Gene microarray analysis of lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles in patients with high‑grade ovarian serous cancer.

Abstract

High-grade ovarian serous cancer is known for its high rates of invasion and metastasis, and resultant high mortality rate. Therefore, research concerning biomarkers and underlying molecular mechanisms of high-grade ovarian serous cancer progression and prognosis are urgently required. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been the subject of an increasing number of studies, and certain lncRNAs have been demonstrated to serve an important function in the development and progression of various cancers, including HOX transcript antisense RNA, competing endogenous lncRNA 2 for microRNA let-7b, urothelial cancer associated 1, and H19, imprinted maternally expressed transcript (non-protein coding). However, few studies have investigated the differential expression of lncRNAs in high-grade ovarian serous cancer. In the present study, differences in lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles between high-grade ovarian serous cancer tissue samples and healthy fallopian tube tissue samples were investigated using microarray analysis, and the differential expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs was confirmed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Then, five abnormally expressed lncRNAs were selected, and the associations between these lncRNAs and ovarian cancer clinicopathological parameters were examined using RT-qPCR. The expression profiles of certain lncRNAs and mRNAs were confirmed to be altered between high-grade ovarian serous cancer tissues and healthy fallopian tube tissues. Furthermore, the expression levels of selected lncRNAs were associated with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and lymph node metastasis. These lncRNAs and mRNAs may therefore be involved in the pathogenesis of high-grade ovarian serous cancer. The results of the present study provide an experimental foundation for further exploration of the value of these lncRNAs and mRNAs in the early diagnosis and treatment of high-grade ovarian serous cancer.