LncRNA MIR4435-21-IG contributes into colorectal cancer development and predicts poor prognosis

OBJECTIVE: Some studies have confirmed that long non-coding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) played a vital role in the pathophysiology of various diseases, especially in oncogenesis and progression of tumors. Dysex-pressed lncRNAs regulate different cellular processes, including proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical significance and function of lncRNA MIR4435-2HG in colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the expression of lncRNA MIR4435-2HG. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the overall survival and disease-free survival of patients with colorectal cancer. The cell proliferation was measured by Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The cell apoptotic rate was measured via flow cytometry method. RESULTS: LncRNA MIR4435-2HG is a novel cancer-related lncRNA that was recently found to exhibit high expression in colorectal cancer. The dysregulation of lncRNA miR4435-2HG was significantly related to the tumor size (p<0.001), lymph node metastasis (p<0.001), and tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging (p=0.022). The patients with higher expression of lncRNA miR4435-2HG showed worse prognosis than those with low expression of lncRNA miR4435-2HG group. Besides. the downregulated lncRNA miR4435-2HG expression could repress cell proliferation and enhance cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA MIR4435-2HG functions as an oncogene that promotes colorectal cancer progression, and likely represents a biomarker or therapeutic target of colorectal cancer.