MAFA-AS1, a long non-coding RNA, predicts for poor survival of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer with high morbidity and mortality, especially in East Asia. Reliable biomarkers for HCC are indispensible given the absence of capable prediction of prognosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are the most abundant products of transcription, which might serve as robust markers for diagnosis or treatment.

Multiple bioinformatics tools were utilized to screen indicative lncRNAs for HCC concurrently with the underlying mechanism of its role in tumorigenesis and development. We analyzed the genome-wide alterations and transcriptomics profiles of HCC and non-tumor samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Survival analyses were also applied. Integrated bioinformatics analyses were applied to identify co-expressed genes along with chromosome loci, predictive RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and co-expressed miRNAs.

Combining copy number variations (CNVs) with expressions of lncRNAs, 20 most aberrant lncRNAs were identified. MAFA-AS1 was identified as a prognostic indicator of HCC poor overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Multiple bioinformatics analyses suggest that MAFA-AS1 is involved in HCC progression via interacting with SRSF1/SRSF9 and coordinating with miR210.

MAFA-AS1is a prognostic biomarker for poor OS and DFS of patients with HCC. It is involved in HCC progression.