Serum long non-coding RNAs MALAT1, AFAP1-AS1 and AL359062 as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Circulating RNAs in serum, plasma or other body liquid have emerged as useful and highly promising biomarkers for noninvasive diagnostic application. Herein, we aimed to establish a serum long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) signature for diagnosing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, we recruited a cohort of 101 NPC patients, 20 patients with chronic nasopharyngitis (CN), 20 EBV carriers (EC) and 101 healthy controls. qRT-PCR was performed with NPC cells and serum samples to screen a pool of 38 NPC-related lncRNAs obtained from the LncRNADisease database. A profile of three circulating lncRNAs (MALAT1, AFAP1-AS1 and AL359062) was established for NPC diagnosis. By Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, this three-lncRNA signature showed high accuracy in discriminating NPC from healthy controls (AUC = 0.918), CN (AUC = 0.893) or EC (AUC = 0.877). Furthermore, high levels of these three lncRNAs were closely related to advanced NPC tumor node metastasis stages and EBV infection. Serum levels of these three lncRNAs declined significantly in patients after therapy. Our present study indicates that circulating MALAT1, AFAP1-AS1 and AL359062 may represent novel serum biomarkers for NPC diagnosis and prognostic prediction after treatment.

AFAP1‐AS1: A novel oncogenic long non‐coding RNA in human cancers

“…30,35,[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58] In this review, the related clinicopathological characteristics and molecular functions of this lncRNA in cancers are presented in Tables 1 and 2.…”

Long noncoding RNA actin filament‐associated protein 1 antisense RNA 1 promotes malignant phenotype through binding with lysine‐specific demethylase 1 and repressing HMG box‐containing protein 1 in non‐small‐cell lung cancer

“…Actin filament‐associated protein 1 antisense RNA 1 (AFAP1‐AS1) is an lncRNA transcribed from the antisense DNA strand of the AFAP1 gene and was first reported to be upregulated in esophageal adenocarcinoma tissues and cell lines . Further work showed that AFAP1‐AS1 was upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma, gastric cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, where it was associated with progression and poor prognoses . Previous studies also suggested that AFAP1‐AS1 participated in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion by regulating PTEN/p‐AKT and RhoA/Rac2 signaling .…”

“…12 Further work showed that AFAP1-AS1 was upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma, gastric cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, where it was associated with progression and poor prognoses. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Previous studies also suggested that AFAP1-AS1 participated in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion by regulating PTEN/p-AKT and RhoA/Rac2 signaling. 20,21 Nevertheless, elucidating the oncogenic functions of AFAP1-AS1 in NSCLC development and progression requires further effort.…”

Differential expression profiling of lncRNAs related to Epstein‐Barr virus infection in the epithelial cells

“…The lncRNAs CRNDE, DANCR, GAS5, and ZGAS1 are mostly detected in breast milk and involved in cell processes such as the cell cycle, apoptosis, and immune cell regulation and interestingly they can be delivered to the infant through milk and have direct effects in the gastrointestinal tract before reaching various organs and cells . Regarding the relationship between EBV infection and lncRNAs, a few lncRNAs were detected in the culture supernatant of EBV‐infected NPC cells and in sera of NPC patients with node metastasis . However, the interaction between lncRNAs and EBV remains largely unknown.…”

“…18 Regarding the relationship between EBV infection and lncRNAs, a few lncRNAs were detected in the culture supernatant of EBV-infected NPC cells and in sera of NPC patients with node metastasis. 19 However, the interaction between lncRNAs and EBV remains largely unknown. In particular, it is unclear how viral latent infection influences the expression and function of lncRNAs.…”