Objective To investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA AC009336.24 (LncRNA AC009336.24) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) tissues and its clinical significance.

Methods The expressions of LncRNA AC009336.24 in 120 cases of SCLC tissues. 35 cases of para-cancerous tissues and 40 cases of normal lung tissues were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The relationship between the expression of LncRNA AC009336.24 and clinicopathological characteristics and chemosensitivity in SCLC patients was analyzed.

Results The expression level of LncRNA AC009336.24 in SCLC tissues and chemoresistance patients were higher than those in para-cancerous tissues, normal lung tissues and chemosensitive patients (all P < 0.001). LncRNA AC009336.24 expression was positively correlated with disease stage, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and chemosensitivity (all P < 0.05). The overall survival time and progression-free survival of the patients with high expression level of LncRNA AC009336.24 were shorter than those with low expression level of LncRNA AC009336.24 (all P < 0.001). LncRNA AC009336.24 expression, disease stage and distant metastasis were independent prognostic factors (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion LncRNA AC009336.24 is involved in the development of SCLC and may be used as a potential prognostic marker for SCLC.