Long non-coding RNA-HOXA transcript antisense RNA myeloid-specific 1 as a novel prognostic factor in gastric cancer

Objective To evaluate the expression levels of HOXA transcript antisense RNA myeloid-specific 1 (HOTAIRM1) in gastric cancer samples and assess the correlation of HOTAIRM1 and gastric cancer clinicopathological characteristics, and its effects on overall survival (OS), post-progression survival (PPS) and first progression (FP) in gastric cancer. Methods Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was carried out to exam the RNA levels of HOTAIRM1 in normal and carcinoma tissues in gastric cancer. The correlation of HOTAIRM1 and the clinicopathological characteristics in gastric cancer was evaluated. Online KM database with larger population was used to analyze the effects of HOTAIRM1 on gastric cancer survival. Results The HOTAIRM1 levels were lower in normal tissues than those in cancer tissues in gastric caner (1.00±0.24 vs. 2.12±0.39, t=2.722, P<0.05). HOTAIRM1 levels were correlated to differentiation negatively, tumor infiltration and lymph node metastasis positively (χ2=5.749, 5.612 and 6.349, P<0.05). OS, PPS and FP rate of gastric cancer patients with higher levels of HOTAIRM1 were shorter than those of higher levels of HOTAIRM1 expression [P<0.01, hazard ratio (HR)=1.74 (1.39-2.19), 2.11 (1.57-2.83), 1.66 (1.30-2.10)]. Conclusion HOTAIRM1 was in higher levels in gastric cancer samples, and correlated to differentiation negatively, T stage and lymph node metastasis positively. Up-regulated expression of HOTAIRM1 is related to shorter survival in gastric cancer. Key words: Gastric cancer; HOXA transcript antisense RNA myeloid-specific 1; Survival