Implication of Long Non-coding RNA HOTTIP Haplotype on Liver Cancer Metastasis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the fourth common cancer and the most common cause of mortality-caused and morbidity-related cancer. Different reports implied several lncRNAs role in the progression and metastasis of HCC such as Homeobox A (HOXA) transcript at the distal tip (HOTTIP). Dysregulation of HOTTIP is associated with various malignancies including HCC, affecting survival and prognosis of cancer patients. HOTTIP promoted HCC cell proliferation/metastasis and might act as an oncogenic-lncRNA in HCC. Genetic variations such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), when inherited together, as a group, known as haplotypes. Haplotypes can alter the expression of coding genes and the protein non-coding genes like lncRNAs, therefore, affecting the disease course, including liver, a hypothesis to be addressed. Only few studies have focused on the polymorphisms of the onco-lncRNA HOTTIP gene. A study found that specific HOTTIP SNPs have the potential to be biomarkers for HCC risk and prognosis, where one haplotype of HOTTIP "rs17501292-rs2067087-rs17427960" showed a 1.91-fold increased risk of HCC.