[Expression of long non-coding RNA SNHG8 in Epstein-Barr virus-related gastric cancer and clinical outcome].

Objective: To investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) SNHG8 in EB virus related gastric cancer and their correlation prognosis. Methods: The expression of SNHG8 in 93 gastric cancers and 93 cancer-free controls, matched by age and sex, were determined by real-time PCR. EB virus expression was detected by EBER in situ hybridization. Results: Forty-one gastric cancers were EB virus associated. For all gastric cancers, SNHG8 expression was 14 times higher (P=0.001) than that in non-cancer controls; in the EB virus related gastric cancers, SNHG8 expression was increased 25 times (P<0.05) over EB virus negative gastric cancers. SNHG8 expression level was also significantly associated with TNM staging (P<0.05). Conclusions: SNHG8 may act as a proto-oncogene, participating in gastric carcinogenesis.EB virus infection of gastric mucosa may promote SNHG8 expression.