Long non-coding RNA ENST00000503625 is a potential prognostic biomarker and metastasis suppressor gene in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND

Dysregulation of Long Non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) emerges to be a hallmark of cancers. Metastatic prostate cancer and localized disease that recurs after treatment are clinical challenges, it remains unclear how lncRNA plays a role in those processes.

METHODS

From previous RNA-Seq data on 65 prostate cancer and adjacent normal tissues. We identified a novel lncRNA ENST00000503625 down-regulated in prostate cancer and correlated with tumor progression characteristics. Public datasets were examined for associations between ENST00000503625 expression and clinical parameters and prognoses. Subsequently, we constructed and externally validated a nomogram for predicting biochemical recurrence (BCR). Finally, in vitro experiments were carried out to determine how ENST00000503625 functions biologically in prostate cancer.

RESULTS

Low ENST00000503625 in tumor was associated with poor clinical features and prognoses. TCGA pan-cancer analysis found that ENST00000503625 was deregulated in a variety of tumors and correlated with overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free survival. The nomogram for predicting BCR was constructed using TCGA data, which exhibited excellent accuracy in external validation with Chinese Prostate Cancer Genome and Epigenome Atlas data. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analysis found that genes related to ENST00000503625 were enriched in multiple tumor progression related pathways. When ENST00000503625 was knocked down in vitro, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition was induced, by which cancer cells migrated and invaded more readily.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggested that ENST00000503625 may serve as a potential prognostic marker or a therapeutic target for prostate cancer metastases.