Linc-00475 and p53 co-expression in gastric cancer: a predictor of clinical prognosis and potential effect on glycolysis

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of clinical expression of glucose metabolism-related genes Linc-00475 and p53 on glycolysis and survival. A key differential gene Linc-00475 was screened using a metabolic database, and its downstream gene, p53, was predicted. A total of 107 gastric cancer tissue samples from patients diagnosed at our center between 2011 and 2013 were selected. The expression levels of Linc-00475 and p53 were detected via in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry. Chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship between Linc-00475 and p53 expression and clinicopathological factors. Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test were used to analyze patients’ overall survival. To determine the effect of Linc-00475 on glycolysis, qRT-PCR and western blot were utilized to evaluate the regulatory relationship between Linc-00475 and p53. High expression of Linc-00475 (P < 0.001) and low expression of p53 (P < 0.01) were associated with poor prognosis. There was a negative correlation between the expression of Linc-00475 and p53 in gastric cancer (Pearson's coefficient test, r = -0.405; P < 0.001). The co-expression of high-level Linc-00475 and low-level p53 can thus be used as an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.001). Linc-00475 was also shown to regulate aerobic glycolysis. Western blot and qRT-PCR demonstrated that Linc-00475 regulates the expression of p53. The co-expression of Linc-00475 and p53 can be used as a reference index for evaluating the prognosis of gastric cancer. Linc-00475 regulates p53, thereby affecting glycolysis.