Long non-coding RNA AK027294 promotes tumor growth by upregulating PCNA in gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE Recent researches have proved that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has an important role in many diseases. In this research, lncRNA AK027294 was explored to identify how it functions in the development of gastric cancer (GC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Real Time-quantitative-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was utilized to detect AK027294 expression in GC patients. Then, MTT assay, colony formation assay, and EdU incorporation assay were performed to identify its function in GC cells. Furthermore, the potential mechanism was also explored using mechanism assays. RESULTS AK027294 expression level was significantly higher in GC tissue samples and cell lines. Results of MTT assay, colony formation assay, and EdU incorporation assay showed that cell proliferation was inhibited through the silence of AK027294 in GC cells, while cell proliferation was promoted through overexpression of AK027294 in GC cells. Furthermore, the expression of PCNA was downregulated via silence of AK027294 in GC cells, while the expression of PCNA was upregulated via overexpression of AK027294 in GC cells. The correlation analysis showed that PCNA expression was positively correlated with AK027294 expression in GC tissues. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that AK027294 could enhance cell proliferation of GC cells by upregulating PCNA and might be applied as a novel target for therapy of GC.