Prognostic significance of NFIA and NFIB in esophageal squamous carcinoma and esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma

SOX9/NFIA promotes human ovarian cancer metastasis through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

To our knowledge, Sex-determining Region Y box 9 (SOX9) has been in connection with a wide range of human cancers. Nevertheless, there remains uncertainty regarding SOX9's role in metastasizing ovarian cancer. In our study, SOX9 was investigated in relation to tumor metastasis in ovarian cancer as well as its potential molecular mechanisms. First, we exhibited an apparent higher expression of SOX9 in ovarian cancer tissues and cells than in normative ones, and the prognosis of patients whose SOX9 levels were high was markedly lower than that of patients whose SOX9 levels were low. Besides, highly expressed SOX9 was correlated with high grade serous carcinoma, poor tumor differentiation, high serum CA125 and lymph node metastasis. Second, SOX9 knockdown exhibited striking inhibition of the migration and invasive ability of ovarian cancer cells, whereas SOX9 overexpression had an inverse role. At the same time, SOX9 could promote ovarian cancer intraperitoneal metastasis in a nude mice in the vivo. In a similar way, SOX9 knockdown dramatically decreased the expression of nuclear factor I-A (NFIA), β-catenin as well as N-cadherin but had an increased in E-cadherin expression, as opposed to the results when SOX9 was overexpressed. Furthermore, NFIA silencing inhibited the expression of NFIA, β-catenin and N-cadherin, in the same way that E-cadherin expression was promoted. In conclusion, this study shows that SOX9 has a promotional effect on human ovarian cancer and that SOX9 promotes the metastasis of tumors by upregulating NFIA and activating on a Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway. SOX9 could be a novel focus for earlier diagnosis, therapy and prospective evaluation in ovarian cancer.

Hsa-miR-223-3p participates in the process of anthracycline-induced cardiomyocyte damage by regulating NFIA gene

Irreversible cardiomyopathy was caused by the therapeutic of anthracyclines in the chemotherapy of cancers. The cell apoptosis and autophagy were induced by anthracyclines in AC16 cells. MiR-223-3p ascends in anthracycline-treated AC16, but the expression of nuclear factor I-A (NFIA) was specifically down-regulated. However, the underlying molecular mechanism between NFIA and miR-223-3p is unclear now in AC16 cells. In our research, NFIA expression was dampened in AC16 cells by miR-223-3p mimics. Additionally, miR-223-3p knockdown hindered the apoptosis and autophagy in anthracycline-treated AC16. Furthermore, NFIA was predicted and verified as a miR-223-3p's downstream target and rescued the functions of miR-223-3p. These findings illustrated that miR-223-3p advances anthracycline-stimulated cardiomyocyte damage progression by targeting NFIA, implying the promising therapeutic function of miR-223-3p on cardiomyocyte damage in cancer patients.

Identification and validation of NFIA as a novel prognostic marker in renal cell carcinoma

Prognostic tools are an essential component of the clinical management of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Although tumour stage and grade can provide important information, they fail to consider patient- and tumour-specific biology. In this study, we set out to find a novel molecular marker of RCC by using hepatocyte nuclear factor 4A (HNF4A), a transcription factor implicated in RCC progression and malignancy, as a blueprint. Through transcriptomic analyses, we show that the nuclear factor I A (NFIA)-driven transcription network is active in primary RCC and that higher levels of NFIA confer a survival benefit. We validate our findings using immunohistochemical staining and analysis of a 363-patient tissue microarray (TMA), showing for the first time that NFIA can independently predict poor cancer-specific survival in clear cell RCC (ccRCC) patients (hazard ratio = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.24-0.85, p value = 0.014). Furthermore, we confirm the association of HNF4A with higher grades and stages in ccRCC in our TMA cohort. We present novel data that show HNF4A protein expression does not confer favourable prognosis in papillary RCC, confirming our survival analysis with publicly available HNF4A RNA expression data. Further work is required to elucidate the functional role of NFIA in RCC as well as the testing of these markers on patient material from diverse multi-centre cohorts, to establish their value for the prognostication of RCC.

A review on the role of miR-671 in human disorders

miR-671 is encoded by a gene on 7q36.1 and contributes to the pathogenesis of a variety of disorders, including diverse types of cancers, atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, liver fibrosis, osteoarthritis, Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, acute myocardial infarction and Crohn's disease. In the context of cancer, different studies have revealed opposite roles for this miRNA. In brief, it has been shown to be down-regulated in pancreatic ductal carcinoma, ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, osteosarcoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and myelodysplastic syndromes. Yet, miR-671 has been up-regulated in glioma, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Studies in breast, lung and renal cell carcinoma have reported inconsistent results. The current review aims at summarization of the role of miR-671 in these disorders focusing on its target mRNA in each context and dysregulated signaling pathways. We also provide a summary of the role of this miRNA as a prognostic factor in malignancies.

Comprehensive Analysis of Transcriptional Expression of hsa-mir-21 Predicted Target Genes and Immune Characteristics in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma

Background: To uncover advanced prognosis biomarkers in patient with kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), our study was the first to make a comprehensive analysis of hsa-mir-21 predicted target genes and explore the immune characteristics in KIRC. Methods: In this study, the comprehensive analysis of hsa-mir-21 predicted target genes and immune characteristics in KIRC were analyzed via TIMER2.0, UALCAN, Metascape, Kaplan-Meier plotter, Human Protein Atlas, CancerSEA, JASPAR, GEPIA, R package: GSVA package (version 1.34.0) & immune infiltration algorithm (ssGSEA) and R package: RMS package (version 6.2-0) & SURVIVAL package (version 3.2-10). Results: Up-transcriptional expressions of RP2, NFIA, SPRY1 were significantly associated with favorable prognosis in KIRC, whereas that of TGFBI was markedly significantly to unfavorable prognosis. Additionally, RP2, NFIA, SPRY1 and TGFBI were significantly relevant to the immune infiltration in KIRC. Finally, ZNF263 was a common predicted transcription factor of RP2, NFIA, SPRY1 and TGFBI, which can as an independent indicator for prognosis in KIRC patients. Conclusions: Hsa-mir-21 predicted target genes (RP2, NFIA, SPRY1 and TGFBI) and the common transcription factor ZNF263 could be the advanced prognosis biomarkers in KIRC patients.

Sevoflurane inhibits the malignant phenotypes of glioma through regulating miR-146b-5p/NFIB axis

PURPOSE

Sevoflurane is a common used inhaled anesthetic that was reported to regulate the progression of multiple cancers. Here, we aimed to investigate the function and regulatory mechanism underlying sevoflurane in glioma cells.

METHODS

A172 and U251 cells were treated with different concentrations of sevoflurane. Colony formation, EdU satining and 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), flow cytometry, and transwell assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion, respectively. Circ_VCAN, microRNA-146b-5p (miR-146b-5p) and nuclear factor I B (NFIB) expression levels were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) or western blot. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay were applied to evaluate the correlation between miR-146b-5p and circ_VCAN or NFIB. A xenograft glioma mice model was established to verify the effect of sevoflurane on tumor growth in vivo.

RESULTS

Sevoflurane (Sev) inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, and elevated apoptosis of A172 and U251 cells. Sevoflurane treatment inhibited the expression of circ_VCAN and NFIB, but elevated the expression of miR-146b-5p in glioma cells. Overexpression of circ_VCAN alleviated the inhibition effects of sevoflurane on the malignant phenotypes of glioma in vitro and in vivo. Besides, miR-146b-5p is a target of circ_VCAN and negatively regulated NFIB expression. Overexpression of miR-146b-5p partly reversed the effects of circ_VCAN in Sev-treated glioma cells. Furthermore, miR-146b-5p deletion enhanced glioma progression in sevoflurane treated glioma cells by targeting NFIB. Moreover, circ_VCAN could upregulate NFIB expression by sponging miR-146b-5p in Sev-treated glioma cells.

CONCLUSION

Sevoflurane alleviated proliferation, migration and invasion, but enhanced apoptosis of glioma cells through regulating circ_VCAN/miR-146b-5p/NFIB axis.

LncRNAs, the Molecules Involved in Communications With Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells

Colorectal cancer stem cells (CRCSCs) can actively self-renew, as well as having multidirectional differentiation and tumor regeneration abilities. Because the high functional activities of CRCSCs are associated with low cure rates in patients with colorectal cancer, efforts have sought to determine the function and regulatory mechanisms of CRCSCs. To date, however, the potential regulatory mechanisms of CRCSCs remain incompletely understood. Many non-coding genes are involved in tumor invasion and spread through their regulation of CRCSCs, with long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) being important non-coding RNAs. LncRNAs may be involved in the colorectal cancer development and drug resistance through their regulation of CRCSCs. This review systematically evaluates the latest research on the ability of lncRNAs to regulate CRCSC signaling pathways and the involvement of these lncRNAs in colorectal cancer promotion and suppression. The regulatory network of lncRNAs in the CRCSC signaling pathway has been determined. Further analysis of the potential clinical applications of lncRNAs as novel clinical diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for colorectal cancer may provide new ideas and protocols for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Rlf-Mycl Gene Fusion Drives Tumorigenesis and Metastasis in a Mouse Model of Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has limited therapeutic options and an exceptionally poor prognosis. Understanding the oncogenic drivers of SCLC may help define novel therapeutic targets. Recurrent genomic rearrangements have been identified in SCLC, most notably an in-frame gene fusion between RLF and MYCL found in up to 7% of the predominant ASCL1-expressing subtype. To explore the role of this fusion in oncogenesis and tumor progression, we used CRISPR/Cas9 somatic editing to generate a Rlf-Mycl-driven mouse model of SCLC. RLF-MYCL fusion accelerated transformation and proliferation of murine SCLC and increased metastatic dissemination and the diversity of metastatic sites. Tumors from the RLF-MYCL genetically engineered mouse model displayed gene expression similarities with human RLF-MYCL SCLC. Together, our studies support RLF-MYCL as the first demonstrated fusion oncogenic driver in SCLC and provide a new preclinical mouse model for the study of this subtype of SCLC.

SIGNIFICANCE

The biological and therapeutic implications of gene fusions in SCLC, an aggressive metastatic lung cancer, are unknown. Our study investigates the functional significance of the in-frame RLF-MYCL gene fusion by developing a Rlf-Mycl-driven genetically engineered mouse model and defining the impact on tumor growth and metastasis. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2945.

Macrophages-derived exosomal lncRNA LIFR-AS1 promotes osteosarcoma cell progression via miR-29a/NFIA axis

Background

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in young people. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have been reported to play an important role in the development of osteosarcoma. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown and need to be elucidated. Recently, exosomes have been reported as the crucial mediator between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. And a lot of lncRNAs have been reported to act as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors in osteosarcoma. In this research, we aim to explore the role of macrophages-derived exosomal lncRNA in osteosarcoma development and further elucidated the potential molecular mechanisms involved.

Methods

TAMs were differentiated from human mononuclear cells THP-1, and a high-throughput microarray assay was used to analyze the dysregulated lncRNAs and miRNAs in osteosarcoma cells co-cultured with macrophages-derived exosomes. Western blot, qRT-PCR assays, and Dual-luciferase reporter assay were used to verify the interaction among LIFR-AS1, miR-29a, and NFIA. Cck-8, EdU, colony formation assay, wound-healing, and transwell assay were performed to explore the characterize the proliferation and metastasis ability of OS cells. And qPCR, Western blots, immunohistochemistry, and cell immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of relative genes or proteins.

Results

In this study, we found that THP-1-induced macrophage-derived exosomes could facilitate osteosarcoma cell progression both in vitro and in vivo. Then, the results of the high-throughput microarray assay showed that LIFR-AS1 was highly expressed and miR-29a was lowly expressed. Furthermore, LIFR-AS1 was identified as a miR-29a sponge, and NFIA was validated as a direct target of miR-29a. Functional assays demonstrated that knockdown of exosomal LIFR-AS1 could attenuate the promotion effects of macrophages-derived exosomes on osteosarcoma cell progression and miR-29a inhibition could reserve the effect of LIFR-AS1-knockdown exosomes. Correspondingly, NFIA-knockdown could partially reverse the tumor inhibition effect of miR-29a on osteosarcoma cells.

Conclusions

Taken together, macrophages-derived exosomal lncRNA LIFR-AS1 can promote osteosarcoma cell proliferation, invasion, and restrain cell apoptosis via miR-29a/NFIA axis, which can act as a potential novel therapeutic target for osteosarcoma therapy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-01893-0.

LncRNA LINC00511 Acts as an Oncogene in Colorectal Cancer via Sponging miR-29c-3p to Upregulate NFIA

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC), characterized by high mortality and incidence rate, is one of the most common types of rectum tumors in the gastrointestinal tract worldwide. An increasing number of investigations indicated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in the growth of a wide range of cancers. Although it has obtained general acceptance that lncRNA LINC00511 plays a significant role in numerous cancers, the regulatory mechanism of LINC00511 in CRC still needs to be explored.

Materials and Methods

Bioinformatics analysis and a wide range of experiments of sphere formation assay, cell proliferation assay, RT-qPCR, colony formation assay, Transwell assay and Western blot assays investigated the function and mechanism of LINC00511 in CRC tissues and cells.

Results

Our results manifested that the expression level of LINC00511 was obviously upregulated in CRC tissues and cells and it accelerated CRC development through facilitating cell proliferation, metastasis and stemness. Molecular mechanism exploration uncovered that LINC00511 acted as a ceRNA competing with NFIA to bind with miR-29c-3p. Through rescue experiments, we discovered that NFIA upregulation partly counteracted the inhibitive effect induced by LINC00511 silencing on CRC progression.

Conclusion

These results revealed that LINC00511 participated in the progression of CRC by targeting the LINC00511/miR-29c-3p/NFIA axis, indicating that LINC00511 may be a potential therapeutic target for CRC treatment.

miR-550a-3/NFIC plays a driving role in esophageal squamous cell cancer cells proliferation and metastasis partly through EMT process

In this study, the functional role of miR-550a-3 and its direct target nuclear factor IC (NFIC) in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) cells were explored. Differential expression of miR-550a-3 in ESCC tissues was acquired from TCGA database, and Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine the relationship between miR-550a-3 expression and survival time of ESCC patients. Expression level of miR-550a-3 in several ESCC cell lines was measured by qRT-PCR. Two cell lines including Eca109 and JAR were used to perform proliferation, cloning, invasion and migration experiments. Targeted relationship between miR-550a-3 and NFIC was speculated by predication software and confirmed by dual luciferase assay. Additionally, potential relationship between miR-550a-3 and NFIC was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation analysis and western blot. Rescue assays were performed to explore the function of miR-550a-3/NFIC in ESCC cells biological behaviors. Expression levels of key proteins involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process were determined by western blot. By consulting TCGA database, we found that high expression of miR-550a-3 was positively connected with the poor prognosis of patients with ESCC. In addition, overexpression of miR-550a-3 promoted the proliferation, colony formation and metastasis of ESCC cells. Moreover, rescue assays revealed that overexpression of NFIC attenuated the promoting effects of miR-550a-3 on ESCC cells malignant behaviors. While the promoting effects of miR-550a-3 on EMT process were inhibited by NFIC. Our results illustrate the importance of miR-550a-3/NFIC in regulation of ESCC cells growth and metastasis, which could contribute to developing novel target for early diagnosis or neoteric therapeutic target for ESCC.

Regulatory effect of LncRNA DRAIC/miR-149-5p/NFIB molecular network on autophagy of esophageal cancer cells and its biological behavior

OBJECTIVE

This experiment will explore the effect of LncRNA DRAIC/miR-149-5p/NFIB molecular network on esophageal cancer (EC) cells' biological behavior and autophagy.

METHODS

We bought human EC cells and normal esophageal epithelial cells HEEC. DRAIC, miR-149-5p and NFIB protein expression were tested. The low expression plasmid of DRAIC and empty vector of DRAIC, miR-149-5p miR-mimics, miR-149-5p inhibitors and negative control groups, NFIB high expression plasmid, NFIB low expression plasmid and empty vector were transfected into EC cells (Eca-109 and EC9706) to detect changes in cell biological behavior and autophagy protein expression. The targeted relationship between DRAIC/miR-149-5p/NFIB was verified through dual-luciferase report and pull-down experiment.

RESULTS

DRAIC and NFIB showed high expression in EC cells, while miR-149-5p showed low expression. Down-regulating DRAIC, NFIB and over-expressing miR-149-5p can inhibit EC cells' proliferation and invasion, and improve apoptosis and autophagy. Dual-luciferase report and pull-down experiment confirmed that DRAIC targeted miR-149-5p regulation, and down-regulating DRAIC could reverse miR-149-5p inhibitor's effect on the biological behavior of EC cells. However, dual-luciferase report revealed that miR-149-5p directly targeted NFIB, and miR-149-5p inhibitor could weaken the effect of down-regulating NFIB on apoptosis and autophagy of EC cells. Moreover, DRAIC has an effect on the autophagy of EC cells through miR-149-5p/NFIB.

CONCLUSION

LncRNA DRAIC is relevant to cell biology and autophagy of EC. In the future, DRAIC may be developed as a key gene for EC diagnosis and treatment.

Transcription levels and prognostic significance of the NFI family members in human cancers

Background

The nuclear factor I (NFI) is a family of transcription factors consisting of four distinct but closely related genes, NFIA, NFIB, NFIC and NFIX, which are important in the development of various tissues and organs in mammals. Recent study results have shown that NFI family may play a critical role in the progression of various human tumors and have been identified as key tumor suppressors and oncogenes for many cancers. However, the expression levels and distinctive prognostic values of the NFI family remain poorly explored in most cancers.

Materials and Methods

In the present study, the differences in mRNA expression of the NFI family in various cancers were investigated using the Oncomine and TCGA databases, and the mRNA expression, genetic alteration and DNA methylation of the NFI family members in various cancers were examined using cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics. In addition, the prognostic significance of the NFI family was assessed in multiple cancers using the Kaplan–Meier plotter (KM plotter) and SurvExpress databases.

Results

The mRNA expression levels in the NFI family were significantly downregulated in most cancers compared with normal tissues and DNA hypermethylation might downregulate the NFI family expression. Although NFIX expression was not downregulated in kidney, colorectal and prostate cancers. Furthermore, NFIB expression was upregulated in gastric cancer. Further survival analyses based on the KM plotter and SurvExpress databases showed dysregulations of the NFI genes were significantly correlated with survival outcomes in breast, lung, and head and neck cancers. Decreased expression levels of NFIA, NFIB and NFIC were associated with poor overall survival (OS) in head and neck cancer. Low mRNA expression of NFIA and NFIB was significantly associated with OS and first progression in lung adenocarcinoma, but not in lung squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, potential correlations between NFI family members and survival outcomes were also observed in liver, esophageal, kidney and cervical cancer.

Conclusion

The results from the present study indicated certain members of the NFI family could be promising therapeutic targets and novel prognostic biomarkers for human cancers.

Lifetime risks, expected years of life lost, and cost-per-life year of esophageal cancer in Taiwan

Besides lifetime risks, we estimated life expectancy (LE), expected years of life lost (EYLL), lifetime costs, and cost-per-LY (life-year) stratified by different stages of esophageal cancer (EC). From the Taiwan Cancer Registry, we collected 14,420 EC to estimate the incidence rates during 2008–2014. They were followed to 2015 to obtain the survival function, which was extrapolated to lifetime by a semiparametric method. We abstracted the monthly healthcare expenditures from the reimbursement database of National Health Insurance, which were multiplied with the corresponding survival probabilities to quantify lifetime cost and cost-per-LY after adjustments. About 93.7% of patients were male; 90.8% had squamous cell carcinoma. Most patients were diagnosed at advanced stages, with 44.6% and 28.3% at stages III and IV. The lifetime risk of EC in males increased in Taiwan with a cumulative incidence rate (CIR_30–84) of 0.0146% (2008~2010) to 0.0165% (2013–2014). The EYLL for stages I-IV were 15.8, 17.5, 20.5, and 22.5, while the average of cost-per-LY for stages I-IV were US$ 6,987, $8,776, $12,153, and $22,426. EC in Taiwan appears to have shifted into younger ages groups and incidence is still increasing. Strategies for prevention, early diagnosis and treatment are warranted to improve the cost-effectiveness and control of this cancer.

Nuclear factor I A promotes temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma via activation of nuclear factor κB pathway

AIMS

To investigate the underlying mechanism by which glioblastoma (GBM) cells gain temozolomide (TMZ) resistance and to clarify novel therapeutic targets and new prognostic biomarkers for GBM.

MAIN METHODS

A genome-wide hierarchical bi-clustering based on previously published microarray databases identified Nuclear Factor I A (NFIA) as one of the most significantly upregulated genes correlated to TMZ resistance in GBM. Then, the potential biological functions of NFIA in oncogenesis and chemoresistance were clarified by qRT-PCR, Western blotting and in vivo xenograft models with artificially induced TMZ-resistant U87 cells. Additionally, immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays were performed to explore the clinical significance of NFIA in glioma patients. Last, luciferase reporter assay was performed to study the transcriptional regulation of NFIA on the nuclear factor κb (NF-kB) pathway.

KEY FINDINGS

NFIA was correlated with TMZ resistance in GBM. Clinically, elevated NFIA expression was significantly correlated with adverse outcomes of glioma patients, especially in GBM patients. Moreover, NFIA contributed to the acquired TMZ resistance of GBM cells, while suppression of NFIA via lentivirus reduced cell proliferation, tumorigenesis and resistance to TMZ of GBM. Additionally, NFIA promoted transcription activity that regulated the expression of NF-kB. Last, NFIA induced phosphorylation of NF-kB p65 at serine 536, thus inducing TMZ resistance in GBM cells. Altogether, our study suggests that NFIA-dependent transcriptional regulation of NF-kB contributes to acquired TMZ resistance in GBM.

SIGNIFICANCE

Abnormally activated NFIA-NF-kB signaling was strongly correlated with acquired TMZ resistance and poor prognosis in GBM, and it could be a new therapeutic target for TMZ-resistant GBM.

Prognostic Significance of CIP2A in Esophagogastric Junction Adenocarcinoma: A Study of 65 Patients and a Meta-Analysis

Background

The expression of the cancerous inhibitor protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A) appears to be predictive of the prognosis of various solid tumors. However, the association between this protein and the risk of esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (EGJA) remains unclear. We investigated CIP2A expression and its clinical significance in EGJA and conducted a meta-analysis to explore the relationship between CIP2A and the prognosis of patients with solid tumors.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to detect the expression of CIP2A in EGJA. Kaplan-Meier estimation, Cox analysis, and ROC curves were performed to analyze the survival of patients and the prognostic factors. In the meta-analysis, we searched relevant publications in several widely used databases and used 15 studies (2348 patients).

Results

IHC demonstrated that CIP2A was elevated in EGJA and correlated with poor survival as an independent indicator. It could forecast the survival more precisely when combined with the grade, which is another independent prognosis marker of EGJA. Meta-analysis demonstrated that the associations between the expression of CIP2A and the prognosis were detected for overall survival (HR = 1.98, 95%CI = 1.69‐2.32), disease-specific survival (HR = 1.72, 95%CI = 1.50‐1.97), and time to tumor progression (pooled HR = 1.95, 95%CI = 1.56‐2.43).

Conclusion

High expression of CIP2A was a poor indicator of the prognosis of EGJA, and CIP2A may be a new biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of EGJA. The meta-analysis suggested that CIP2A expression can be a predictive marker of overall survival, disease-specific survival, and time to tumor progression in patients with solid tumors.

MiR-212-3p inhibits cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis by targeting nuclear factor IA in bladder cancer

Accumulating evidence suggest that microRNAs play crucial roles in the development and progression of bladder cancer (BC). Here, we found that miR-212-3p was significantly down-regulated and negatively correlated with nuclear factor IA (NFIA) in human BC tissues. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that NFIA was a target gene of miR-212-3p. Then BC cell lines, T24 and J82 cells were transfected with miR-212-3p mimics or siNFIA to obtain miR-212-3p overexpression or NFIA knockdown cell lines, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the expression of miR-212-3p and NFIA. Western blot analysis was utilized to detect NFIA expression. MTT assay showed either miR-212-3 overexpression or NFIA knockdown significantly inhibited the BC cell proliferation. Double staining with Annexin V-APC and 7-AAD showed the total number of apoptotic BC cells were remarkably increased after miR-212-3p overexpression or NFIA knockdown. Collectively, our results indicated that miR-212-3p targeting NFIA might serve as a promising target for BC.

A novel role for NFIA in restoring radiosensitivity in radioresistant NSCLC cells by downregulating the AKT and ERK pathways

Radioresistance remains the most challenging issue leading to radiotherapy failure in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The nuclear factor IA (NFIA) is associated with tumor response to treatments in many cancers, but its role in NSCLC radioresistance remains unclear. Here, we established two radioresistant NSCLC cell lines, H226R and H460R, by dose-gradient irradiation to investigate the function of NFIA in NSCLC radioresistance. The results showed a dramatically reduced expression of NFIA in radioresistant cells accompanied with elevated phosphorylation of AKT and ERK, when compared with their parental cells. Overexpression of NFIA restored the sensitivity of radioresistant cells to radiation through increased ionizing radiation (IR)-induced apoptosis and DNA damage by downregulating p-AKT and p-ERK, whereas knockdown of NFIA promoted radioresistance of the parental cells. Our findings suggested that NFIA enhanced cell radiosensitivity by downregulating p-AKT and p-ERK in NSCLC. Our study fills a gap in the field of NFIA and radioresistance, and establishes a mechanistic foundation to improve radiotherapy efficiency in NSCLC patients.

Chromatin accessibility changes are associated with enhanced growth and liver metastasis capacity of acid-adapted colorectal cancer cells

The acidic extracellular microenvironment, namely acidosis, is a biochemical hallmark of solid tumors. However, the tumorigenicity, metastatic potential, gene expression profile and chromatin accessibility of acidosis-adapted colorectal cancer cells remain unknown. The colorectal cancer cell SW620 was cultured in acidic medium (pH 6.5) for more than 3 months to be acidosis-adapted (SW620-AA). In comparison to parental cells, SW620-AA cells exhibit enhanced tumorigenicity and liver metastatic potential in vivo. Following mRNA and lncRNA expression profiling, we validated that OLMF1, NFIB, SMAD9, DGKB are upregulated, while SESN2, MAP1B, UTRN, PCDH19, IL18, LMO2, CNKSR3, GXYLT2 are downregulated in SW620-AA cells. The differentially expressed mRNAs were significantly enriched in DNA remodeling-associated pathways including HDACs deacetylate histones, SIRT1 pathway, DNA methylation, DNA bending complex, and RNA polymerase 1 chain elongation. Finally, chromatin accessibility evaluation by ATAC-sequencing revealed that the differentially opened peaks were enriched in pathways such as small cell lung cancer, pathways in cancer, ErbB signaling, endometrial cancer, and chronic myeloid leukemia, which were mainly distributed in intergenic regions and introns. These results suggest that the chromatin accessibility changes are correlated with enhanced growth and liver metastasis capacity of acid-adapted colorectal cancer cells.