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Coan M, Haefliger S, Ounzain S, Johnson R. Targeting and engineering long non-coding RNAs for cancer therapy. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:578-595. [PMID: 38424237 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-024-00693-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
RNA therapeutics (RNATx) aim to treat diseases, including cancer, by targeting or employing RNA molecules for therapeutic purposes. Amongst the most promising targets are long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which regulate oncogenic molecular networks in a cell type-restricted manner. lncRNAs are distinct from protein-coding genes in important ways that increase their therapeutic potential yet also present hurdles to conventional clinical development. Advances in genome editing, oligonucleotide chemistry, multi-omics and RNA engineering are paving the way for efficient and cost-effective lncRNA-focused drug discovery pipelines. In this Review, we present the emerging field of lncRNA therapeutics for oncology, with emphasis on the unique strengths and challenges of lncRNAs within the broader RNATx framework. We outline the necessary steps for lncRNA therapeutics to deliver effective, durable, tolerable and personalized treatments for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Coan
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Simon Haefliger
- Department of Medical Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Rory Johnson
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
- Conway Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
- Department of Medical Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- FutureNeuro, SFI Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, Dublin, Ireland.
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Sheikhnia F, Fazilat A, Rashidi V, Azizzadeh B, Mohammadi M, Maghsoudi H, Majidinia M. Exploring the therapeutic potential of quercetin in cancer treatment: Targeting long non-coding RNAs. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 260:155374. [PMID: 38889494 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The escalating global incidence of cancer, which results in millions of fatalities annually, underscores the pressing need for effective pharmacological interventions across diverse cancer types. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of RNA molecules that lack protein-coding capacity but profoundly impact gene expression regulation, have emerged as pivotal players in key cellular processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, cellular metabolism, and drug resistance. Among natural compounds, quercetin, a phenolic compound abundantly present in fruits and vegetables has garnered attention due to its significant anticancer properties. Quercetin demonstrates the ability to inhibit cancer cell growth and induce apoptosis-a process often impaired in malignant cells. In this comprehensive review, we delve into the therapeutic potential of quercetin in cancer treatment, with a specific focus on its intricate interactions with lncRNAs. We explore how quercetin modulates lncRNA expression and function to exert its anticancer effects. Notably, quercetin suppresses oncogenic lncRNAs that drive cancer development and progression while enhancing tumor-suppressive lncRNAs that impede cancer growth and dissemination. Additionally, we discuss quercetin's role as a chemopreventive agent, which plays a crucial role in mitigating cancer risk. We address research challenges and future directions, emphasizing the necessity for in-depth mechanistic studies and strategies to enhance quercetin's bioavailability and target specificity. By synthesizing existing knowledge, this review underscores quercetin's promising potential as a novel therapeutic strategy in the ongoing battle against cancer, offering fresh insights and avenues for further investigation in this critical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Sheikhnia
- Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Ahmad Fazilat
- Motamed Cancer Institute, Breast Cancer Research Center, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Rashidi
- Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Bita Azizzadeh
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Mahya Mohammadi
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Maghsoudi
- Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Maryam Majidinia
- Solid Tumor Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
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Shivakumar KM, Mahendran G, Brown JA. Locked Nucleic Acid Oligonucleotides Facilitate RNA•LNA-RNA Triple-Helix Formation and Reduce MALAT1 Levels. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1630. [PMID: 38338910 PMCID: PMC10855403 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and multiple endocrine neoplasia-β (MENβ) are two long noncoding RNAs upregulated in multiple cancers, marking these RNAs as therapeutic targets. While traditional small-molecule and antisense-based approaches are effective, we report a locked nucleic acid (LNA)-based approach that targets the MALAT1 and MENβ triple helices, structures comprised of a U-rich internal stem-loop and an A-rich tract. Two LNA oligonucleotides resembling the A-rich tract (i.e., A9GCA4) were examined: an LNA (L15) and a phosphorothioate LNA (PS-L15). L15 binds tighter than PS-L15 to the MALAT1 and MENβ stem loops, although both L15 and PS-L15 enable RNA•LNA-RNA triple-helix formation. Based on UV thermal denaturation assays, both LNAs selectively stabilize the Hoogsteen interface by 5-13 °C more than the Watson-Crick interface. Furthermore, we show that L15 and PS-L15 displace the A-rich tract from the MALAT1 and MENβ stem loop and methyltransferase-like protein 16 (METTL16) from the METTL16-MALAT1 triple-helix complex. Human colorectal carcinoma (HCT116) cells transfected with LNAs have 2-fold less MALAT1 and MENβ. This LNA-based approach represents a potential therapeutic strategy for the dual targeting of MALAT1 and MENβ.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jessica A. Brown
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; (K.M.S.); (G.M.)
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Mazarei M, Shahabi Rabori V, Ghasemi N, Salehi M, Rayatpisheh N, Jahangiri N, Saberiyan M. LncRNA MALAT1 signaling pathway and clinical applications in overcome on cancers metastasis. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:4457-4472. [PMID: 37695391 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-01179-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
In spite of its high mortality rate and difficulty in finding a cure, scientific advancements have contributed to a reduction in cancer-related fatalities. Aberrant gene expression during carcinogenesis emphasizes the importance of targeting the signaling networks that control gene expression in cancer treatment. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are transcribed RNA molecules that play a role in gene expression regulation, are a recent innovative therapeutic approach for diagnosing and treating malignancies. MALAT1, a well-known lncRNA, functions in gene expression, RNA processing, and epigenetic control. High expression levels of MALAT1 are associated with several human disorders, including metastasis, invasion, autophagy, and proliferation of cancer cells. MALAT1 affects various signaling pathways and microRNAs (miRNAs), and this study aims to outline its functional roles in cancer metastasis and its interactions with cellular signaling pathways. Moreover, MALAT1 and its interactions with signaling pathways can be promising target for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madineh Mazarei
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | | | - Nazila Ghasemi
- Department of Biology, Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran
| | - Mehrnaz Salehi
- School of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Najmeh Rayatpisheh
- School of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Negin Jahangiri
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Engineering, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad-e Kavus, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Saberiyan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
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Aich M, Ansari AH, Ding L, Iesmantavicius V, Paul D, Choudhary C, Maiti S, Buchholz F, Chakraborty D. TOBF1 modulates mouse embryonic stem cell fate through regulating alternative splicing of pluripotency genes. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113177. [PMID: 37751355 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can undergo lineage-specific differentiation, giving rise to different cell types that constitute an organism. Although roles of transcription factors and chromatin modifiers in these cells have been described, how the alternative splicing (AS) machinery regulates their expression has not been sufficiently explored. Here, we show that the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-associated protein TOBF1 modulates the AS of transcripts necessary for maintaining stem cell identity in mouse ESCs. Among the genes affected is serine/arginine splicing factor 1 (SRSF1), whose AS leads to global changes in splicing and expression of a large number of downstream genes involved in the maintenance of ESC pluripotency. By overlaying information derived from TOBF1 chromatin occupancy, the distribution of its pluripotency-associated OCT-SOX binding motifs, and transcripts undergoing differential expression and AS upon its knockout, we describe local nuclear territories where these distinct events converge. Collectively, these contribute to the maintenance of mouse ESC identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghali Aich
- CSIR- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Asgar Hussain Ansari
- CSIR- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Li Ding
- Medical Systems Biology, UCC, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Vytautas Iesmantavicius
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Deepanjan Paul
- CSIR- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Chunaram Choudhary
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Souvik Maiti
- CSIR- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Frank Buchholz
- Medical Systems Biology, UCC, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Debojyoti Chakraborty
- CSIR- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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Gencel-Augusto J, Wu W, Bivona TG. Long Non-Coding RNAs as Emerging Targets in Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3135. [PMID: 37370745 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are mRNA-like molecules that do not encode for proteins and that are longer than 200 nucleotides. LncRNAs play important biological roles in normal cell physiology and organism development. Therefore, deregulation of their activities is involved in disease processes such as cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths due to late stage at diagnosis, distant metastasis, and high rates of therapeutic failure. LncRNAs are emerging as important molecules in lung cancer for their oncogenic or tumor-suppressive functions. LncRNAs are highly stable in circulation, presenting an opportunity for use as non-invasive and early-stage cancer diagnostic tools. Here, we summarize the latest works providing in vivo evidence available for lncRNAs role in cancer development, therapy-induced resistance, and their potential as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, with a focus on lung cancer. Additionally, we discuss current therapeutic approaches to target lncRNAs. The evidence discussed here strongly suggests that investigation of lncRNAs in lung cancer in addition to protein-coding genes will provide a holistic view of molecular mechanisms of cancer initiation, development, and progression, and could open up a new avenue for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovanka Gencel-Augusto
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- UCSF Hellen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- UCSF Hellen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Trever G Bivona
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- UCSF Hellen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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Liu X, Xiao X, Han X, Yao L, Lan W. Natural flavonoids alleviate glioblastoma multiforme by regulating long non-coding RNA. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 161:114477. [PMID: 36931030 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common primary malignant brain tumors in adults. Due to the poor prognosis of patients, the median survival time of GBM is often less than 1 year. Therefore, it is very necessary to find novel treatment options with a good prognosis for the treatment or prevention of GBM. In recent years, flavonoids are frequently used to treat cancer. It is a new attractive molecule that may achieve this promising treatment option. Flavonoids have been proved to have many biological functions, such as antioxidation, prevention of angiogenesis, anti-inflammation, inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, and protection of nerve cells. It has also shown the ability to regulate long non-coding RNA (LncRNA). Studies have confirmed that flavonoids can regulate epigenetic modification, transcription, and change microRNA (miRNA) expression of GBM through lncRNA at the gene level. It also found that flavonoids can induce apoptosis and autophagy of GBM cells by regulating lncRNA. Moreover, it can improve the metabolic abnormalities of GBM, interfere with the tumor microenvironment and related signaling pathways, and inhibit the angiogenesis of GBM cells. Eventually, flavonoids can block the tumor initiation, growth, proliferation, differentiation, invasion, and metastasis. In this review, we highlight the role of lncRNA in GBM cancer progression and the influence of flavonoids on lncRNA regulation. And emphasize their expected role in the prevention and treatment of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Xinyu Xiao
- Dermatological Department, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610015, China
| | - Xue Han
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Lan Yao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Wei Lan
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830017, China.
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