Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
GLOBE SCIENTIFIC, LLC

Download Mobile App




Promising Molecular Markers Support Earlier Diagnosis of Gastric Cancer

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 09 Jun 2025

Late detection continues to make gastric cancer one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally. More...

With improved early detection tools urgently needed, researchers have now identified two long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs)—CBR3-AS1 and PCA3—as promising molecular markers that could support earlier diagnosis of the disease.

LncRNAs are RNA molecules that do not encode proteins but regulate gene activity. Due to their stability and role in gene expression, they are increasingly studied for their diagnostic and therapeutic potential. In their study, researchers from the University of Tabriz (Tabriz, Iran) focused on determining how CBR3-AS1 and PCA3 are expressed in gastric cancer tissues compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues, exploring their viability as diagnostic biomarkers. Their analysis of gastric tumor and neighboring normal tissue samples from 100 patients revealed that both CBR3-AS1 and PCA3 were significantly overexpressed in cancerous tissues. This overexpression points to their involvement in tumor development and reinforces their potential diagnostic relevance.

Further analysis examined whether the expression levels of these lncRNAs were linked to clinical parameters such as age, tumor size, cancer stage, or Helicobacter pylori infection. No statistically significant correlations were found. Nonetheless, the marked difference in expression between cancerous and healthy tissues supports their diagnostic utility. To evaluate how accurately these molecules can differentiate cancerous from normal tissue, the researchers performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Among the two, CBR3-AS1 demonstrated particularly strong performance, suggesting it could serve as a reasonably accurate standalone biomarker for identifying gastric cancer. These findings have practical implications. A reliable, non-invasive biomarker could significantly improve early diagnosis rates, enabling timely intervention and improving patient outcomes.

PCA3 is already FDA-approved for prostate cancer diagnosis, which adds further credibility to its potential role in gastric cancer screening. The study authors caution that while the initial results are promising, the work was conducted at a single center and did not examine the mechanisms through which these lncRNAs contribute to cancer progression. They emphasize the need for larger, multi-center studies and further functional analyses to validate the clinical applicability of these biomarkers. In conclusion, CBR3-AS1 and PCA3 emerge as strong candidates for use as molecular diagnostic tools in gastric cancer. With additional validation, they could help shift diagnosis to earlier stages of disease and enable more targeted, effective treatments.

“The ROC curve’s findings lead to the conclusion that the genes lncRNAs PCA3 and CBR3-AS1, with AUC values of 0.68 and 0.79, respectively, suggest that they could play carcinogenic roles in GC and may act as moderate diagnostic biomarkers for GC,” stated the authors.


Gold Member
Antipsychotic TDM Assays
Saladax Antipsychotic Assays
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
DNA/RNA Extraction/Purification Kit
Nucleic Acid Extraction or Purification Kit
New
Automated Biochemical Analyzer
iBC 900
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: A simple blood test could replace surgical biopsies for early detecion of heart transplant rejection (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients

Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more

Pathology

view channel
These images illustrate how precision oncology Organ Chips recapitulate individual patients’ responses to chemotherapy (Photo courtesy of Wyss Institute at Harvard University)

Cancer Chip Accurately Predicts Patient-Specific Chemotherapy Response

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one of the two primary types of esophageal cancer, ranks as the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and currently lacks effective targeted therapies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.