Increased expression of lncRNA HULC in human epithelial ovarian cancer and its biological functions

Purpose: Long noncoding RNA (lncRNAs) highly upregulated in liver cancer (HULC) has recently been revealed to be upregulated in several human malignancies and correlated with tumor progression. The purpose of this study was to explore the role and function of HULC in human epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Materials and Methods: LncRNA HULC expression in EOC tissues and cell lines was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Then, the association between HULC expression and clinicopathological characteristics and patient survival was analyzed. Furthermore, the effects of HULC on the biological behavior of EOC cells were evaluated by in vitro assays. Results: HULC was significantly upregulated in EOC tissues and cell lines. High level of HULC was associated with advanced FIGO Stage, higher serum CA125 expression level, lymph node metastasis, and poor overall survival. Knockdown of HULC in OVCAR3 was able to reduce cell proliferation, promote cell apoptosis, and inhibit cell invasion. Conclusions: These findings indicate that HULC may exert oncogenic activity in EOC and would serve as a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for EOC.

LncRNA HULC; Epithelial ovarian cancer; Prognosis; Proliferation; Invasion.

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