The long non-coding RNA CCAT2 is up-regulated in ovarian cancer and associated with poor prognosis.
BACKGROUND
Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging regulators in cancer biology, and can be used as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and targeted therapy. The lncRNA CCAT2 (colon cancer associated transcript 2) was recently shown to be involved in several cancers; however, its role in ovarian cancer remains unknown.


METHODS
Expression levels of the lncRNA CCAT2 in ovarian cancer tissues, adjacent normal tissues, and cell lines were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Then, the associations of CCAT2 expression levels with clinicopathological features and prognosis were evaluated. In addition, CCAT2 functions in tumor progression and invasion were further determined by siRNA-induced CCAT2 silencing in vitro.


RESULTS
Expression levels of the lncRNA CCAT2 in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines were significantly higher compared with values obtained for adjacent non-tumor tissues and normal ovarian epithelial cells. Interestingly, higher CCAT2 expression levels were associated with a shorter overall survival (P = 0.006) and disease-free survival (P = 0.001) in ovarian cancer patients. In addition, CCAT2 expression was positively correlated with FIGO stage (P = 0.002), tumor grade (P = 0.006) and distant metastasis (P < 0.001). Moreover, CCAT2 knockdown in ovarian cancer cells markedly suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.


CONCLUSIONS
The lncRNA CCAT2 is a novel factor involved in ovarian cancer progression, and constitutes a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for patients with ovarian cancer.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China.
Shuying
S
Huang
Intensive Care Unit, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China.
Cheng
C
Qing
Department of Clinical Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China.
Zikun
Z
Huang
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China. zyf20151207@163.com.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Baoan Matemal and Chlid Health Hospital, Shenzhen, 518133, Guangdong, China. zyf20151207@163.com.
Yuanfang
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4242-582X
Y
Zhu
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D015854:Up-Regulation
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C000609264:long non-coding RNA CCAT2, human
Colon cancer associated transcript 2; LncRNAs; Ovarian cancer; Prognosis