Research of the Expression Levels of Long Non-Coding RNAs - CASC15, LINC00346 and LIN00319 in Non-Melanotic Skin Cancers

Background: CASC15, LINC00346 and LIN00319 LncRNAs have functional roles in cutaneous biology as in the progress of skin tumors by affecting important signaling pathways involved in tumor development and progression. Objectives: To investigate the expression levels of long-noncoding RNAs CASC15, LINC00346 and LIN00319 in non-melanotic skin cancer (NMSC). Subjects and methods: This study included thirty patients with histopathological evidence of NMSC (basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC)) subdivided into two groups (I and II): Group I: Included 30 skin cancer tissue samples from non-melanotic skin cancer and subdivided into two subgroups: Ia: 15 skin cancer tissue samples from cases with BCC. Ib: Included 15 skin cancer tissue samples from patients with CSCC. Group II: Included 30 healthy skin marginal tissue samples from group 1 patients as controls and subdivided into two subgroups, IIa: Included 15 marginal tissue samples of healthy skin from group Ia patients. IIb: Included 15 marginal tissue samples of healthy skin from group Ib patients. Expression levels of LncRNAs CASC15, LINC00346 and LINC00319 were measured in cancerous and healthy skin samples through quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Results: Statistically significant rise in the expression levels of CASC15, LINC00346 and LINC00319 LncRNAs in cancerous skin tissue of NMSC patients compared to their controls. Conclusion: In NMSC skin tissue samples, CASC15, LINC00346 and LINC00319 LncRNAs are upregulated; these findings suggested that knocking down these LncRNAs could inhibit tumour growth and migration.