and western blotting were used to assess the expression level of LASP1 in transfected cells. The binding interaction between miR‑6512‑3p and LASP1 was further evaluated using a dual‑luciferase reporter gene assay. Liver cancer cells were found to exhibit higher expression levels of PAARH compared with normal liver cells. Following PAARH interference, the expression level of miR‑6512‑3p was significantly increased, whereas that of LASP1 was significantly decreased, resulting in a reduction in cell proliferation. In liver cancer cells, miR‑6512‑3p overexpression led to a significant reduction in the LASP1 level and reduced proliferation, whereas suppressing miR‑6512‑3p led to a significant increase in LASP1 levels and increased proliferation. Additionally, the inhibition of miR‑6512‑3p caused the states of low LASP1 expression and reduced cell proliferation to be reversed. LASP1, a recently identified target gene of miR‑6512‑3p, was demonstrated to be suppressed by miR‑6512‑3p overexpression, thereby inhibiting liver cancer cell proliferation. Taken together, the findings of the present study demonstrate that the lncRNA PAARH may enhance liver cancer cell proliferation by engaging miR‑6512‑3p to target LASP1.

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