Significance of plasma UCA1 for predicting colorectal cancer and BRAF mutation status

Abstract

Background: Clinical significance of plasma urothelial carcinoma associated 1 (UCA1) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. This study investigated the usefulness of plasma UCA1 as a biomarker in patients with CRC. Materials and Methods: UCA1 levels were measured in the plasma and tissue from patients with CRC by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Relationships between plasma UCA1 and clinicopathological features were examined. Results: Plasma UCA1 levels were significantly lower in patients with CRC than in healthy volunteers. UCA1 expression in B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase (BRAF)-mutant CRC tissue was also lower than that in non-cancerous tissue, although it was higher in CRC with wild-type BRAF. In right-sided CRC, a lower plasma UCA1 level was associated with pT4 and BRAF mutation. In contrast, in left-sided CRC, higher plasma UCA1 was associated with pT4 and pStage 3b-4. Conclusion: Plasma UCA1 is a useful biomarker for CRC detection and predicting clinicopathological features, particularly BRAF mutation.