Long noncoding AFAP1-antisense RNA 1 is upregulated and promotes tumorigenesis in gastric cancer

• Published in: Oncology letters Vol. 15; no. 5; pp. 7523 - 7530
• Main Authors: Ye, Fei, Gong, Yi, Chen, Xiangheng, Yu, Meiying, Zuo, Zhongkun, Pei, Dongni, Liu, Wei, Wang, Qunwei, Zhou, Jun, Duan, Lunxi, Zhang, Leiyi, Li, Xiaojing, Tang, Tenglong, Huang, Jiangsheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece Spandidos Publications 01-05-2018; Spandidos Publications UK Ltd; D.A. Spandidos
• Subjects: Analysis; Antisense RNA; Care and treatment; Cell growth; Development and progression; Family medical history; Gastric cancer; Gene expression; Genetic aspects; Health aspects; Medical prognosis; Stomach cancer; Studies; Tumorigenesis; United States > US; China; long noncoding RNA; AFAP1-antisense RNA 1; gastric cancer; proliferation; prognosis
• ISSN: 1792-1074; 1792-1082
• DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8266

Long noncoding RNA serves important roles in gastric cancer (GC). However, the prognostic significance and tumorigenesis effect of AFAP1-antisense RNA 1 (AS1) in GC remain to be clarified. The present study was conducted in order to determine the expression level of AFAP1-AS1 by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. It was demonstrated that AFAP1-AS1 expression level was higher in GC tissues in comparison with adjacent tissues. By analyzing 66 GC tissue specimens, AFAP1-AS1 expression level was found to be markedly associated with tumor size, clinical stage and differentiation. By performing multivariate Cox regression test, AFAP1-AS1 expression level was confirmed to be an independent factor for poor prognosis in patients with GC. Furthermore, SGC-7901 and BGC-823 cells were used for further investigation following transfection of an AFAP1-AS1 short hairpin RNA lentiviral vector. Knockdown of AFAP1-AS1 significantly inhibited GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion abilities
. Finally, nude mice experiments confirmed that downregulation of AFAP1-AS1 in GC cells suppressed tumor growth
. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that AFAP1-AS1 may serve as a valuable prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for GC.