Abstract
PVT1, which maps to chromosome 8q24, is a copy number amplification-associated long non-coding RNA. Overexpression of PVT1 is a powerful predictor of tumor progression and patient survival in a diverse range of cancer types. However, the association between PVT1 and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine the expression pattern of PVT1, and its clinical significance in HCC. Between 2003 and 2012, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression levels of PVT1 in two independent cohorts: Cohort one, 58 HCC resection samples; and cohort 2, 214 HCC transplant samples. Additionally, the correlation between PVT1 expression levels and clinical parameters and outcomes was analyzed. The relative expression levels of PVT1 were significantly higher in cancerous tissues compared with the corresponding non-cancerous tissues (cohort one, P=0.0016; cohort two, P=0.0274). Furthermore, overexpression of PVT1 was associated with a higher serum α-fetoprotein expression level (P=0.011) and a higher recurrence rate (P=0.004). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the patients with high PVT1 expression exhibited poor recurrence-free survival (P=0.021), and multivariate analysis demonstrated that high levels of PVT1 expression are an independent predictor for HCC recurrence (P=0.042; hazard ratio, 1.653). Thus, the high expression levels of PVT1 in HCC may serve as a novel biomarker for predicting tumor recurrence in HCC patients, and as a potential therapeutic target.
Highlights
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the fifth most prevalent malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer‐related mortality worldwide, with ~695,900 mortalities per year [1]
A number of classic long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in human hepatocarcinogenesis, exhibiting oncogenic or tumor suppressive roles
One such example of oncogenic lncRNA is HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR), which was initially identified in foreskin fibroblasts
Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the fifth most prevalent malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer‐related mortality worldwide, with ~695,900 mortalities per year [1]. Half of these cases occur in China, due to high incidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection [2]. Tumor recurrence following liver surgery remains a critical issue (recurrence rate, ~30‐50%), compromising the long‐term survival of patients [3,4,5]. Investigating ideal biomarkers for the improved prediction of postoperative recurrence may aid surgeons in selecting patients or adopting preventive strategies for patients at high risk of recurrence
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