lncRNA CHAF1B-2 contributes to the tumorigenesis of gastric cancer via activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Abstract

Lnc-CHAF1B-2, a newly unearthed long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), plays a significant role in the evolution and prognosis of diverse neoplasms. However, its role in the development of gastric cancer is not yet fully understood. Utilizing bioinformatics analysis on gastric cancer RNA-seq sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we delved into the expression of lnc-CHAF1B-2 within gastric carcinoma and its implicated molecular signaling pathways. Verification through an array of in vivo and in vitro experiments—namely, EdU incorporation, flow cytometry, Trans-well migration and invasion assays, subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice, and Western blot analysis—were conducted. We uncovered a notable upregulation of lnc-CHAF1B-2 in gastric cancer tissues. Furthermore, a positive correlation was discerned between lnc-CHAF1B-2 levels and the occurrence of distant metastases in patients, inversely related to their prognostic outlook and survival rates. Moreover, our findings confirmed that lnc-CHAF1B-2 enhances proliferation, invasiveness, and migration of gastric cancer cells, whilst inhibiting apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, it was revealed that lnc-CHAF1B-2 promotes the progression of gastric cancer through activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Thus, lnc-CHAF1B-2 and its regulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway emerge as prospective therapeutic targets in gastric cancer management.