Objective:This study aims to observe the effects and mechanisms of transcription factor YY1 on the migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. Methods:In this study,YY1 and SOX2OT expression were detected by using quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. The role of YY1 in the migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells was studied by cell wound healing assays and transwell cell invasion assays. The functional recovery experiments were performed by overexpression or RNA interference of SOX2OT in YY1 overexpression or YY1 knockdown pancreatic cancer cells. Results:It was found that YY1 overexpression decreased,while YY1 knockdown increased SOX2OT expression in BXPC-3 and PANC-1 cells. Furthermore,YY1 overexpression suppressed,whereas YY1 knockdown enhanced,the migration and invasion properties of BXPC-3 cells in vitro. Overexpression of SOX2OT in YY1 overexpressed BXPC-3 cells or RNA interference of SOX2OT in YY1 knockdown cells can partly reverse the effect of YY on cell migration and invasion. Conclusion:The present study suggested that YY1 suppresses migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells in a SOX2OT-dependent mechanism.