Overexpression of lncRNA ATP11A-AS1 in Colorectal Cancer and Its Association With H. pylori Infection

Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common cancer globally, is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Helicobacter pylori infection, a risk factor for CRC, promotes carcinogenesis via inflammation and microbiota disruption. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), such as ATP11A-AS1, regulate key processes in CRC progression, including proliferation and invasion. However, the role of ATP11A-AS1 in CRC and its association with H. pylori infection remain underexplored. This study quantified ATP11A-AS1 expression in CRC tumors compared with adjacent nontumor tissues and investigated its relationship with H. pylori infection and clinicopathological features.

Total RNA was extracted from 100 paired tumor and adjacent nontumor tissues collected from CRC patients (53 males, 47 females, mean age: 56 ± 6.72). Following cDNA synthesis, ATP11A-AS1 expression was measured via qRT-PCR. Associations with clinicopathological factors (age, gender, tumor site, histology, stage, lymph node metastasis, H. pylori status, family history of CRC, alcohol consumption, and diabetes) were analyzed using Mann-Whitney tests. Multivariate binary logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, and tumor site, was applied to clinicopathological outcomes.

ATP11A-AS1 expression was significantly upregulated in tumor tissues compared with nontumor tissues (p < 0.0001). Among 59 H. pylori-positive patients, expression was higher (p = 0.036). No significant associations were found with other features. Multivariate analysis confirmed no independent associations (all p > 0.05). ROC curve analysis yielded an AUC of 0.69, with sensitivity of 63% and specificity of 68%, indicating that ATP11A-AS1 is a weak biomarker for CRC detection.

ATP11A-AS1 is overexpressed in CRC and associated with H. pylori infection, suggesting a potential role in CRC pathogenesis. Further studies are needed to elucidate its molecular mechanisms and clinical significance in H. pylori-related CRC.