Expression of HOX transcription antisense RNA in triple-negative breast cancer and its clinical significance

Objective To explore the HOX transcription antisense RNA (HOTAIR) relative expression in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and its correlation with malignancy and progression of breast cancer. Methods Relative expression levels of HOTAIR were examined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) in 43 TNBC patients and 78 non-TNBC patients. The relative expression of HOTAIR was compared between carcinoma tissues and adjacent normal tissues (ANTs). The correlation between the relative expression of HOTAIR and the cancer stages of the TNBC patients was analyzed. Results We found that the relative expression levels of HOTAIR were signifiantly increased in breast cancer tissues as compared with that in ANTs (0.59±0.50 vs. 0.41±0.32, P=0.001). The relative expression of HOTAIR was more enhanced in TNBC than in non-TNBC (0.78±0.59 vs. 0.48±0.41, P=0.004). Higher relative expression levels of HOTAIR were found in advanced TNBC than in early-stage TNBC (1.03±0.63 vs. 0.54±0.44, P=0.006). Conclusion Relative expression of HOTAIR was enhanced in TNBCs and might correlate with cancer stages of TNBC. Key words: Triple negative breast cancer; Long non-coding RNA; HOX transcription antisense RNA; Cancer staging