Diagnostic and potential prognostic associations of long noncoding RNAs LIFR-AS1 and SLCO4A1-AS1 in multiple myeloma

There is growing evidence for the involvement of LncRNAs in the development of multiple myeloma (MM). We aimed to investigate the possible diagnostic and potential prognostic associations of two LncRNAs with oncogenic potential, LIFR-AS1 and SLCO4A1-AS1, in MM. Using qPCR, expression levels of both LncRNAs were quantified in 30 newly diagnosed patients with MM and 30 healthy controls. Their associations with clinicopathological parameters including serum protein electrophoresis, immunofixation, bone marrow, biochemical, hematological indices and the expression of IL-17 A and RORC, downstream adaptors of the IL-17/NF-κB signaling pathway, were assessed. Diagnostic applicability was sought via ROC curve analysis. Both LncRNAs were significantly downregulated in MM patients and showed inverse correlations with IL-17 A, RORC expression, and serum IL-17 levels. Their reduced expression was also negatively correlated with β₂-microglobulin, LDH, and ESR, but positively correlated with albumin and hemoglobin (all P < 0.05). ROC analysis demonstrated potential diagnostic utility, yielding an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.691 for LIFR-AS1 (cut-off: 0.065-fold; sensitivity: 30%; specificity: 100%) and 0.711 for SLCO4A1-AS1 (cut-off: 0.805-fold; sensitivity: 80%; specificity: 100%). Our findings suggest that LIFR-AS1 and SLCO4A1-AS1 may serve as potential diagnostic relevance and prognostic associations biomarkers in MM. Further studies and warranting functional investigation are recommended to evaluate their pathogenic roles and downstream molecular interactions.