The ceRNA hypothesis presumes that specific lncRNA can actas sinks for pools of active miRNAs [36, 37], such as Long noncoding RNA GAPLINC promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation by acting as a molecular sponge of miR-378 to modulate MAPK1 expression [38], Long noncoding RNA DANCR promotes colorectal cancer proliferation and metastasis via miR-577 sponging [39] To further explore the mechanism of SNHG5 in osteosarcoma, an online bioinformatics software, Starbase (http://starbase.sysu.edu.cn/), was used to predict the target sites of lncRNA SNHG5 and miR-212-3p miRNA (Fig. 4a). The gene discussed is MAPK1; the disease is colorectal cancer.