LncRNA CRNDE is downregulated and associated with poor prognostic markers in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by a very heterogeneous clinical outcome. Thus, a plethora of prognostic factors and systems has been identified to place patients into different risk categories and to guide therapy decisions. The classic clinical staging models by Rai and Binet have been the cornerstone of patient management for several years. The greater insight into the molecular biology of CLL facilitated the advent of prognostic genetic biomarkers that are expected to impact clinical practice soon in the future. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) CRNDE in patients with CLL, and to analyze its relationship with the clinicopathological parameters of CLL.

In this study, 40 untreated CLL patients and 30 age- and gender-matched controls were enrolled. The analysis of lncRNA CRNDE expression was determined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique.

Our result confirmed the downregulated expression of LncRNA CRNDE in CLL patients compared to controls (p < 0.001). The low expression of CRNDE was significantly associated with poor prognostic markers including advanced stage of CLL, high levels of serum beta-2 microglobulin and lactic dehydrogenase, and the presence of del17p (p = 0.029, p = 0.013, p = 0.003, p = 0.028; respectively).

Our study demonstrated that LncRNA CRNDE is significantly downregulated and associated with poor prognostic markers in CLL. It provides a rationale to assess its biological and prognostic impact in CLL.