Roles of HOTAIR in lung cancer susceptibility and prognosis

Integrated analysis of non‑coding RNAs (HOTAIR and miR‑130a) and their cross‑talk with TGF‑β1, SIRT1 and E‑cadherin as potential biomarkers in colorectal cancer

Molecular changes have a substantial impact on the onset of colorectal cancer (CRC). Complexes of HOTAIR and miRNAs disrupt several cellular functions during carcinogenesis, primarily by disrupting several carcinogenic signaling pathways. In the present study, the relationships between the serum levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) and E-cadherin and those of HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) and microRNA-130a (miR-130a) in individuals with CRC were analyzed, including their correlations and diagnostic potential. Patients with colon cancer and healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were collected from 70 patients with CRC and 30 age-matched healthy control volunteers and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to determine the serum levels of HOTAIR and miR-130a. In addition, the levels of TGF-β1, SIRT1 and E-cadherin were determined utilizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Patients with CRC were found to have significantly higher TGF-β1, SIRT1, HOTAIR and miR-130a serum levels than those of healthy participants. In addition, patients with high-grade CRC had significantly higher levels of TGF-β1, SIRT1, HOTAIR and miR-130a compared with those of patients with low-grade CRC. A significant reduction in the serum levels of E-cadherin was observed in participants with CRC compared with healthy participants, but no significant difference was detected according to the grade of CRC. Positive correlations were found between HOTAIR and miR-130a, as well as TGF-β1 and SIRT1. By contrast, negative correlations were noted between E-cadherin and HOTAIR, miR-130a, TGF-β1 and SIRT1. Therefore, it may be concluded that the miR-130a/HOTAIR and TGF-β1/SIRT1/E-cadherin axes may serve as novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis of CRC.

HOTAIR in cancer: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic perspectives

The long non-coding RNA HOTAIR is overexpressed in many cancers and is associated with several cancer-promoting effects, including increased cell proliferation, migration and treatment resistance. HOTAIR levels correlate with tumor stage, lymph node metastasis and overall survival in patients with various types of cancer. This highlights the potential uses of HOTAIR, including early cancer detection, predicting patient outcome, identifying high-risk individuals and assisting in therapy selection and monitoring. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the research progress, molecular mechanisms and clinical significance of HOTAIR in various human cancers. In addition, the clinical applications of HOTAIR, such as targeted therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, are discussed, and relevant information on the potential future advances of HOTAIR in cancer research is provided.

lncRNAs'p potential roles in the pathogenesis of cancer via interacting with signaling pathways; special focus on lncRNA-mediated signaling dysregulation in lung cancer

Lung cancer ranks among the most lethal types of cancer globally, with a high occurrence and fatality rate. The spread of cancer to other parts of the body, known as metastasis, is the primary cause of treatment failure and death in lung cancer cases. Current approaches for treating advanced lung cancer typically involve a combination of chemotherapy and targeted therapy. However, the majority of patients ultimately develop resistance to these treatments, leading to a worsened prognosis. In recent years, cancer biology research has predominantly focused on the role of protein-encoding genes in cancer development. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts over 200 nucleotides in length that do not encode proteins but are crucial RNA molecules involved in numerous biological functions. While many functions of lncRNAs remain unknown, some have been linked to human diseases, including cancer. Studies have demonstrated that lncRNAs interact with other large molecules in the cell, such as proteins, DNA, and RNA, influencing various critical aspects of cancer. LncRNAs play a significant role in regulating gene expression and have a crucial function in the transcriptional regulation of cancer cells. They mediate various biological and clinical processes such as invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, and cell proliferation. Dysregulation of lncRNAs has been found to impact the process of carcinogenesis through advanced technologies like RNA sequencing and microarrays. Collectively, these long non-coding RNAs hold promise as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for human cancers. In this segment, we provide a comprehensive summary of the literature on the characteristics and formation of lncRNAs, along with an overview of their current known roles in lung cancer.

Non-Coding RNA as a Biomarker in Lung Cancer

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer remains one of the most prevalent and deadly cancers globally, with high mortality rates largely due to late-stage diagnosis, aggressive progression, and frequent recurrence. Despite advancements in diagnostic techniques and therapeutic interventions, the overall prognosis for lung cancer patients continues to be dismal.

METHOD

Emerging research has identified non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, as critical regulators of gene expression, significantly influencing cancer biology. These ncRNAs play pivotal roles in various aspects of lung cancer pathogenesis, including tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and resistance to therapy.

RESULTS

We provide a comprehensive analysis of the current understanding of ncRNAs in lung cancer, emphasizing their potential as biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognostication, and the prediction of the therapeutic response. We explore the biological functions of ncRNAs, their involvement in key oncogenic pathways, and the molecular mechanisms by which they modulate gene expression and cellular processes in lung cancer. Furthermore, this review highlights recent advances in ncRNA-based diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies, such as miRNA mimics and inhibitors, lncRNA-targeted therapies, and circRNA-modulating approaches, offering promising avenues for personalized medicine.

CONCLUSION

Finally, we discuss the challenges and future directions in ncRNA research, including the need for large-scale validation studies and the development of efficient delivery systems for ncRNA-based therapies. This review underscores the potential of ncRNAs to revolutionize lung cancer management by providing novel diagnostic and therapeutic options that could improve patient outcomes.

Comprehensive investigation of long non-coding RNA HOTAIR polymorphisms and cancer risk: a current meta-analysis encompassing 96,458 participants

Cancer ranks as the second leading cause of mortality worldwide, prompting extensive investigations into factors contributing to its development. Among these factors, genetic variations, known as genotypic polymorphisms, have been identified as significant influencers in the susceptibility to various types of cancer. Recent research has focused on exploring the connection between polymorphisms in the Long Non-coding RNA HOTAIR and cancer risk. However, the results from these studies have been inconsistent, leading to ambiguity and controversy. To address this uncertainty, we conducted a systematic analysis by gathering relevant studies from PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. Specifically, we focused on three well-studied polymorphisms within the HOTAIR lncRNA (HOTAIR rs920778 C > T, HOTAIR rs1899663 G > T, HOTAIR rs4759314 A > G) and their association with cancer risk. Our meta-analysis included data from 48 case-control studies involving 42,321 cases and 54,137 controls. The results of our updated meta-analysis revealed a significant correlation between HOTAIR rs1899663 G > T and HOTAIR rs4759314 A > G polymorphisms and overall cancer risk, particularly in the homozygous and recessive genetic models. Subgroup analysis further revealed that these associations were notably pronounced in the Asian population but not observed in the Iranian population. Furthermore, our findings underscore the potential of HOTAIR polymorphisms as diagnostic markers for overall cancer risk, particularly in gynecological cancers, precisely, HOTAIR rs1899663 G > T polymorphism in breast cancer. In conclusion, our systematic analysis provides compelling evidence that Long Non-coding RNA HOTAIR polymorphisms are linked to cancer risk, particularly in certain populations and cancer types, suggesting their potential clinical relevance as diagnostic indicators.

Decoding LncRNA in COPD: Unveiling Prognostic and Diagnostic Power and Their Driving Role in Lung Cancer Progression

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer represent formidable challenges in global health, characterized by intricate pathophysiological mechanisms and multifaceted disease progression. This comprehensive review integrates insights from diverse perspectives to elucidate the intricate roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the pathogenesis of COPD and lung cancer, focusing on their diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications. In the context of COPD, dysregulated lncRNAs, such as NEAT1, TUG1, MALAT1, HOTAIR, and GAS5, emerge as pivotal regulators of genes involved in the disease pathogenesis and progression. Their identification, profiling, and correlation with the disease severity present promising avenues for prognostic and diagnostic applications, thereby shaping personalized disease interventions. These lncRNAs are also implicated in lung cancer, underscoring their multifaceted roles and therapeutic potential across both diseases. In the domain of lung cancer, lncRNAs play intricate modulatory roles in disease progression, offering avenues for innovative therapeutic approaches and prognostic indicators. LncRNA-mediated immune responses have been shown to drive lung cancer progression by modulating the tumor microenvironment, influencing immune cell infiltration, and altering cytokine production. Their dysregulation significantly contributes to tumor growth, metastasis, and chemo-resistance, thereby emphasizing their significance as therapeutic targets and prognostic markers. This review summarizes the transformative potential of lncRNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics for COPD and lung cancer, offering valuable insights into future research directions for clinical translation and therapeutic development.

Deciphering disulfidptosis: Uncovering a lncRNA-based signature for prognostic assessment, personalized immunotherapy, and therapeutic agent selection in lung adenocarcinoma patients

BACKGROUND

Disulfidptosis, a recently identified type of regulated cell death, plays critical roles in various biological processes of cancer; however, whether they can impact the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains to be fully elucidated. We aimed to adopt this concept to develop and validate a lncRNA signature for LUAD prognostic prediction.

METHODS

For this study, the TCGA-LUAD dataset was used as the training cohort, and multiple datasets from the GEO database were pooled as the validation cohort. Disulfidptosis regulated genes were obtained from published studies, and various statistical methods, including Kaplan-Meier (KM), Cox, and LASSO, were used to train our gene signature DISULncSig. We utilized KM analysis, COX analysis, receiver operating characteristic analysis, time-dependent AUC analysis, principal component analysis, nomogram predictor analysis, and functional assays in our validation process. We also compared DISULncSig with previous studies. We performed analyses to evaluate DISULncSig's immunotherapeutic ability, focusing on eight immune algorithms, TMB, and TIDE. Additionally, we investigated potential drugs that could be effective in treating patients with high-risk scores. Additionally qRT-PCR examined the expression patterns of DISULncSig lncRNAs, and the ability of DISULncSig in pan-cancer was also assessed.

RESULTS

DISULncSig containing twelve lncRNAs was trained and showed strong predictive ability in the validation cohort. Compared with previous similar studies, DISULncSig had more prognostic ability advantages. DISULncSig was closely related to the immune status of LUAD, and its tight relationship with checkpoints KIR2DL3, IL10, IL2, CD40LG, SELP, BTLA, and CD28 may be the key to its potential immunotherapeutic ability. For the high DISULncSig score population, we found ten drug candidates, among which epothilone-b may have the most potential. The pan-cancer analysis found that DISULncSig was a risk factor in multiple cancers. Additionally, we discovered that some of the DISULncSig lncRNAs could play crucial roles in specific cancer types.

CONCLUSION

The current study established a powerful prognostic DISULncSig signature for LUAD that was also valid for most pan-cancers. This signature could serve as a potential target for immunotherapy and might help the more efficient application of drugs to specific populations.

Epigenetic regulation in lung cancer

Lung cancer is indeed a major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The development of tumors involves a complex interplay of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation (DNAm), histone modifications, and microRNA expression, play a crucial role in this process. Changes in DNAm patterns can lead to the silencing of important genes involved in cellular functions, contributing to the development and progression of lung cancer. MicroRNAs and exosomes have also emerged as reliable biomarkers for lung cancer. They can provide valuable information about early diagnosis and treatment assessment. In particular, abnormal hypermethylation of gene promoters and its effects on tumorigenesis, as well as its roles in the Wnt signaling pathway, have been extensively studied. Epigenetic drugs have shown promise in the treatment of lung cancer. These drugs target the aberrant epigenetic modifications that are involved in the development and progression of the disease. Several factors have been identified as drug targets in non-small cell lung cancer. Recently, combination therapy has been discussed as a successful strategy for overcoming drug resistance. Overall, understanding the role of epigenetic mechanisms and their targeting through drugs is an important area of research in lung cancer treatment.

Crosstalk between copper homeostasis and cuproptosis reveals a lncRNA signature to prognosis prediction, immunotherapy personalization, and agent selection for patients with lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Copper homeostasis and cuproptosis play critical roles in various biological processes of cancer; however, whether they can impact the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remain to be fully elucidated. We aimed to adopt these concepts to create and validate a lncRNA signature for LUAD prognostic prediction.

METHODS

For this study, the TCGA-LUAD dataset was used as the training cohort, and multiple datasets from the GEO database were pooled as the validation cohort. Copper homeostasis and cuproptosis regulated genes were obtained from published studies, and various statistical methods, including Kaplan-Meier (KM), Cox, and LASSO, were used to train our gene signature CoCuLncSig. We utilized KM analysis, COX analysis, receiver operating characteristic analysis, time-dependent AUC analysis, principal component analysis, and nomogram predictor analysis in our validation process. We also compared CoCuLncSig with previous studies. We performed analyses using R software to evaluate CoCuLncSig's immunotherapeutic ability, focusing on eight immune algorithms, TMB, and TIDE. Additionally, we investigated potential drugs that could be effective in treating patients with high-risk scores. Additionally qRT-PCR examined the expression patterns of CoCuLncSig lncRNAs, and the ability of CoCuLncSig in pan-cancer was also assessed.

RESULTS

CoCuLncSig containing eight lncRNAs was trained and showed strong predictive ability in the validation cohort. Compared with previous similar studies, CoCuLncSig had more prognostic ability advantages. CoCuLncSig was closely related to the immune status of LUAD, and its tight relationship with checkpoints IL10, IL2, CD40LG, SELP, BTLA, and CD28 may be the key to its potential immunotherapeutic ability. For the high CoCuLncSig score population, we found 16 drug candidates, among which epothilone-b and gemcitabine may have the most potential. The pan-cancer analysis found that CoCuLncSig was a risk factor in multiple cancers. Additionally, we discovered that some of the CoCuLncSig lncRNAs could play crucial roles in specific cancer types.

CONCLUSION

The current study established a powerful prognostic CoCuLncSig signature for LUAD that was also valid for most pan-cancers. This signature could serve as a potential target for immunotherapy and might help the more efficient application of drugs to specific populations.

LncRNA polymorphisms and lung cancer risk

Lung cancer (LC) imposes a significant burden, and is associated with high mortality and morbidity among malignant tumors. Aberrant expression of particular lncRNAs is closely linked to LC. LncRNA polymorphisms cause abnormal expression levels and/or structural dysfunction. They can affect the progression of cancer, survival, response to chemotherapy and recurrence rates in cancer patients. The present article provides a comprehensive overview of the effect of lncRNA genetic polymorphisms on LC. It is proposed that lncRNA-related variants can be used to predict cancer risk and therapeutic outcomes. More large-scale trials on diverse ethnic groups are required to validate the results, thus personalizing LC therapy based on lncRNA genotypes.

Association of HOTAIR gene rs920778 (C > T) and rs4759314 (A > G) polymorphism with breast cancer in Egyptian women

BACKGROUND

Hox transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) is considered an oncogene associated with the initiation and progression of many malignancies. Previous studies have examined the connection between HOTAIR SNPs rs4759314 and rs920778 for breast cancer (BC), getting variable results in multiple ethnicities. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the connection between these two SNPs and disease vulnerability, clinic-laboratory, and hormonal parameters, featuring status associations with the BC risk in an Egyptian woman sample.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this case-control study, DNA was taken from the blood of 100 BC patients and 100 unrelated healthy Egyptian females. The characterization of rs4759314 was genotyped using the T-ARMS-PCR method and rs920778 using the SNP-RFLP technique for all participants. The frequency of the rs4759314 A > G variation revealed a statistically significant increase in BC risk with dominant (p = 0.013, OR = 1.592, 95% Cl = 1.105-2.293), co-dominant (p = 0.006, OR = 2.314, 95%Cl = 1.278-4.191) and overdominant (p = 0.002, OR = 2.571, 95% Cl = 1.430-4.624) genetic models. On the other hand, the rs920778 C > T polymorphism was not significantly associated with BC. ER/PR positivity with HER2 negativity was significantly associated with the AA genotype compared to the AG genotype. Otherwise, no significant associations between the two SNPs and clinical stage or hormonal features could be found. In conclusion, the rs4759314 A > G SNP in the HOTAIR gene is strongly associated with BC, which might warrant its determination among affected families for prevention and early treatment.

Associations between non-coding RNAs genetic polymorphisms with ovarian cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis update with trial sequential analysis

BACKGROUND

This systemic review and meta-analysis seeks to systematically analyze and summarize the association between non-coding RNA polymorphisms and ovarian cancer risk.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Web of Science and CNKI for available articles on non-coding RNA polymorphisms in patients with ovarian cancer from inception to March 1, 2023. The quality of each study included in the meta-analysis was rated according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.Odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to assess associations. Chi-square Q-test combined with inconsistency index (I2) was used to test for heterogeneity among studies. Lastly, trial sequential analysis (TSA) software was used to verify the reliability of meta-analysis results, and in-silico miRNA expression were also performed. The meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO (No. CRD42023422091).

RESULTS

A total of 17 case-control studies with 18 SNPs were selected, including 2 studies with H19 rs2107425 and HOTAIR rs4759314, and 5 studies with miR-146a rs2910164 and miR-196a rs11614913. Significant associations were found between H19 rs2107425, miR-146a rs2910164, and miR-196a rs11614913 and ovarian cancer risk. Three genetic models of H19 rs2107425 (CT vs TT (heterozygote model): OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.22-1.52, P < .00001; CC + CT vs TT (dominant model): OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.02-1.24, P = .02; and CC vs CT + TT (recessive model): OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.16-1.31, P < .00001), 2 genetic models of miR-146a rs2910164 (allele model: OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.05-2.91, P = .03; and heterozygote model: OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.11-0.98, P = .05), 3 genetic models of miR-196a rs11614913 (allele model: OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.59-0.82, P < .0001; dominant model: OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.18-2.24, P = .0001; and recessive model: OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.57-0.87, P = .03) were statistically linked to ovarian cancer risk. Subgroup analysis for miR-146a rs2910164 was performed according to ethnicity. No association was found in any genetic model. The outcomes of TSA also validated the findings of this meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION

This study summarizes that H19 rs2107425, miR-146a rs2910164, and miR-196a rs11614913 polymorphisms are significantly linked with the risk of ovarian cancer, and moreover, large-scale and well-designed studies are needed to validate our result.

Long noncoding RNA HOTAIR regulates the stemness of breast cancer cells via activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women, and it is characterized by a high rate of tumor development and heterogeneity. Breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) may well contribute to these pathological properties, but the mechanisms underlying their self-renewal and maintenance are still elusive. Here, we found that the long noncoding RNA HOTAIR is highly expressed in breast CSCs. HOTAIR is required for breast CSC self-renewal and tumor propagation. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that HOTAIR recruits the PRC2 protein complex to the promoter of IκBα to inhibit its expression, leading to activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. The activated NF-κB signaling promotes downstream c-Myc and Cyclin D1 expression. Furthermore, our analysis of clinical samples from the GEPIA database indicated that the IκBα level, as well as the survival rate of patients, with high HOTAIR expression was significantly lower than that of patients with relatively low HOTAIR expression. Our data suggest that HOTAIR-mediated NF-κB signaling primes breast CSC self-renewal and tumor propagation. In sum, we have identified HOTAIR-based NF-κB signaling regulatory circuit that promotes tumorigenic activity in breast CSCs, further indicating that HOTAIR could be a promising target for clinical treatment of breast cancers.

Diagnostic value of lncRNA HOTAIR as a biomarker for detecting and staging of non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Since the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOTAIR is yet to be established in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we tried to explore the expression of lncRNA HOTAIR in NSCLC and evaluate the correlation between the combined detection of lncRNA HOTAIR and routine tumour markers and the pathological staging of lung cancer.

METHODS

This study prospectively included 148 patients with NSCLC selected from our hospital from January 2017 to September 2020 as the lung cancer group, and 148 healthy volunteers who referred for physical examination were selected as the control group. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation was used to detect the expression of lncRNA HOTAIR in the cancerous tissues and adjacent tissues of lung cancer patients; the immunofluorescence method was used to detect the serum NSE, CEA and CYFRA21-1 levels of the two groups of testers. Correlation analysis was used to evaluate any relation between cancer staging and markers. In addition, ROC curve analysis was used to estimate sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value.

RESULTS

The expression of lncRNA HOTAIR in lung cancer tissues was higher than control or surrounding tissue (p < 0.05). Also, high levels of NSE, CEA and CYFRA21-1 were observed in lung cancer group (p < 0.05). In both N and T stage, the expression of lncRNA HOTAIR combined with NSE, CEA and CYFRA21-1 levels increased with the increase in the number of stages (p < 0.05). The results of single factor analysis showed that NSE, CEA, CYFRA21-1 and lncRNA HOTAIR all have appropriate diagnostic value for detecting lung cancer (specificity of 92.6, 91.5, 90.6, 86.9%, respectively and the sensitivity of 61.3, 62.9, 55.4, 52.3%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

LncRNA HOTAIR is a novel diagnostic test with high diagnostic value for detecting of pathological staging of NSCLC; however, the diagnostic accuracy of lncRNA HOTAIR is not higher than other tumour biomarkers.

Long Non-Coding RNA LINC01929 Facilitates Cell Proliferation and Metastasis as a Competing Endogenous RNA Against MicroRNA miR-1179 in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Introduction: Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) constitutes most lung cancers and has a poor prognosis. LncRNAs are a potential repository for the discovery of cancer prognostic markers. This study explored the role of LINC01929 in NSCLC, both the clinical prognostic significance and the mechanism of its influence on cells.

Materials and Methods: LINC01929 levels in 143 pairs of NSCLC tissues and non-cancerous tissues were detected by RT-qPCR. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression assays were generated for evaluating the prognostic values of LINC01929. To evaluate the cellular function, an XTT assay and transwell invasion assays were performed.

Results: LINC01929 was up-regulated in NSCLC tissues compared with healthy tissues. A positive correlation was observed between LINC01929 expression level and tumor T (p = 0.002) or N stage (p = 0.010). Patients with higher LINC01929 levels had shorter overall survival (p = 0.009). Compared with other factors, high LINC01929 expression was significantly associated with poor survival in univariate Cox analysis (HR: 2.485, 95%CI: 1.220–5.060, p = 0.012). After multivariate Cox regression assays, LINC01929 was a independent prognostic factor (HR: 3.021, 95%CI: 1.377–6.628, p = 0.006). miR-1179 was a target miRNA of LINC01929. Inhibited expression of LINC01929 significantly reduced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC cells by targeting miR-1179.

Discussion: This study revealed the upregulation of LINC01929 in NSCLC. This study supports previous studies showing LINC01929 as a potential prognostic factor for NSCLC.

Association between long non‑coding RNA HOTAIR polymorphism and lung cancer risk: A systematic review and meta‑analysis

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of long noncoding RNA (lnc)RNA has been reported to be an important factor in cancer development. Recently, lncRNA homeobox transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) was indicated to induce tumorigenesis of several cancer types, but the association between the SNP of lncRNA HOTAIR and lung cancer susceptibility has remained undetermined. The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of HOTAIR polymorphism on susceptibility to lung cancer. The PubMed, Ovid Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were thoroughly searched. Studies containing data on the incidence of lung cancer in patients with different HOTAIR SNPs were included. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was analyzed to determine genotype distribution and allele frequencies. The odds ratio (OR) was pooled to evaluate the association of different SNPs with the susceptibility to lung cancer. A total of six studies comprising 1,715 patients with lung cancer and 2,745 healthy controls were finally included. A total of 4 SNPs (rs12826786, rs1899663, rs920778 and rs4759314) were reported. Analyses for all of these SNPs individually indicated that the lncRNA HOTAIR rs1899663 C>A polymorphism was a risk factor for lung cancer (dominant mode, AA+CA vs. CC: OR=0.816, 95% CI=0.707-0.942, P=0.005). The present study was the first meta-analysis investigating the association between lncRNA HOTAIR and lung cancer susceptibility. The results indicated that the lncRNA HOTAIR rs1899663 C>A polymorphism is a risk factor for lung cancer. LncRNA HOTAIR may be of value in lung cancer screening, particularly for populations with high-risk factors, as well as prognosis prediction. Future investigations are required to further clarify the intrinsic mechanism of the role of HOTAIR in the oncogenesis of lung cancer.

Progress of HOTAIR-microRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma

The Hox transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) has been identified as a tumor gene, and its expression in HCC is significantly increased. HOTAIR is associated with the proliferation, invasion, metastasis and poor prognosis of HCC. In addition, HOTAIR can also regulate the expression and function of microRNA by recruiting the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and competitive adsorption, thus promoting the occurrence and development of HCC. In this review, we discussed the two mechanisms of HOTAIR regulating miRNA through direct binding miRNA and indirect regulation, and emphasized the role of HOTAIR in HCC through miRNA, explained the regulatory pathway of HOTAIR-miRNA-mRNA and introduced the role of this pathway in HCC proliferation, drug resistance, invasion and metastasis.

Long noncoding RNA NR2F1-AS1 stimulates the tumorigenic behavior of non-small cell lung cancer cells by sponging miR-363-3p to increase SOX4

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), specifically the upregulation of lncRNA NR2F1 antisense RNA 1 (NR2F1-AS1), has been involved in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the mechanisms that underlie this remain unclear. In this study, the expression of NR2F1-AS1, miR-363-3p, and SOX4 was assessed in NSCLC cells. A loss-of-function assay was used to measure the tumorigenicity of NSCLC cells. The glycolysis and glutamine metabolism of NSCLC cells was also measured via extracellular acidification rate, consumption of glucose and glutamine, and production of lactate and ATP. The relationships among NR2F1-AS1, miR-363-3p, and SOX4 were detected via dual-luciferase reporter assay. HK-2, GLS1, and SOX4 levels were also analyzed. We found that both NSCLC tissues and cells had higher levels of NR2F1-AS1. Silencing of NR2F1-AS1 inhibited the tumorigenicity of cells in vitro and reduced the glycolysis and glutamine metabolism of NSCLC cells. Regarding its mechanism, NR2F1-AS1 positively regulated the SOX4 level by sponging miR-363-3p. Furthermore, miR-363-3p inhibition or SOX4 overexpression reversed the repressing role of sh-NR2F1-AS1 in the tumorigenicity of NSCLC cells. In summary, NR2F1-AS1 promotes the tumorigenicity of NSCLC cells by regulating miR-363-3p/SOX4.

The roles of long non-coding RNAs in lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most common malignancy, being a serious threat of human lives. The incidence and mortality of lung cancer has been increasing rapidly in the past decades. Although the development of new therapeutic modes, such as target therapy, the overall survival rate of lung cancer remains low. It is urgent to advance the understanding of molecular oncology and find novel biomarkers and targets for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic prediction of lung cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-protein coding RNA transcripts that are more than 200 nucleotides in length. LncRNAs exert diverse biological functions by regulating gene expressions at transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels. In the past decade, it has been shown that lncRNAs are extensively involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including lung cancer. In this review, we highlighted the lncRNAs characterized in lung cancer and discussed their translational potential in lung cancer clinics.

LncRNA HOTAIR: A Potential Prognostic Factor and Therapeutic Target in Human Cancers

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as crucial regulators of gene expression and physiological processes. LncRNAs are a class of ncRNAs of 200 nucleotides in length. HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR), a trans-acting lncRNA with regulatory function on transcription, can repress gene expression by recruiting chromatin modifiers. HOTAIR is an oncogenic lncRNA, and numerous studies have determined that HOTAIR is highly upregulated in a wide variety of human cancers. In this review, we briefly summarize the impact of lncRNA HOTAIR expression and functions on different human solid tumors, and emphasize the potential of HOTAIR on tumor prognosis and therapy. Here, we review the recent studies that highlight the prognostic potential of HOTAIR in drug resistance and survival, and the progress of therapies developed to target HOTAIR to date. Furthermore, targeting HOTAIR results in the suppression of HOTAIR expression or function. Thus, HOTAIR knockdown exhibits great therapeutic potential in various cancers, indicating that targeting lncRNA HOTAIR may serve as a promising strategy for cancer therapy. We also propose that preclinical studies involving HOTAIR are required to provide a better understanding of the exact molecular mechanisms underlying the dysregulation of its expression and function in different human cancers and to explore effective methods of targeting HOTAIR and engineering efficient and targeted drug delivery methods in vivo.

There and Back Again: Hox Clusters Use Both DNA Strands

Bilaterian animals operate the clusters of Hox genes through a rich repertoire of diverse mechanisms. In this review, we will summarize and analyze the accumulated data concerning long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are transcribed from sense (coding) DNA strands of Hox clusters. It was shown that antisense regulatory RNAs control the work of Hox genes in cis and trans, participate in the establishment and maintenance of the epigenetic code of Hox loci, and can even serve as a source of regulatory peptides that switch cellular energetic metabolism. Moreover, these molecules can be considered as a force that consolidates the cluster into a single whole. We will discuss the examples of antisense transcription of Hox genes in well-studied systems (cell cultures, morphogenesis of vertebrates) and bear upon some interesting examples of antisense Hox RNAs in non-model Protostomia.

LncTx: A network-based method to repurpose drugs acting on the survival-related lncRNAs in lung cancer

Despite the fact that an increased amount of survival-related lncRNAs have been found in cancer, few drugs that target lncRNAs are approved for treatment. Here, we developed a network-based algorithm, LncTx, to repurpose the medications that potentially act on survival-related lncRNAs in lung cancer. We used eight survival-related lncRNAs derived from our previous study to test the efficacy of this method. LncTx calculates the shortest path length (proximity) between the drug targets and the lncRNA-correlated proteins in the protein-protein interaction network (interactome). LncTx contains seven different proximity measures, which are calculated in the unweighted or weighted interactome. First, to test the performance of LncTx in predicting correct indication of drugs, we benchmarked the proximity measures based on the accuracy of differentiating anticancer drugs from non-anticancer drugs. The closest proximity weighted by clustering coefficient (closestCC) has the best performance (AUC around 0.8) compared to other proximity measures across all survival-related lncRNAs. The majority of the other six proximity measures have decent performance as well, with AUC greater than 0.7. Second, to evaluate whether LncTx can repurpose the drugs effectively acting on the lncRNAs, we clustered the drugs according to their proximities by hierarchical clustering. The drugs with smaller proximity (proximal drugs) were proved to be more effective than the drugs with larger proximity (distal drugs). In conclusion, LncTx enables us to accurately identify anticancer drugs and can potentially be an index to repurpose effective agents acting on survival-related lncRNAs in lung cancer.

Roles of HOTAIR in lung cancer susceptibility and prognosis

Background

Long noncoding (lncRNA) single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with the susceptibility to the development of various malignant tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) and its SNPs in lung cancer.

Methods

Initially, the expression of HOTAIR in different tumors was investigated using the online Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) resource. Three SNPs (rs920778, rs1899663, and rs4759314) of HOTAIR were identified using the MassArray system. Following this, the relationship between these SNPs and susceptibility to lung cancer was investigated.

Results

Expression of HOTAIR was found to increase in a variety of cancers, including nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We found that the genotypes of these SNPs (rs920778, rs1899663, and rs4759314) were not significantly associated with lung cancer type, family history, lymph node metastasis, or lung cancer stage. In gender stratification, the results of rs920778 genotypes showed that, compared to genotype AA, the AG (OR = 0.344, 95% CI: 0.133–0.893, p = .028) and AG + GG (OR = 0.378, 95% CI: 0.153–0.932, p = .035) genotypes of rs920778 are protective factors against NSCLC in females. In smoking stratification, compared with AA of rs920778, the genotype AG + GG (OR = 0.507, 95% CI: 0.263–0.975, p = .042) was a protective factor against NSCLC in nonsmoking people. No statistical differences were observed in the classifications of rs1899663 and rs4759314 genotypes. Linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed a high linkage disequilibrium between the rs920778 and rs1899663 (D′ = 0.99, r² = .74), rs920778 and rs4759314 (D′ = 0.85, r² = .13), and rs1899663 and rs4759314 (D′ = 0.79, r² = .00).

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that HOTAIR expression increased in NSCLC, and that the genotypes of rs920778 could be useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer.