Comprehensive analysis of long noncoding RNA-mRNA co-expression patterns in thyroid cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• Novel molecular-targeted treatments are promising for radioiodine-refractory and inoperable thyroid carcinomas.
• The role of oncogenes in long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression in thyroid cancer remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify expression patterns of lncRNAs and mRNAs in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).
• To investigate the potential roles of lncRNAs in PTC progression and tumorigenesis.

Main Methods:

• High-throughput molecular profiling of 18 PTC patients.
• Differential expression analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs.
• lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network construction and analysis.
• Validation of candidate lncRNAs in 45 PTC patients.

Main Results:

• Identified 452 differentially expressed mRNAs and 240 unannotated lncRNAs in PTC.
• Discovered 20 candidate lncRNAs by integrating predicted lncRNA targets with differentially expressed mRNAs.
• Validated five lncRNAs (CTD-3193O13.11, RP5-1024C24.1, AC007255.8, HOXD-AS1, RP11-402L6.1) with significant differential expression and network characteristics.
• Found correlations between specific lncRNA expression and clinical parameters like stage, metastasis, tumor size, and patient age.

Conclusions:

• Provides a genome-wide screening of lncRNA expression in PTC.
• Highlights the potential involvement of lncRNAs in PTC tumorigenesis and progression.
• Suggests lncRNAs as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PTC.