Long intergenic non-coding RNA-p21 is associated with poor prognosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

• R. Abo Elwafa ^[1] ; A. Abd Elrahman ^[1] ; O. Ghallab ^[1]
  1. [1] Alexandria University

     Alexandria University

     Egipto

     
• Localización: Clinical & translational oncology, ISSN 1699-048X, Vol. 23, Nº. 1 (January), 2021, págs. 92-99
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Background Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides. They are new players in transcriptional regulation and cancer research. LincRNA-p21 is a p53-regulated lncRNA involved in the p53 transcriptional network. It has an important role in regulating cellular proliferation and apoptosis. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is derived by a typical defect in apoptosis and characterized by clonal proliferation and accumulation of mature B cells. The aim of the present study was to assess the expression pattern of the lincRNA-p21 and investigate its potential role as a new prognostic marker in CLL.

    Methods The study was conducted on 80 newly diagnosed CLL patients and 80 age- and sex-matched controls. The analysis of LincRNA-p21 and the p53 downstream proapoptotic target genes (MDM2, PUMA, BAX, and NOXA) was performed by real-time PCR. The cytogenetic abrasions and expression of ZAP70 and CD38 were detected by FISH and Flow cytometry, respectively.

    Results LincRNA-p21 was significantly downregulated in CLL patients compared to controls. The downstream proapoptotic targets were significantly downregulated in CLL patients and positively correlated with lincRNA-p21. Low expression of lincRNA-p21 was associated with poor prognostic markers (advanced stages of CLL, del 17p13, ZAP70, and CD38 expression), failure of complete remission, shorter progression free survival, and overall survival. Low lincRNA-p21 expression was independently prognostic for shorter time to treatment.

    Conclusion Low expression of lincRNA-p21 demarcates a more aggressive form of CLL with poor prognosis. Therefore, it could be considered as a new prognostic marker to predict disease outcome in CLL.