Association analyses of a genetic variant in long non-coding RNA MEG3 with breast cancer susceptibility and serum MEG3 expression level in the Egyptian population

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Ali, Marwa A.^{a; *} | Shaker, Olfat G.^b | Alazrak, Mohammed^c | AbdelHafez, Marwa N.^d | Khalefa, Abeer A.^e | Hemeda, Nada F.^f | Abdelmoktader, Abdelrahman^g | Ahmed, Fatma A.^g

Affiliations: [a] Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt | [b] Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt | [c] Department of Surgery, Fayoum General Hospital, Fayoum, Egypt | [d] Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt | [e] Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt | [f] Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt | [g] Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Marwa A. Ali, Lecturer of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, El Gamaa Street, Fayoum 63514, Egypt. Tel.: +20 100 535 5732;E-mail: dr_marwag@yahoo.com,mag04@Fayoum.edu.eg.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: LncRNA MEG3 rs7158663 has been shown to confer cancer susceptibility, maybe through altering its gene expression level. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to weigh the effect of rs7158663 on MEG3 serum level and breast cancer susceptibility. METHODS: We genotyped rs7158663 G > A and measured serum MEG3 in 150 breast cancer, 95 fibroadenoma , and 154 controls by the TaqMan method. RESULTS: The presence of rs7158663 G > A is a risk factor for breast cancer among fibroadenoma patients and controls, AA vs. GG genotypes (OR = 6.320, 95% CI = 2.587–15.439, P< 0.0001 when compared to controls and OR = 10.825, 95% CI = 1.929–60.742, P= 0.007 when compared to fibroadenoma). Decreased serum MEG3 was observed in breast cancer group when compared with fibroadenoma and/or controls [median (IQR) = 0.43 (0.27–0.55)] (P< 0.0001). However, increased serum MEG3 was noted in fibroadenoma group when compared with controls (P< 0.0001). A significance decreased serum MEG3 was found to be associated with mutant A allele than with wild G allele (P< 0.0001). The results showed that rs7158663 and lower MEG3 were significantly associated with patients with higher TNM staging and larger tumor size > 5 cm. CONCLUSION: The presence of both rs7158663 and low MEG3 are diagnostic and unfavorable prognostic factors for BC patients.

Keywords: MEG3, polymorphism, rs7158663, breast cancer, fibroadenoma

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-191072

Journal: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 49-63, 2020