Clinical Value Of LncRNA MAFG-AS1 In Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose: Long non-coding RNAs musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene family,protein G antisense 1(lnc RNA MAFG-AS1)regulates hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)progression and treatment resistance in multiple ways,while its engagement in HCC clinical management remains obscure.The current study aims to explore the relationship of lnc RNA MAFG-AS1 with tumor features,liver function indexes,tumor markers,and prognosis in HCC patients.Methods: One hundred and fifty-two surgical HCC patients who underwent tumor Resection in Hainan General Hospital were retrospectively analyzed from the period January 2016 to December 2019.Their tumor and adjacent tissues were acquired and then proposed to real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to detect lnc RNA MAFG-AS1 expression.Then,relevant information such as age,gender,tumor size,tumor nodule number,liver function,tumor markers,AFP and overall survival were collected,and the relationship between lnc RNA MAFG-AS1 and above information was analyzed by statistical methods.Results: lnc RNA MAFG-AS1 expression was increased in HCC tumor tissue than in adjacent tissue [median(interquartile range): 2.730(1.685–4.198)vs.0.990(0.703–1.468),p <0.001],with a high area under the curve [0.889,95% confidence interval(CI): 0.854–0.924] to distinguish them via receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.Tumor lnc RNA MAFG-AS1 was linked with multifocal nodules(p <0.001),increased Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer(BCLC)stage(p = 0.018),and elevated China Liver Cancer(CNLC)stage(p = 0.008),which also correlated with an abnormal alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)level(p = 0.004).However,lnc RNA MAFG-AS1 was not linked with other disease conditions,tumor properties,liver function indexes(ALT、AST、TBIL),or tumor markers(all p > 0.05).In addition,patients with a high expression of lnc RNA MAFG-AS1 exhibited worse overall survival than those with a low expression of lnc RNA-MAFG-AS1 [median(95% CI): 34.0(24.5–43.5)vs.48.0(41.5–54.5)months](p = 0.011),which was further validated by univariate Cox’s analysis [hazard ratio(HR)= 1.827,p = 0.013] and multivariate Cox’s analysis(HR=1.697,p = 0.040).Conclusion: lnc RNA MAFG-AS1 expression was increased in HCC tumor tissue than in adjacent tissue.It relates to multifocal nodules,increased BCLC stage,elevated CNLC stage,and abnormal AFP level and predicts pejorative prognosis in HCC patients.