Long Noncoding RNA IPW Is a Novel Diagnostic and Predictive Biomarker in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), as functional components of the human genome, are widely involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, migration and invasion by several types of cancer, including lung cancer. However, the role of lncRNA IPW in lung cancer has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to characterize the expression and clinical significance of lncRNA IPW in lung cancer. Materials and Methods: IPW expression in tumor samples and cells was assessed using the Oncomine and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) database, respectively. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to determine IPW expression and microRNA-370 (miR-370) expression. The clinical significance of IPW was evaluated by Chi-square test and Kaplan-Meier pot analyses. In addition, the sulforhodamine blue (SRB) assays was used to detect cell proliferation in IPW-overexpressed A549 cells. Results: IPW expression was significantly down-regulated in NSCLC tissues and was significantly associated with many clinicopathological data, including smoking history, differentiation, pT factor, pN factor and pTNM stage (p < 0.05). Decreased IPW expression was correlated with poor survival (p = 1.5e-05) and was positively associated with first progression in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (p = 0.00041). Furthermore, IPW could inhibit A549 cell proliferation and expression of miR-370. High miR-370 expression was associated with poor overall survival (OS) among lung adenocarcinoma patients (p = 0.045). Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that down-regulation of IPW might be considered as a beneficial prognostic biomarker and that it could potentially serve as therapeutic target in lung adenocarcinoma.