NONHSAT076754 aids ultrasonography in predicting lymph node metastasis and promotes migration and invasion of papillary thyroid cancer cells

// Shujun Xia 1 , Chuandong Wang 2 , Xiaofeng Ni 1 , Zhongxin Ni 1 , Yijie Dong 1 and Weiwei Zhan 1 1 Ultrasound Department, Rui Jin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. of China 2 The Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine & Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, P. R. of China Correspondence to: Weiwei Zhan, email: // Keywords : NONHSAT076754, papillary thyroid cancer, lymph node metastasis, ultrasonography, biomarker Received : June 29, 2016 Accepted : November 22, 2016 Published : November 30, 2016 Abstract Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is the primary challenge in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Recurrent cancerous lymph nodes require repeated surgeries, which increases the risk for surgical complications. Thus, the evaluation of LNM before surgery is important. Ultrasonography is the most convenient way to examine cervical LNM, but the sensitivity of ultrasonography in the identification of LNM in cases of PTC is extremely low. A series of lncRNAs (long noncoding RNAs) have been reported as candidate biomarkers in a variety of tumors. This study detected the lncRNA NONHSAT076754 in PTC and analyzed the correlation of NONHSAT076754 with the clinicopathological and ultrasonographic characteristics of patients with PTC. The value of NONHSAT076754 as an auxiliary diagnostic biomarker for use along with ultrasonography in the differentiation of LNM in PTC was assessed. Additionally, the biological function of NONHSAT076754 in PTC cells was demonstrated. Our study indicated that NONHSAT076754 promotes migration and invasiveness of PTC and serves as a valuable auxiliary biomarker that can be used along with ultrasonography in the prediction of cervical LNM.