Cao Weichun, Peng Tianfang, Zhou Yi
The Third Department of Gynecological Cancer, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China.
J Cancer Res Ther. 2017;13(5):801-806. doi: 10.4103/jcrt.JCRT_256_17.
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been highlighted as crucial elements in cancer biology. LncRNA activated by transforming growth factor-β (ATB) was identified to promote the development of multiple cancers and may serve as a potential therapeutic target in human cancers. However, to the best of our knowledge, the functional role of ATB in cervical cancer has not been verified yet.
The expression of lncRNA ATB was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay in cervical cancer cell lines and clinical specimens. The clinical significance of ATB was statistically evaluated by analyzing the relationship between ATB overexpression and the clinicopathological characteristics of cervical cancer patients. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test were conducted to investigate the role of ATB in the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of cervical cancer patients or subgroup patients. Furthermore, univariate and multivariate analyses were adopted to identify the risk factors of OS and PFS of cervical cancer patients.
LncRNA ATB was upregulated in cervical cancer cell lines and tissues (P < 0.05). Statistical analysis revealed that ATB overexpression was correlated with higher squamous cell carcinoma antigen level, larger tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and more advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage of cervical cancer patients (P < 0.05). In addition, survival analysis showed that ATB upregulation was associated with poorer OS in cervical cancer patients and in subgroup patients without/with lymph node metastasis and with FIGO Stage I/II (P < 0.05). Furthermore, high ATB expression was defined as an independent risk factor of poorer OS and early recurrence of cervical cancer patients (P < 0.05).
LncRNA ATB correlates with the malignant phenotypes and poor prognosis of cervical cancer. ATB may serve as a promising prognostic marker and therapeutic target of cervical cancer patients.
长链非编码RNA（lncRNAs）已被视为癌症生物学中的关键要素。已证实转化生长因子-β激活的lncRNA（ATB）可促进多种癌症的发展，并可能成为人类癌症潜在的治疗靶点。然而，据我们所知，ATB在宫颈癌中的功能作用尚未得到证实。
采用定量逆转录聚合酶链反应分析法评估lncRNA ATB在宫颈癌细胞系和临床标本中的表达。通过分析ATB过表达与宫颈癌患者临床病理特征之间的关系，对ATB的临床意义进行统计学评估。此外，进行Kaplan-Meier分析和对数秩检验，以研究ATB在宫颈癌患者或亚组患者总生存期（OS）和无进展生存期（PFS）中的作用。此外，采用单因素和多因素分析来确定宫颈癌患者OS和PFS的危险因素。
lncRNA ATB在宫颈癌细胞系和组织中上调（P<0.05）。统计分析显示，ATB过表达与宫颈癌患者较高的鳞状细胞癌抗原水平、更大的肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移以及更晚期的国际妇产科联盟（FIGO）分期相关（P<0.05）。此外，生存分析表明，ATB上调与宫颈癌患者以及无/有淋巴结转移和FIGO I/II期亚组患者较差的OS相关（P<0.05）。此外，高ATB表达被定义为宫颈癌患者较差OS和早期复发的独立危险因素（P<0.05）。
lncRNA ATB与宫颈癌的恶性表型和不良预后相关。ATB可能是宫颈癌患者有前景的预后标志物和治疗靶点。
