Long Non-Coding RNA Expression and Its Prognostic Significance in Cervical Cancer Patients in South South Nigeria

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of gene expression and are differentially expressed in multiple cancers, including cervical cancer. They hold promise as non-invasive biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Cervical cancer remains a leading gynaecological malignancy in South South Nigeria, yet lncRNA profiling in Nigerian cervical cancer patients has not been conducted. This study characterised lncRNA expression profiles and assessed their prognostic significance in cervical cancer patients in South South Nigeria. Forty histologically confirmed cervical squamous cell carcinoma biopsies and 40 paired adjacent normal cervical tissue samples were obtained from gynaecology oncology units in Port Harcourt and Calabar. Total RNA sequencing was performed on the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform, and lncRNA expression was quantified using STAR alignment and StringTie assembly. Differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified using DESeq2. Prognostic lncRNAs were validated using qRT-PCR in an independent cohort of 30 patients with documented follow-up survival data. HOTAIR and MALAT1 were significantly upregulated in tumour tissue, while GAS5 was markedly downregulated. A three-lncRNA signature showed significant association with overall survival in the validation cohort. These findings identify actionable lncRNA biomarkers for cervical cancer prognosis in South South Nigeria. Keywords: lncRNA, cervical cancer, RNA sequencing, prognosis, South South Nigeria