Identification of lncRNA HCCAT5 as a Novel Biomarker for Gastric Cancer

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is a widespread type of cancer on a global scale, standing as the fifth most frequently occurring malignant disease. Dysregulation of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) due to genomic mutations in noncoding DNA sequences can contribute to the development of tumors. Detecting GC at an early stage can significantly improve the chances of survival and treatment effectiveness. The current study evaluated the expression of lncRNA HCCAT5 in primary gastric tumors as well as in adjacent noncancerous tissues. Methods: One hundred pairs of GC and adjacent noncancerous tissue samples were acquired from Tabriz International Valiasr Hospital in Iran for the study. Subsequently, RNA extraction was conducted, and this was followed by cDNA synthesis. The expression of HCCAT5 was evaluated using quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). The relationship between clinicopathological characteristics and HCCAT5 expression was analyzed using SPSS software. Furthermore, the predictive value of HCCAT5 in GC was examined via analysis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: HCCAT5 exhibited a significant upregulation in tumor samples in contrast to adjacent noncancerous tissues (p < 0.0001). On the other hand, no significant relationship was detected between the elevated expression of HCCAT5 and the clinicopathological features of the individuals (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The lncRNA HCCAT5 is implicated in advancing the development of GC. Consequently, it could be considered a potential target for therapeutic interventions and a prognostic biomarker for GC patients.