Abstract
BACKGROUND The functionality of LINK-A lncRNA as an oncogenic lncRNA has only been characterized in triple-negative breast cancer. The present study investigated the possible involvement of LINK-A in ovarian carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS We enrolled 76 patients with ovarian carcinoma. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to analyze LINK-A expression in ovarian biopsies. Effects of LINK-A overexpression on HIF1alpha and cancer cell migration and invasion were assessed. RESULTS We found that LINK-A was significantly higher in ovarian carcinoma patients than in healthy controls in ovarian biopsies and in serum. LINK-A expression effectively distinguished patients with metastatic ovarian carcinoma from healthy controls. LINK-A overexpression promoted cancer cell migration and invasion, and also upregulated the expression of HIF1alpha. CONCLUSIONS LINK-A lncRNA may be involved in the metastasis of ovarian carcinoma by upregulating HIF1alpha.