A distinctively expressed long noncoding RNA, RP11‐466I1.1, may serve as a prognostic biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma

It is urgent to explore effective diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Now, both lncRNAs and lipid metabolism are involved in tumor pathogenesis. Long noncoding RNA, RP11‐466I1.1, could likely be linked to lipid metabolism according to our bioinformatics analysis, yet studies about RP11‐466I1.1 expression in tumors and its potential functions are still lacking. We aimed to explore the expression and correlations with clinical features of a long noncoding RNA, RP11‐466I1.1, and further analyze its diagnostic and prognostic values in hepatocellular carcinoma. Expression levels of RP11‐466I1.1 were detected by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) in tissue and serum level, and expression differences were analyzed by independent 2‐tailed t tests. Clinical features were obtained, and their correlations with RP11‐466I1.1 were analyzed by chi‐squared test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to assess the diagnostic value. Kaplan‐Meier method and log‐rank test were used to evaluate the prognostic value of RP11‐466I1.1. Results showed that RP11‐466I1.1 was upregulated in HCC tissues (P < .01) and serum (P < .05). Significant upregulation of RP11‐466I1.1 in HCC tissues with poor histological grade (P < .01) and incomplete tumor capsule (P < .01) was found compared to that with better histological grade and complete tumor capsule, respectively. The diagnostic value of RP11‐466I1.1 was not supported by ROC curve analysis (AUROC=0.665, P = .079). Yet, the significant correlation of RP11‐466I1.1 with poor prognosis indicated its potential prognostic value in HCC. This study suggested that RP11‐466I1.1 is distinctively expressed in HCC and may serve as a promising novel prognostic biomarker. The concrete mechanisms of RP11‐466I1.1 playing roles in HCC pathogenesis need further study.