Abstract

Long noncoding RNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This study was designed to investigate the clinical roles of long noncoding RNAs somatostatin receptor 5 antisense RNA 1 and tubulin alpha 4B in prediction of nasopharyngeal carcinoma prognosis. Reverse transcriptionquantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect gene expression levels. The relationship between aberrant expressions of somatostatin receptor 5 antisense RNA 1, tubulin alpha 4B, 5 y overall survival and relapse-free survival rates were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The clinical effects of somatostatin receptor 5 antisense RNA 1 and tubulin alpha 4B in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell viability and apoptosis were further verified and evaluated by the in vitro experiments. We found that expression levels of somatostatin receptor 5 antisense RNA 1 and tubulin alpha 4B were significantly decreased in serum of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines. Somatostatin receptor 5 antisense RNA 1 and tubulin alpha 4B expression levels were associated with the node stage, clinical stage and grade of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In addition, nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with lower somatostatin receptor 5 antisense RNA 1 and tubulin alpha 4B expression presented shorter 5 y overall survival and relapse-free survival rates than those with higher expression. After receiving chemoradiotherapy, the expression levels of somatostatin receptor 5 antisense RNA 1 and tubulin alpha 4B were significantly increased. In vitro experimental results further verified that somatostatin receptor 5 antisense RNA 1 and tubulin alpha 4B overexpression strongly promote nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell apoptosis. To sum up, tumor-suppressors long noncoding RNAs somatostatin receptor 5 antisense RNA 1 and tubulin alpha 4B might be potential indicators for nasopharyngeal carcinoma prognosis and treatment.