KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The study aimed to investigate the contribution of four long non-coding RNA polymorphisms in esophageal cancer patients.
- Researchers noticed the critical need for comprehensive support systems for both patients and their spouses post-esophageal cancer surgery.
The study addresses the limited investigation of single-nucleotide polymorphisms with malignant potential in esophageal cancer tissues in Western populations. Efstratia Baili and her team aimed to explore the role of four long non-coding RNAs’ polymorphisms, namely HOTAIR rs920778, LINC00951 rs11752942, POLR2E rs3787016, and HULC rs7763881, in contributing to esophageal cancer susceptibility.
Researchers performed an inclusive analysis utilizing formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens obtained from 95 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for esophageal/esophagogastric junction carcinoma between March 2014 and September 2018.
The study included individuals of European/Greek ancestry, comparing DNA findings from this patient population with those of 121 healthy community controls. Demographic data, histopathological parameters, and surgical and oncological outcomes were systematically collected.
Notably, Ivor Lewis/McKeown esophagectomy was performed on 67 patients, addressing squamous cell esophageal carcinoma (N = 6) and esophageal/esophagogastric junction Siewert I or II adenocarcinoma (N = 61). Additionally, 28 patients underwent extended total gastrectomy for esophagogastric junction Siewert III adenocarcinoma. The absence of LINC00951 rs11752942 and HULC rs7763881 polymorphisms in higher frequencies was observed in esophageal cancer patients compared to healthy community subjects.
An intriguing finding emerged with a significantly higher prevalence of HOTAIR rs920778 TT genotype in esophagogastric junction Siewert I/II adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, POLR2E rs3787016 C allele and CC genotypes, while overrepresented in the control group, demonstrated associations in esophageal cancer carriers with earlier disease stages, minor lymph node involvement, and lesser metastatic potential.
The study concluded that HOTAIR rs920778 may serve as a potential therapeutic suppression target, and POLR2E rs3787016 holds promise as a valuable biomarker for evaluating esophageal cancer predisposition, predicting treatment response, and assessing prognosis. Clinical implications warrant validation through further prospective studies with larger sample sizes.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38300349/
Baili E, Gazouli M, Lazaris AC, et al. (2024). Associations of long non-coding RNAs HOTAIR, LINC00951, POLR2E and HULC polymorphisms with the risk of esophageal and esophagogastric junction cancer in a western population: a case-control study. Mol Biol Rep. 2024 Feb 1;51(1):249. doi: 10.1007/s11033-024-09206-0. PMID: 38300349; PMCID: PMC10834655.
