LncRNA‑ECM is overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and promotes tumor metastasis

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of long non-coding(lnc) RNA-extracellular matrix (ECM) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its effect on ESCC metastasis. Using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), the expression of lncRNA-ECM in ESCC tissues was investigated and compared with that in corresponding adjacent tissues. In addition, the expression of lncRNA-ECM in the human ESCC cell lines TE-1, EC9706, KYSE150, Eca109 and KYSE30 was also detected and compared with that in the normal esophageal mucosal epithelial cell line HET-1A. The clinicopathological association between lncRNA-ECM and ESCC was assessed. Silencing and overexpression of lncRNA-ECM in ESCC TE-1 and Eca109 cells determined the correlation between lncRNA-ECM expression and ESCC invasion and metastasis. The possible target genes of lncRNA-ECM were predicted and verified by bioinformatics analysis and experimental results. The expression level of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) was detected in ESCC tissues by RT-qPCR and the correlation between the expression of ICAM1 and lncRNA-ECM was analyzed. Changes in the expression of ICAM1 in ESCC TE-1 and Eca109 cell lines were evaluated after knocking down lncRNA-ECM and transfection of lncRNA-ECM overexpression plasmids. The expression level of lncRNA-ECM in the tissues of ESCC with lymph node metastasis were significantly increased compared with ESCC with no lymph metastasis (P<0.05). LncRNA-ECM silencing notably reduced the invasion and metastasis of TE-1 and Eca109 cells, while lncRNA-ECM overexpression promoted the invasion and metastasis of the two cell lines. The expression level of ICAMI was directly correlated with the expression of lncRNA-ECM, suggesting that ICAM1 may be the downstream target gene of lncRNA-ECM. LncRNA-ECM was revealed as being overexpressed in ESCC. LncRNA-ECM expression was positively correlated with metastasis and may affect the metastasis of ESCC through ICAMI regulation. These findings indicate that lncRNA-ECM may be promising as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis and prediction of prognosis for ESCC, and it may also serve as a novel therapeutic target for ESCC. IntroductionEsophageal cancer is one of the most common malignancies, with an incidence rate that ranks sixth in China and fourth among the causes of cancer-related mortality (1). Esophageal cancer is also one of the most common lethal tumors worldwide with the sixth highest mortality rate (2). Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) accounts for >90% of the cases of esophageal cancer, and has a high degree of aggressiveness and complexity of biological behavior, making its clinical course variable and heterogeneous. A considerable number of ESCC patients have already metastasized at diagnosis. The metastasis of ESCC is the main cause of poor prognosis and mainly involves lymph node and distant metastasis (3). Previous studies demonstrated that the 5-year survival rate of ESCC patients without metastasis was 70-92%, whe...

Emerging Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…Due to such interactions, lncRNA LBX2-AS1 can contribute to the malignant progression of ESCC by promoting tumor migration and EMT [114]. Similarly, lncRNA-ECM, lncRNA-FTH1P3, and lncRNA-NMR have been reported to exacerbate the malignant progression of ESCC by promoting EMT or tumor metastasis [88,115,116]. Some anti-oncogenic lncRNAs such as LINC00675 and RP11-766N7.4 may inhibit EMT in ESCC [83,122].…”

Bioinformatics-based analysis of the lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA and TF regulatory networks reveals functional genes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

“…Esophageal cancer (EC) is the eight commonest type of worldwide cancer and the sixth leading gastrointestinal malignancy with a poor survival rate [1], which is caused by many factors, such as tobacco smoking, heavy drinking, lack of fruits and vegetables, and there are two main histological types of EC: esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) [2]. ESCC is characterized by weight loss, difficulty in swallowing and a dry cough [3], and accounts for >90% of the cases of EC [4]. Recent years, in particular, have seen major progress in the diagnostic and surgical techniques, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy; however, the improvement of ESCC patient's survival rates remains unsatisfactory.…”

P53‐regulated lncRNA uc061hsf.1 inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis in human esophageal squamous cell cancer

“…Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the primary form of EC in China, accounting for more than 90% of all EC cases. Although the overall prognosis of ESCC has improved remarkably owing to the development of comprehensive tumor treatment models in recent years, ESCC patient outcomes remain the worst of all digestive tract tumors owing to its high rates of invasiveness, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance . At present, physical diagnostic methods for ESCC are still limited.…”

“…comprehensive tumor treatment models in recent years, ESCC patient outcomes remain the worst of all digestive tract tumors owing to its high rates of invasiveness, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. 3 At present, physical diagnostic methods for ESCC are still limited. The predictive power of classical tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging on the progression of ESCC is relatively low.…”