BackgroundLong non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are prevalently transcribed in the genome yet their potential roles in human cancers are not well understood. The aim of the present study was to determine the lncRNA expression profile in gastric cancer and its potential clinical value.MethodsThe global lncRNA expression profile in gastric cancer was measured by lncRNA microarray. Levels of two representative lncRNAs, H19 and uc001lsz, were confirmed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The relationship between their levels and clinicopathological factors of patients with gastric cancer was explored. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed for differentiating gastric cancer from benign gastric diseases.ResultsTotal of 135 lncRNAs, which differential expression levels between tumor and non-tumorous tissues were more than twofold, were found (GEO No. GSE47850). The most down-regulated lncRNAs in gastric cancer tissues were FER1L4, uc001lsz, BG491697, AF131784, uc009ycs, BG981369, AF147447, HMlincRNA1600, and AK054588; while the most up-regulated ones were H19, HMlincRNA717, BM709340, BQ213083, AK054978, and DB077273. H19 was found highly expressed in stomach and liver cancer cell lines, while lowly expressed in lung cancer and prostate cancer cell lines. Uc001lsz was lowly expressed in gastric, lung and liver cancer cell lines, while highly expressed in prostate cancer. The areas under ROC curves were up to 0.613, 0.751, and 0.761 for H19, uc001lsz, and the combination, respectively.ConclusionsThe lncRNA expression profile in gastric cancer suggests the potential roles of lncRNAs in gastric cancer occurrence and development. The overexpression of H19 in gastric cancer suggests that H19 may be participated in gastric cancer. The reduced expression of uc001lsz in gastric cancer cell lines and tissues, its associations with TNM stage, and its dysregulation in early cancer and precancerous lesions suggest that uc001lsz may be a potential marker for the diagnosis of early gastric cancer.

A total of 343 circRNAs are differentially expressed between gastric cancer patients' plasma and healthy controls. Hsa_circ_0001017 and hsa_circ_0061276 are downregulated in gastric cancer tissues. The RT-ddPCR is a potent method for simultaneous detection of multiple circRNAs in plasma. Hsa_circ_0001017 and hsa_circ_0061276 are potential biomarkers for gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial role in tumorigenesis. However, the value of lncRNAs in the diagnosis of gastric cancer remains unknown. To identify whether lncRNA-AA174084 is a potential marker for the early diagnosis of gastric cancer (GC), the authors investigated its levels in tissues, blood, and gastric juices from patients with various stage of gastric tumorigenesis. METHODS: Total RNA in 860 specimens from patients and healthy controls was extracted. Levels of AA174084 in 134 paired GC tissues, 127 gastric mucosal tissues, 335 plasma samples, and 130 gastric juice samples at each stage of gastric tumorigenesis were measured using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis. The potential association between AA174084 levels and patients' clinicopathologic features were analyzed. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed for differentiating GC patients from controls. RESULTS: Expression levels of AA174084 were down-regulated significantly in 95 of 134 GC tissues (71%) compared with the levels in paired, adjacent, normal tissues (P < .001). AA174084 levels had significant, negative correlations with age (P 5 .031), Borrmann type (P 5 .016), and perineural invasion (P 5 .032). Plasma AA174084 levels in patients with GC dropped markedly on day 15 after surgery compared with preoperative levels (P < .001) and were associated with invasion (P 5 .049) and lymphatic metastasis (P 5 .042). AA174084 levels in gastric juice from patients with GC were significantly higher than the levels in normal mucosa or in patients with minimal gastritis, gastric ulcers, and atrophic gastritis (P < .001). The area under ROC was up to 0.848 (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: AA174084 may have potential as marker for the early diagnosis of GC. Cancer 2014;120:3320-9.

It has been known that differential expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays critical roles in carcinogenesis. However, the significance of lncRNA, especially long intergenic ncRNA (lincRNA, the main type of lncRNA family), in the diagnosis of gastric cancer is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the expression level of LINC00152, a newfound lincRNA, in gastric carcinoma and its clinical association. The expression of LINC00152 in 71 pairs of tumorous and adjacent normal tissues from patients with gastric cancer was detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. And then, the potential associations between its level in gastric cancer tissue and the clinicopathological features were analyzed. Finally, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed for differentiating patients with gastric cancer from patients with benign gastric diseases. The results showed that the expression level of LINC00152 in gastric carcinoma was significantly increased, compared with matched normal tissue (P=0.045) and normal mucosa from health control (P=0.004), respectively. Levels of LINC00152 in gastric cancer cell lines, BGC-823, MGC-803, and SGC-7901, were significantly higher than those in human normal gastric epithelial cell line GES-1. In addition, high expression of LINC00152 was correlated with invasion (P=0.042). LINC00152 levels in gastric juice from patients with gastric cancer were further found significantly higher than those from normal controls (P=0.002). Moreover, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was up to 0.645 (95 % CI=0.559-0.740, P=0.003). This study highlights that lincRNA LINC00152 might be a novel biomarker for predicting gastric cancer.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms of most lncRNAs in cancers are largely unknown. Because the RNA component of mitochondrial RNA processing endoribonuclease (RMRP) is one of the dysregulated lncRNAs in gastric cancer, this study explored its molecular mechanisms in carcinogenesis. RMRP levels in 792 tissues, plasma and gastric juices from patients with various stages of gastric tumorigenesis were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Overexpression and RNA interference were used to manipulate RMRP expression by RMRP expression vector and small interfering RNAs, respectively. Its mechanisms were evaluated by flow cytometry, real-time cell analysis, plate colony formation assays, and xenograft models. RMRP levels in tissue, plasma and gastric juices from patients with gastric cancer were significantly different from those from controls. Its levels were significantly associated with Borrmann type and metastasis. Plasma and gastric juice RMRP had higher sensitivity and specificity than commonly used markers (such as carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19–9). Knockdown of RMRP significantly inhibited cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, whereas overexpression of RMRP promoted cell growth. Acting as a miR-206 sponge, RMRP modulated cell cycle by regulating Cyclin D2 expression. RMRP plays a crucial role in gastric cancer occurrence and can be used as a novel biomarker for gastric cancer.