Identification of novel long non-coding RNA in diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas by expression profile analysis

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is one of the most devastating types of pediatric cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that the dysregulated expression of long non-coding (lnc)-RNAs is associated with various pathologies of the CNS. However, the expression patterns and prognostic roles of lncRNAs in DIPG have not yet been systematically determined. In the present study, lncRNA expression profiles were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database using the lncRNA-mining approach and a differential expression analysis for lncRNAs was performed between DIPG and low-grade brainstem glioma and DIPG and normal pediatric brainstem tissue. Using a two-tailed t-test, 58 and 197 lncRNAs were found to be significantly deferentially expressed (Fold change >2 or <0.5, FDR adjusted P<0.05). To identify the prognostic value of these 255 differentially expressed lncRNAs, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were performed and a 9-lncRNA signature as a potential biomarker for predicting the prognosis of DIPG was constructed. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that patients in the high-risk group exhibited a reduced survival time compared with patients in the low-risk group (median survival of 230 vs. 460 days, log-rank test P<0.001). Moreover, this lncRNA-signature could be used as an independent prognostic marker for DIPG patient survival. The present study provided novel candidates for the investigation of potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets of DIPG, as well as a novel insight into the underlying mechanisms of DIPG.