Colorectal Cancer

EGFR-AS1[LncRNA]

miR-133b[miRNA]

STAT3[mRNA]

Colorectal cancer tissues

Homo sapiens (human)

Br J Biomed Sci. 2021 Jul;78(3):122-129. doi: 10.1080/09674845.2020.1853913. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Long non-coding RNA EGFR-AS1 in colorectal cancer: potential role in tumorigenesis and survival via miRNA-133b sponge and EGFR/STAT3 axis regulation.

ELISA;Immunohistochemistry;

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and a major cause of cancer-related death. Thus molecular biomarkers for colorectal cancer have been proposed. The role of long non-coding RNA EGFR-AS1 in colorectal cancer is still unclear. We aimed to evaluate its expression in different stages of colorectal cancer and determine any possible role in regulating the miR-133b/EGFR/STAT3 signalling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The relative expression of EGFR-AS1 and miR-133b were evaluated by quantitative real-time RT-transcription PCR in 130 colorectal cancer samples and 30 normal tissues. EGFR expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, levels of p-EGFR, p-STAT3, and apoptotic proteins were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Both EGFR-AS1 and EGFR overexpression were positively linked with colorectal cancer status (both p < 0.01), grade (both p < 0.01), and metastasis (P < 0.01 and p = 0.019 respectively). EGFR-AS1 and miR-133b were significantly inversely correlated (P < 0.01). Low expression of miR-133b was inversely associated with overexpressed EGFR and increased p-STAT3 levels. EGFR-AS1 was an independent prognostic factor for survival of colorectal cancer patients (P < 0.01, HR 2.06; 95% CI 1.32-3.19) where low EGFR-AS1 expression was associated with higher survival rate (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: EGFR-AS1 may have a role in colorectal cancer by regulation of miR-133b/EGFR/STAT3 signalling. It may be a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and predicting the survival rate of colorectal cancer.