Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The long non-coding RNA IGFL2-AS1 is implicated in malignancies, but its role in EC remains unclear. This study evaluated the expression of IGFL2-AS1 and BRCA1 in EC.
Methods: Sixteen paired EC and adjacent non-tumorous tissues were collected. The expression levels of IGFL2‑AS1 and BRCA1 were quantified using RT‑qPCR, and BRCA1 protein levels were determined using Western blotting. GEPIA, STRING, and g:Profiler were used for bioinformatic analyses. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves and correlation tests were performed for statistical evaluation.
Results: Both IGFL2-AS1 and BRCA1 were significantly downregulated in EC tissues compared to adjacent normal controls (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between their expression levels. ROC analysis indicated diagnostic potential for both genes (AUC>0.75), with BRCA1 showing superior accuracy. Western blotting confirmed decreased BRCA1 protein levels in tumor samples. Interestingly, GEPIA data suggested an upregulation of both genes in EC. Functional enrichment analysis linked BRCA1-associated genes to ephrin receptor signaling and axon guidance pathways.
Conclusion: Concurrent downregulation of IGFL2‑AS1 and BRCA1 at transcript and protein levels was observed in EC tissues, with a positive correlation between their expression levels. ROC curve analysis suggested their potential as candidate biomarkers. However, these findings are preliminary and require further validation.