Meta-signature LncRNAs serve as novel biomarkers for colorectal cancer: integrated bioinformatics analysis, experimental validation and diagnostic evaluation

The aim of this study is to explore the differentially expressed lncRNAs, which may have potential biological function and diagnostic value in colorectal cancer (CRC). Through integrated data mining, we finally identified nine differentially expressed lncRNAs and their potential mRNA targets. After a series of bioinformatics analyses, we screened significant pathways and GO terms that are related to the upregulated and down-regulated transcripts respectively. Meanwhile, the nine lncRNAs were validated in 30 paired tissues and cell lines by qRT-PCR and the results were basically consistent with the microarray data. We also tested the nine lncRNAs in the serum of 30 CRC patients matched with the CRC tissue, 30 non-cancer patients and 30 health controls. Finally, we found that BLACAT1 was significant for the diagnosis of CRC. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity were 0.858 (95% CI: 0.765-0.951), 83.3% and 76.7% respectively between CRC patients and health controls. Moreover, BLACAT1 also had distinct value to discriminate CRC from other non-cancer diseases. The results indicated that the differentially expressed lncRNAs and their potential target transcripts could be considered as potential therapeutic targets for CRC patients. Meanwhile, lncRNA BLACAT1 might represent a new supplementary biomarker for the diagnosis of CRC.