Bioinformatics analysis proposes a possible role for long noncoding RNA MIR17HG in retinoblastoma

Abstract Background Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common prevalent intraocular malignancy among infants and children, particularly in underdeveloped countries. With advancements in genomics and transcriptomics, noncoding RNAs have been increasingly utilized to investigate the molecular pathology of diverse diseases. Aims This study aims to establish the competing endogenous RNAs network associated with RB, analyse the function of mRNAs and lncRNAs, and finds the relevant regulatory network. Methods and Results This study establishes a network of competing endogenous RNAs by Spearman correlation analysis and prediction based on RB patients and healthy children. Enrichment analyzes based on Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes are conducted to analyze the potential biological functions of lncRNA and mRNA networks. Weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA) is employed to identify gene cluster modules exhibiting the strongest correlation with RB. The results indicate a significant correlation between the lncRNA MIR17HG ( R = .73, p = .02) and the RB phenotype. ceRNA networks reveal downstream miRNAs (hsa‐mir‐425‐5p and hsa‐mir455‐5p) and mRNAs (MDM2, IPO11, and ITGA1) associated with MIR17Hg. As an inhibitor of the p53 signaling pathway, MDM2 can suppress the development of RB. Conclusion In conclusion, lncRNAs play a role in RB, and the MIR17HG/hsa‐mir‐425‐5p/MDM2 pathway may contribute to RB development by inhibiting the p53 signaling pathway.