Serum STARD4-AS1 as a Novel Marker for Gastric Cancer Diagnosis and Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression

Sep 24, 2026

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Gastric cancer requires highly sensitive detection to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient prognosis, and dysregulated long noncoding RNAs can drive tumor progression. A study evaluated STARD4 antisense RNA 1 (STARD4-AS1) as a serum biomarker and investigated its mechanism in gastric cancer. Pan-cancer and qRT-PCR analyses assessed diagnostic performance via ROC curves, while functional knockdown and western blotting tested biological roles. Results indicate STARD4-AS1 is elevated in patients and suppresses proliferation, metastasis, and EMT, while also informing prognosis through signaling pathways.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

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Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Keywords

ARTICLE 1 INTRODUCTION: Gastric cancer (GC) is a lethal malignant tumor necessitating high-sensitivity detection to improve diagnostic accuracy and the prognosis of patients. Alterations in long noncoding RNAs can influence cancer progression through various mechanisms. Our study tried to explore the potential of STARD4 antisense RNA 1 (STARD4-AS1) as a GC biomarker and its mechanism of action in GC development. METHODS: Pan-cancer analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas database identified STARD4-AS1 . Serum STARD4-AS1 levels in patients with GC were measured by quantitative real-time PCR, and diagnostic efficiency was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Functional inactivation experiments and western blotting evaluated the biological role of STARD4-AS1 in GC cells. Bioinformatics analysis explored its potential role in GC immunotherapy and underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: Pan-cancer analysis revealed lower overall survival in GC patients with higher STARD4-AS1 expression. Quantitative real-time PCR confirmed the reproducibility and stability of STARD4-AS1 as a marker. Serum STARD4-AS1 levels in patients with GC were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects and gastritis patients. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that STARD4-AS1 outperformed carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 199 , and carbohydrate antigen 724 in differentiating GC from gastritis, with optimal diagnostic power when combined with these markers. Knockdown of STARD4-AS1 inhibited GC cell proliferation and metastasis and inhibited the epithelialmesenchymal transition process. Biosignature prediction indicated that higher STARD4-AS1 expression could evaluate prognosis, as well as regulate GC progression through phosphatidylinositolmediated signaling, and transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase signaling pathway. DISCUSSION: Serum STARD4-AS1 may serve as a diagnostic biomarker and oncogene function for GC for improving diagnosis, monitoring progression, and evaluating prognosis of GC. KEYWORDS: gastric cancer; LncRNA; STARD4-AS1; biomarkers; prognostic gene signature ABBREVIATIONS: ACCU, overall accuracy; AGS, adenocarcinoma gastric cells; ARID1A, AT-rich interaction domain 1A; AUC, area under the curve; BGC-823, Beijing Gastric Carcinoma-823; CA199, carbohydrate antigen 199; CA724, carbohydrate antigen 724; CCK-8, Cell Counting Kit-8; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; CI, confidence interval; E-cad, E-cadherin; EMT, epithelial-mesenchymal transition; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GC, gastric cancer; GES-1, gastric epithelial cells; GO, Gene Oncology; HNSC, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; HNSCC, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; KEGG, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes;KIRC, kidney renal clear-cell carcinoma;KIRP, kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma;lncRNAs, long non-coding RNAs; LRP1B, Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1B; MEM, Multi Experiment Matrix; MSI, microsatellite instability; MUC 16, Mucin 16; N-cad, N-cadherin;ncRNAs, noncoding RNAs;NPV, negative predictive value;OS, overall survival;OSCC, oralsquamous cell carcinoma; PPV, positive predictive value; qRT-PCR, quantitative real-time PCR; ROC, receiver operating characteristic; SEN, sensitivity; SNV, single nucleotide variant; SPE, specificity; STAD, stomach adenocarcinoma; TCGA, The Cancer Genome Atlas; TMB, tumor mutational burden; TNM, tumor-node-metastasis; TTN, Titin SerumSTARD4-AS1 as a Novel Marker for Gastric Cancer Diagnosis and Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression Xiuyu Chu, BS1 ,2 , *, Min Cao, MM3 , *, Xinyue Qin, MM4 , *, Xian Li, MM 1 ,2 , Ming Zheng, MM1 , Xianjuan Shen, PhD1 and Shaoqing Ju, PhD 1 STOMACH 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China; 2Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China; 3 Dep

FAQs

How does the study assess STARD4-AS1 as a diagnostic biomarker for gastric cancer?

The study measures serum STARD4-AS1 using quantitative real-time PCR and evaluates diagnostic efficiency with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to compare performance against markers such as CEA, CA199, and CA724.

What do the results show about STARD4-AS1 levels in gastric cancer patients?

Higher STARD4-AS1 expression is associated with worse overall survival, and serum STARD4-AS1 levels are significantly higher in gastric cancer patients than in healthy subjects and gastritis patients.

What functional effects does STARD4-AS1 knockdown have on gastric cancer cells?

Knockdown of STARD4-AS1 inhibits gastric cancer cell proliferation and metastasis and suppresses the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process.

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by awa