Expression profile analysis of long noncoding RNA in ER-positive subtype breast cancer using microarray technique and...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• Estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent subtype.
• Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in cancer, but ER-positive BC lncRNA profiles remain understudied.
• This study pioneers the analysis of lncRNA and mRNA expression in ER-positive BC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the lncRNA expression profile in ER-positive breast cancer.
• To identify lncRNAs correlated with estrogen receptor (ER) expression levels.
• To explore the potential roles of dysregulated lncRNAs in ER-positive BC pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Microarray analysis of lncRNA and mRNA from ER-positive BC and adjacent non-tumor tissues.
• Pearson correlation analysis to assess lncRNA-ERalpha expression relationships.
• Bioinformatic analyses including classification, pathway analysis (KEGG), and lncRNA-mRNA coexpression network construction.
• RT-PCR validation of microarray findings.

Main Results:

• 2,178 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified, with 13 significantly associated with ER expression levels.
• Dysregulated lncRNAs were predominantly intergenic, 400-800 nt in length, and frequently mapped to chromosome 1.
• Pathway analysis highlighted involvement in cancer-related processes like the p53 signaling pathway and cell cycle.
• lncRNA-mRNA coexpression networks revealed significant differences in lncRNAs related to ESR1, BRCA1, and BRCA2 between groups.
• RT-PCR confirmed microarray results.

Conclusions:

• The identified lncRNAs offer novel insights into ER-positive BC biology.
• These lncRNAs represent potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ER-positive BC.
• This research lays the groundwork for future investigations into lncRNA functions in ER-positive BC.