Long noncoding RNA HOTAIR as a biomarker for the detection of Cervical Cancer and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) expression as a biomarker for the detection of cervical cancer and cervical premalignant lesions. Patients & Methods 41 cervical cancer biopsies, 50 precancerous lesions, and 40 normal adjacent tissues were collected. A Series of qPCR analysis was performed on cervical cancer cells, and biopsy specimens to measure the expression of HOTAIR. We assessed the diagnostic value of HOTAIR expression levels and its correlation with clinical and pathological criteria. Results The expression levels of HOTAIR in tumor tissues, premalignant lesions, and adjacent normal tissues showed a significant difference (P < 0.0001). HOTAIR levels were higher in tumors compared to controls, and to premalignant lesions. Simultaneously, HOTAIR levels were significantly elevated in premalignant lesions versus controls. HOTAIR overexpression was also associated with progressed FIGO stages (P < 0.0001), tumor size (P < 0.0001), lymph node metastasis (P < 0.0001), and distant metastasis (P < 0.0001). For the diagnostic value, our results showed that HOTAIR could discriminate patients with cervical cancer from controls with 85,37% sensitivity and 85,00% specificity (AUC = 0,9305). In addition, HOTAIR expression levels could also discriminate cervical intraepithelial neoplasia from controls with 96% sensitivity and 65% specificity (AUC = 0,7835). Conclusion Our findings suggest that HOTAIR might constitute a potential biomarker for detecting cervical cancer at premalignant and malignant stages as well as distinguishing key clinicopathological features.