Biomedical impact of the expression of HOX locus-associated LncRNAs HOTAIR and HOTTIP in diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Abstract

BackgroundDespite decades of research considerably improving our understanding of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), its biology is still not fully understood. Long non coding RNAs (LncRNAs) play key roles in the regulation of several human illnesses, including cancer. AimThis study intended to analyze the serum expressions of LncRNAs HOTAIR and HOTTIP in DLBCL patients and their connection to clinicopathological variables. MethodsSixty DLBCL patients and sixty controls participated in this study. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the serum expressions of the LncRNAs HOTAIR and HOTTIP. ResultsHOTAIR and HOTTIP expressions significantly increased in the patients. Both LncRNAs demonstrated significant diagnostic potential. While HOTTIP is diagnostically superior to HOTAIR alone or HOTAIR+HOTTIP, LncRNA HOTAIR performed better in identifying patients with an international prognostic index (IPI) >2. High HOTAIR and HOTTIP expressions were found to be significantly connected to performance status 2, advanced tumor stage (III+IV), IPI > 2, lower overall survival, worse progression-free survival, and unresponsiveness to treatment. High levels of HOTAIR and HOTTIP were identified by a multivariate Cox regression as independent predictors of lower overall survival. ConclusionsPatients with DLBCL displayed elevated serum expressions of the LncRNAs HOTAIR and HOTTIP, which had a strong correlation with unfavorable clinical outcomes. The aforementioned suggests that these LncRNAs may serve as biomarkers to identify cancer and to categorize patients' prognoses.