Expression of the lncRNA TPT1-AS1 in lung squamous cell carcinoma and its prognostic value.

Objective: Lung squamous cell carcinoma is typically associated with a poor prognosis, highlighting the need for a reliable prognostic marker. Given that the long noncoding RNA TPT1-AS1 has demonstrated aberrant expression in numerous cancers, the prognostic significance of TPT1-AS1 in LUSC was examined.

Methods: The present study included 115 patients diagnosed with LUSC. The expression levels of TPT1-AS1 and miR-4726-5p in tissues and cells were assessed using RT-qPCR, while the correlation between TPT1-AS1 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed through the chi-square test. Binding sites between TPT1-AS1 and miR-4726-5p were predicted using a database and confirmed via a dual-luciferase reporter assay. The Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationship between TPT1-AS1 and miR-4726-5p in tumor tissues. The impacts of TPT1-AS1 and miR-4726-5p on cells were evaluated through CCK-8 and Transwell assays.

Results: TPT1-AS1 expression was found to be reduced, while miR-4726-5p expression was upregulated in LUSC tissues. Patients exhibiting low TPT1-AS1 expression experienced shorter overall survival. Moreover, TPT1-AS1 was identified as an independent prognostic factor. A dual luciferase reporter assay validated that TPT1-AS1-WT targeted and bound to miR-4726-5p. Additionally, an inverse correlation was observed between miR-4726-5p and TPT1-AS1 in tumors. Cell experiments indicated that the overexpression of TPT1-AS1 led to a decrease in miR-4726-5p expression, consequently inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Conclusion: TPT1-AS1 targets miR-4726-5p, and overexpression of TPT1-AS1 has the potential to serve as a prognostic marker for LUSC and can significantly influence LUSC progression.