Identification of Long Noncoding RNA Expression Profiles in HPV-Negative Cervical Cancer

HPV-negative cervical cancer (CC) usually appears more aggressive and causes poorer survival outcomes compared to HPV-positive cases. However, the research in regard to HPV-negative CC is rare, and the related molecular mechanism underlying remains unclear. We intended to explore the expression profiles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and identify the tumor-associated lncRNAs which might be used as the potential biomarker for HPV-negative CC.

Bioinformatics analyses were utilized to construct the expression profiles of lncRNAs, Gene Ontology, and KEGG analyses and draw the lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network in HPV-negative CC. The expression levels of the top 5 marked-up tumor-associated lncRNAs were detected by qRT-PCR. The effect of LINC00115 on CC growth and metastasis was studied by Cell Counting Kit-8 and transwell assays.

In comparison to normal cervix (NC), 2,052 lncRNAs were differentially expressed in HPV-negative CC. It demonstrated that LINC00115 was significantly upregulated in HPV-negative CC cells compared to NC, and it could promote proliferation, migration, and invasion of HPV-negative CC cells.

LINC00115 might be a potential biomarker for HPV-negative CC.