Identification of long-non coding RNA UCA1 as an oncogene in renal cell carcinoma

Yifan Li,Lu Jin,Yaoting Gui,Shangqi Yang,Xiangming Mao,Yuchi Li,Duqun Chen,Yongqing Lai,Zuhu Yu,Tiantian Wang,Liangchao Ni

doi:10.3892/mmr.2016.4894

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, which is associated with poor prognosis and high recurrence. Long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be dysregulated in cancer and to be important in the regulation of carcinogenesis, thus suggesting that this class of molecules may be used as biomarkers in cancer. The lncRNA urothelial carcinoma associated 1 (UCA1) has been observed to be upregulated and to function as an oncogene in certain types of cancer; however, the role of UCA1 in RCC remains to be elucidated. The present study aimed to determine the expression and function of UCA1 in RCC. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to determine the expression levels of UCA1 in 46 paired RCC and adjacent normal tissue samples. Furthermore, qPCR was used to determine the expression levels of UCA1 in four RCC cell lines compared with the human embryonic kidney 293T cell line. The impact of UCA1 on cell migration, proliferation and apoptosis was investigated by wound scratch assay, MTT and flow cytometry, respectively. The results of the present study demonstrated that UCA1 expression levels were significantly increased in RCC tissues and cells, as compared with the controls. Ectopic expression and gene silencing of UCA1 in RCC cell lines exerted opposite effects on cellular proliferation, migration and apoptosis, and the results suggested that UCA1 may function as an oncogene in RCC. These results indicated that UCA1 may be considered as a promising biomarker for diagnosis, and a therapeutic target in RCC. Further research is required to elucidate the role and target genes of UCA1 in RCC.

Highlights

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, accounting for ~90% of all renal tumors and 3.9% of all cancer cases [1,2]
RCC is a type of cancer associated with poor prognosis, since ~25% of patients are initially diagnosed with advanced RCC, and up to 33.3% of patients with clinically localized disease develop recurrence post‐surgery [4]
Several Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated as crucial in RCC, including onco‐lncRNAs and tumor suppressor lncRNAs [25], the present study focused on the effects of urothelial carcinoma associated 1 (UCA1) on the onset and development of RCC

Summary

Introduction

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, accounting for ~90% of all renal tumors and 3.9% of all cancer cases [1,2]. RCC is characterized by a lack of early‐warning signs, protean clinical manifestations, and resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy [3]. 25% of patients present with advanced disease when initially diagnosed with RCC. A third of patients who undergo resection of localized disease exhibit recurrence [4]. The survival of patients with localized tumors who undergo radical nephrectomy is markedly improved compared with patients with regional and distant metastasis, demonstrating the importance of early detection and treatment [5]. The detection of novel biomarkers to aid early diagnosis is required

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion