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Plasma long non-coding RNA HOTAIR as a potential biomarker for gastric cancer

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) Hox transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) has been suggested to be implicated in gastric cancer tumorigenesis and progression; however, little is known about the role of the plasma HOTAIR in gastric cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Objective: The current study was aimed at investigating the clinical relevance of plasma long non-coding HOTAIR as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker in gastric cancer. Methods: Plasma HOTAIR expression was measured in 50 patients with newly diagnosed gastric cancer and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: Plasma level of HOTAIR was significantly higher in gastric cancer patients compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001). By using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, it was found that plasma HOTAIR could diagnose gastric cancer with 88% sensitivity and 84% specificity. Furthermore, increased HOTAIR expression was associated with advanced tumor stages, higher grades, and metastasis. Conclusion: Plasma HOTAIR might serve as a potential non-invasive biomarker for diagnosis of gastric cancer.