LncRNA TUG1 aggravates the progression of prostate cancer and predicts the poor prognosis

T. Xu, C.-L. Liu, T. Li, Y.-H. Zhang, Y.-H. Zhao

Department of Urology, Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao, China. qdzxyymnwk@163.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between plasma level of lncRNA TUG1 with PSA level, Gleason grading and tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage of prostate cancer (PCa) patients. This study aims to evaluate the potential diagnostic and prognostic values of TUG1 in PCa.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Plasma level of TUG1 in 70 PCa patients and 70 healthy controls was determined using the quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Correlation between plasma level of TUG1 with PSA level, Gleason grading and TNM stage of PCa patients was analyzed. The potential diagnostic value of TUG1 in PCa was explored by introducing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The survival analysis of PCa patients undergoing radical prostatectomy was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. Finally, the regulatory effects of TUG1 on in vitro proliferative and migratory abilities of PCa cells were examined by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and the transwell assay, respectively.

RESULTS: QRT-PCR data revealed a higher plasma level of TUG1 in PCa patients than in those of healthy controls. In particular, PCa patients with stage III+IV had a higher level of TUG1 relative to those with stage I+II. Moreover, the TUG1 level was higher in PCa patients with a higher PSA level (≥ 10 ng/mL), Gleason grading (≥ 7) or TNM stage (N1, M1). There was no significant correlation between the plasma level of TUG1 and the age of PCa patients. The ROC and Kaplan-Meier curves indicated the diagnostic and prognostic values of TUG1 in PCa. The overexpression of TUG1 markedly accelerated PCa cells to proliferate and migrate.

CONCLUSIONS: The plasma level of TUG1 is upregulated in PCa patients and is correlated to PSA level, Gleason grading and TNM stage of PCa. TUG1 exerts certain diagnostic and prognostic values in PCa. The overexpression of TUG1 markedly accelerates PCa cells to proliferate and migrate.

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