Introduction of Four Long Non-Coding RNAs (LncRNAs) as Molecular Probes in Gastric Malignancy

Introduction: Gastric cancer, known as one of the most frequent types of cancer, is associated with extensive mortality. Early detection could help to increase the survival rate of patients. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as newly considered cancer probes were evaluated regarding as potential diagnostic candidates.Materials and Methods: LncRNAs NUTM۲A-AS۱, CTBP۱-DT, THUMPD۳-AS۱, and LINC۰۰۶۶۷ were selected for wet-lab analysis based on literature review and pathway enrichment in-silico analysis. Four candidate lncRNAs in ۷۰ gastric tissue samples including gastric tumors (n = ۳۵) and paired Adjacent Normal Gastric Tissues (ANGTs) were collected for quantitative analysis. In the following, the expression level of four candidate lncRNAs was analyzed in gastric cancer samples compared to ANGTs and patient’s clinico-pathological data. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was also performed to determine the diagnostic value of NUTM۲A-AS۱, CTBP۱-DT, THUMPD۳-AS۱, and LINC۰۰۶۶۷ levels in tissue samples. Different pathways associated with NUTM۲A-AS۱, CTBP۱-DT, THUMPD۳-AS۱, and LINC۰۰۶۶۷ lncRNAs were identified.Results: The significantly elevated levels of all four lncRNAs were detected in GC tissue samples compared to ANGTs (P-value<۰.۰۵). The Aria Under Curve (AUC) of NUTM۲A-AS۱, CTBP۱-DT, THUMPD۳-AS۱, and LINC۰۰۶۶۷ in the ROC curve were ۰.۸۲۵, ۰.۹۲۸, ۰.۶۸۸, and ۰.۶۴۹, respectively.Conclusions: Our results indicated that the expression levels of the four candidate lncRNAs were elevated in gastric tumors compared to ANGT samples. It might be helpful to illuminate the molecular mechanisms underlying gastric carcinogenesis which have been served as tumor-associated biomarkers for diagnosis. 

Keywords:

Gastric cancer , LncRNAs , Expression Level , Molecular Probes