International Journal of Molecular and Cellular Medicine (IJMCM)

Esophageal cancer (EC) ranks among the eight most common malignancies worldwide. Long noncoding RNAs LINC00472 and LINC02381 are implicated in cancers, but their role in EC remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigates the roles of LINC00472 and LINC02381 in EC. This study analyzed lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA sequencing related to EC using TCGA. Then, the LINC00472, LINC02381, hsa-miR-7-5p, and FHIT genes were identified. Expression levels of these genes were assessed in 20 EC tissue pairs using RT‑qPCR, while FHIT protein expression was examined by Western blot and Immunohistochemistry. Chi-square tests explored clinicopathological correlations, while ROC analysis evaluated their diagnostic potential. Bioinformatic analysis and RT-qPCR results demonstrated significantly decreased expression of LINC00472, LINC02381, and FHIT (p<0.01), alongside increased hsa-miR-7-5p expression in EC (p<0.0001). A significant reduction in FHIT protein expression was also observed (p<0.01). Correlations showed that LINC02381 and FHIT expressions were positively correlated, while LINC00472 and LINC02381 were negatively associated with hsa-miR-7-5p (p<0.05). Elevated levels of hsa-miR-7-5p were significantly linked to vascular invasion and deeper muscularis propria infiltration in EC (p<0.05). Higher FHIT levels were also linked to increased necrosis and decreased vascular invasion (p<0.05). The ROC analysis demonstrated measurable AUC values for each of the examined genes, suggesting potential diagnostic relevance that warrants further validation. This research revealed dysregulated genes LINC00472, LINC02381, hsa-miR-7-5p, and FHIT in EC, proposing a regulatory network through bioinformatic analyses and correlations. Results establish groundwork for functional studies, emphasizing their potential significance in understanding and controlling EC pathogenesis.