LncRNA PCAT6 is a predictor of poor prognosis of colorectal cancer

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) prostate cancer-associated transcript 6 (PCAT6) has been studied in many cancers, yet its relationship with colorectal cancer (CRC) remains poorly defined. Here, we conducted an analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to better clarify the role of PCAT6 in this cancer type. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were utilized to assess relative levels of PCAT6 in CRC tumors and normal tissues, while logistic regression analyses were utilized to compare the relationships between PCAT6 levels and clinicopathological findings. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analyses were used to gauge correlations between PCAT6 and patient survival outcomes, while the biological roles of this lncRNA were investigated via a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) approach. The expression level of PCAT6 in CRC cell lines was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). PCAT6 levels were significantly correlated with CRC patient lymph node metastasis (N) stage [odds ratio (OR) =1.8 for N1 & N2 N0], lymphatic invasion [OR =1.9 for yes no), distant metastasis (M stage) (OR =2.1 for M1 M0), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level (OR =1.9 for >5 ≤5), perineural invasion (OR =1.9 for yes no), pathologic stage (OR =1.9 for stage III/IV stage I/II), and neoplasm type (OR =2.1 for rectal adenocarcinoma colon adenocarcinoma) (all P