Long non-coding RNAs as a predictive markers of group 3 medulloblastomas

Objective The appropriate treatments for the different molecular subgroups of medulloblastomas are challenging to determine. Hence, this study aimed to examine the expression profiles of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) to determine a marker that may be important for treatment selection in these subgroups. Methods Changes in the expression of LncRNAs in the tissues of patients with medulloblastoma, which are classified into four subgroups according to their clinical characteristics and gene expression profiles, were examined via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, there association with patient prognosis was evaluated. Results The expression levels of MALAT1 and SNGH16 were significantly higher in patients with group 3 medulloblastoma than in those with other subtypes. Patients with high expression levels of MALAT1 and SNGH16 had a relatively shorter overall survival than those with low expression levels. Conclusions Patients with group 3 medulloblastoma have a high MALAT1 level, which is associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, MALAT1 can be a new therapeutic target in medulloblastoma.