Expression analysis of cell cycle related lncRNAs in breast cancer tissues

Cell cycle regulation is an important cellular function. Abnormal regulation of this process can cause cancer. Several genes are involved in this process. There is no comprehensive study on expression pattern of cell cycle related lncRNAs in breast cancer patients. In the current study, we evaluated expressions of LINC00668, PRDM16-DT, SNHG7 and CDKN2A in 42 pairs of breast cancer tissues and adjacent non-tumoral tissues. Expression of SNHG7 was significantly lower in tumoral tissues compared with non-tumoral tissues. However, expressions of LINC00668, PRDM16-DT and CDKN2A were not significantly different between these two sets of samples. Expression levels of SNHG7 could separate tumoral tissues from non-tumoral tissues with AUC value= 0.66, sensitivity= 61% and specificity= 73%. Expression of CDKN2A was associated with clinical stage (P value=0.01). Expression levels of LINC00668, PRDM16-DT, SNHG7 and CDKN2A were higher in estrogen receptor (ER) positive samples compared with ER negative ones (P values=0.044, 0.008, 0.002 and 0.022, respectively). Moreover, expression of SNHG7 was higher in progesterone receptor (PR) positive samples compared with PR negative ones (P value=0.02). Finally, expressions of PRDM16-DT, SNHG7 and CDKN2A were higher in HER2/neu positive samples compared with HER2/neu negative ones (P values=0.017, 0.02 and 0.021, respectively). Taken together, our study demonstrates possible roles of these genes in breast cancer and warrants further functional studies.