LINC00654–SOX5 mRNA-miRNA-133a Compose New RNA Panel for Colorectal Cancer (CRC): A Potential Diagnostic Panel for CRC

Many disorders can be accurately diagnosed using ribonucleic acids (RNAs). A panel of RNAs specific to colorectal cancer (CRC), generated in silico, was used in this study. This panel is composed of Nucleosome Assembly LINC00654 (Long Intergenic Non-Protein Coding RNA 654) long nucleolar RNA, SRY-box transcription factor 5 (sox5 mRNA) mRNA, small nucleolar RNA host gene (Sox5), and homo sapiens microRNA-133a (miR-133a) from the genetic and epigenetic database based on in silico data analysis. Validation and characterization of the proposed RNA network were done by qPCR in sera samples from 130 cases. These cases included 70 CRC patients with a malignant tumour, 40 patients with a benign tumour, and 20 healthy controls. Moreover, the panel expression was verified in a representative CRC, HT29, cell line. Our data revealed that the expression of LINC00654 and Sox5 RNAs was higher in the sera from CRC compared with the control group, while miR-133a showed the opposite expression pattern. These data may, at least in part, validate the in-silico relationship and enhance the possibility that miR-133a might be sponged by LINC00654 and thus leave the chance for Sox5 upregulation in CRC patients. Taken together, our findings may introduce a novel molecular network. Therefore, this RNA panel could be recommended as a potential diagnostic marker for CRC patients.