MicroRNAs in cancer: from developmental genes in worms to their clinical application in patients

Differential levels of circulating RNAs prior to endometrial cancer diagnosis

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common female cancers and there is currently no routine screening strategy for early detection. An altered abundance of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) and other RNA classes have the potential as early cancer biomarkers. We analyzed circulating RNA levels using small RNA sequencing, targeting RNAs in the size range of 17-47 nucleotides, in EC patients with samples collected prior to diagnosis compared to cancer-free controls. The analysis included 316 cases with samples collected 1-11 years prior to EC diagnosis, and 316 matched controls, both from the Janus Serum Bank cohort in Norway. We identified differentially abundant (DA) miRNAs, isomiRs, and small nuclear RNAs between EC cases and controls. The top EC DA miRNAs were miR-155-5p, miR-200b-3p, miR-589-5p, miR-151a-5p, miR-543, miR-485-5p, miR-625-p, and miR-671-3p. miR-200b-3p was previously reported to be among one of the top miRNAs with higher abundance in EC cases. We observed 47, 41, and 32 DA miRNAs for EC interacting with BMI, smoking status, and physical activity, respectively, including two miRNAs (miR-223-3p and miR-29b-3p) interacting with all three factors. The circulating RNAs are altered and show temporal dynamics prior to EC diagnosis. Notably, DA miRNAs for EC had the lowest q-value 4.39-6.66 years before diagnosis. Enrichment analysis of miRNAs showed that signaling pathways Fc epsilon RI, prolactin, toll-like receptor, and VEGF had the strongest associations.

MicroRNAs and angiosarcoma: are there promising reports?

In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have garnered increasing attention for their potential implications in cancer pathogenesis, functioning either as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Notably, angiosarcoma, along with various other cardiovascular tumors such as lipomas, rhabdomyomas, hemangiomas, and myxomas, has shown variations in the expression of specific miRNA subtypes. A substantial body of evidence underscores the pivotal involvement of miRNAs in the genesis of angiosarcoma and certain cardiovascular tumors. This review aims to delve into the current literature on miRNAs and their prospective applications in cardiovascular malignancies, with a specific focus on angiosarcoma. It comprehensively covers diagnostic methods, prognostic evaluations, and potential treatments while providing a recapitulation of angiosarcoma's risk factors and molecular pathogenesis, with an emphasis on the role of miRNAs. These insights can serve as the groundwork for designing randomized control trials, ultimately facilitating the translation of these findings into clinical applications. Moving forward, it is imperative for studies to thoroughly scrutinize the advantages and disadvantages of miRNAs compared to current diagnostic and prognostic approaches in angiosarcoma and other cardiovascular tumors. Closing these knowledge gaps will be crucial for harnessing the full potential of miRNAs in the realm of angiosarcoma and cardiovascular tumor research.

Optimization of cancer immunotherapy on the basis of programmed death ligand-1 distribution and function

Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint blockade as a breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy has shown unprecedented positive outcomes in the clinic. However, the overall effectiveness of PD-L1 antibody is less than expected. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that PD-L1 is widely distributed and expressed not only on the cell membrane but also on the inside of the cells as well as on the extracellular vesicles secreted by tumour cells. Both endogenous and exogenous PD-L1 play significant roles in influencing the therapeutic effect of anti-tumour immunity. Herein, we mainly focused on the distribution and function of PD-L1 and further summarized the potential targeted therapeutic strategies. More importantly, in addition to taking the overall expression abundance of PD-L1 as a predictive indicator for selecting corresponding PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), we also proposed that personalized combination therapies based on the different distribution of PD-L1 are worth attention to achieve more efficient and effective therapeutic outcomes in cancer patients. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Cancer Microenvironment and Pharmacological Interventions. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v181.2/issuetoc.

MiR-4646-5p Acts as a Tumor-Suppressive Factor in Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Targets the Cholesterol Transport Protein GRAMD1B

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, and their deregulation contributes to many aspects of cancer development and progression. Thus, miRNAs provide insight into oncogenic mechanisms and represent promising targets for new therapeutic approaches. A type of cancer that is still in urgent need of improved treatment options is triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Therefore, we aimed to characterize a novel miRNA with a potential role in TNBC. Based on a previous study, we selected miR-4646-5p, a miRNA with a still unknown function in breast cancer. We discovered that higher expression of miR-4646-5p in TNBC patients is associated with better survival. In vitro assays showed that miR-4646-5p overexpression reduces growth, proliferation, and migration of TNBC cell lines, whereas inhibition had the opposite effect. Furthermore, we found that miR-4646-5p inhibits the tube formation ability of endothelial cells, which may indicate anti-angiogenic properties. By whole transcriptome analysis, we not only observed that miR-4646-5p downregulates many oncogenic factors, like tumor-promoting cytokines and migration- and invasion-related genes, but were also able to identify a direct target, the GRAM domain-containing protein 1B (GRAMD1B). GRAMD1B is involved in cellular cholesterol transport and its knockdown phenocopied the growth-reducing effects of miR-4646-5p. We thus conclude that GRAMD1B may partly contribute to the diverse tumor-suppressive effects of miR-4646-5p in TNBC.

Nano-matrixes propped self-enhanced electrochemiluminescence biosensor for microRNA detection

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are the potential biomarker for breast cancer, a biosensor for detecting miRNA-21 was successfully prepared by covalently linking carbohydrazide (CON4H6) and tris (4,4 '- dicarboxylic acid-2,2' - bipyridyl) ruthenium dichloride (Ru (dcbpy)32+) as a self-enhanced emitter (Ru-CON4H6). The biosensor was prepared by coating the electrode with mesoporous silica encapsulated Ru-CON4H6 as luminophores (RMSNs) to covalently link a couple of DNA strands (Q1-H2). The RMSNs coated electrode exhibited strong ECL emission due to the intramolecular electron transfer between the electrochemically oxidized Ru (dcbpy)32+ and co-reactant CON4H6. In the presence of target miRNA-21 and an assistant hairpin H1, H2 could be released from the surface through a strand displacement reaction (SDR), and the reserved Q1 could form G-quadruplex upon the addition of K+. The formed G-quadruplex then interacted with Q2-Fc in the presence of Mg2+ to form a DNA complex on the biosensor surface, which quenched the nano-matrixes propped self-enhanced ECL emission through the electron exchange between Fc and electrode or oxidized ECL intermediates. Under optimal conditions, the ECL decrease showed a correlation with target concentration, leading to a biosensing method for sensitive detection of miRNA-21. The proposed ECL method demonstrated a detectable concentration range from 0.1 fM to 1 nM along with a detection limit of 0.03 fM, good accuracy, and acceptable reproducibility, showing that the self-enhanced ECL biosensing strategy supported by nano-matrix provided a new way for the ultrasensitive detection of miRNA, and promoted the development of breast cancer diagnosis.

Roles of non-coding RNA in megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis: new target therapies in ITP

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a group of RNA molecules that cannot encode proteins, and a better understanding of the complex interaction networks coordinated by ncRNAs will provide a theoretical basis for the development of therapeutics targeting the regulatory effects of ncRNAs. Platelets are produced upon the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells into megakaryocytes, 10¹¹ per day, and are renewed every 8-9 days. The process of thrombopoiesis is affected by multiple factors, in which ncRNAs also exert a significant regulatory role. This article reviewed the regulatory roles of ncRNAs, mainly microRNAs (miRNAs), circRNAs (circular RNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), in thrombopoiesis in recent years as well as their roles in primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

Recent advances on high-efficiency of microRNAs in different types of lung cancer: a comprehensive review

Carcinoma of the lung is among the most common types of cancer globally. Concerning its histology, it is categorized as a non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) and a small cell cancer (SCLC) subtype. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a member of non-coding RNA whose nucleotides range from 19 to 25. They are known to be critical regulators of cancer via epigenetic control of oncogenes expression and by regulating tumor suppressor genes. miRNAs have an essential function in a tumorous microenvironment via modulating cancer cell growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, metabolism, and apoptosis. Moreover, a wide range of information produced via several investigations indicates their tumor-suppressing, oncogenic, diagnostic assessment, and predictive marker functions in different types of lung malignancy. miRNA mimics or anti-miRNAs can be transferred into a lung cancer cell, with possible curative implications. As a result, miRNAs hold promise as targets for lung cancer treatment and detection. In this study, we investigate the different functions of various miRNAs in different types of lung malignancy, which have been achieved in recent years that show the lung cancer-associated regulation of miRNAs expression, concerning their function in lung cancer beginning, development, and resistance to chemotherapy, also the probability to utilize miRNAs as predictive biomarkers for therapy reaction.

Harnessing Epigenetics for Breast Cancer Therapy: The Role of DNA Methylation, Histone Modifications, and MicroRNA

Breast cancer exhibits various epigenetic abnormalities that regulate gene expression and contribute to tumor characteristics. Epigenetic alterations play a significant role in cancer development and progression, and epigenetic-targeting drugs such as DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, histone-modifying enzymes, and mRNA regulators (such as miRNA mimics and antagomiRs) can reverse these alterations. Therefore, these epigenetic-targeting drugs are promising candidates for cancer treatment. However, there is currently no effective epi-drug monotherapy for breast cancer. Combining epigenetic drugs with conventional therapies has yielded positive outcomes and may be a promising strategy for breast cancer therapy. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, such as azacitidine, and histone deacetylase inhibitors, such as vorinostat, have been used in combination with chemotherapy to treat breast cancer. miRNA regulators, such as miRNA mimics and antagomiRs, can alter the expression of specific genes involved in cancer development. miRNA mimics, such as miR-34, have been used to inhibit tumor growth, while antagomiRs, such as anti-miR-10b, have been used to inhibit metastasis. The development of epi-drugs that target specific epigenetic changes may lead to more effective monotherapy options in the future.

Noncoding RNAs in the crosstalk between multiple myeloma cells and bone marrow microenvironment

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematological malignancy; however, it remains incurable, and the underlying pathogenesis and mechanisms of drug resistance remain unclear. It is widely recognized that the bone marrow microenvironment plays a crucial role in regulating the immune response, inducing drug resistance, and promoting tumor proliferation and invasion in MM, and thus serves as a potential therapeutic target. Among the various signaling loops between myeloma cells and components of the microenvironment, noncoding RNAs are emerging as crucial regulators of intercellular communication within the microenvironment. Noncoding RNAs, such as microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs, and PIWI-interacting RNAs, have been associated with numerous biological processes involved in myeloma cell growth, survival, migration, invasion, and drug resistance. This review summarizes recent advances in the regulatory mechanisms of noncoding RNAs involved in the interaction between the MM bone marrow microenvironment and discusses the therapeutic potential of noncoding RNAs in MM.

Integrated Microarray-Based Data Analysis of miRNA Expression Profiles: Identification of Novel Biomarkers of Cisplatin-Resistance in Testicular Germ Cell Tumours

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) are the most common solid malignancy among young men, and their incidence is still increasing. Despite good curability with cisplatin (CDDP)-based chemotherapy, about 10% of TGCTs are non-responsive and show a chemoresistant phenotype. To further increase TGCT curability, better prediction of risk of relapse and early detection of refractory cases is needed. Therefore, to diagnose this malignancy more precisely, stratify patients more accurately and improve decision-making on treatment modality, new biomarkers are still required. Numerous studies showed association of differential expressions of microRNAs (miRNAs) with cancer. Using microarray analysis followed by RT-qPCR validation, we identified specific miRNA expression patterns that discriminate chemoresistant phenotypes in TGCTs. Comparing CDDP-resistant vs. -sensitive TGCT cell lines, we identified miR-218-5p, miR-31-5p, miR-125b-5p, miR-27b-3p, miR-199a-5p, miR-214-3p, let-7a and miR-517a-3p as significantly up-regulated and miR-374b-5p, miR-378a-3p, miR-20b-5p and miR-30e-3p as significantly down-regulated. In patient tumour samples, we observed the highest median values of relative expression of miR-218-5p, miR-31-5p, miR-375-5p and miR-517a-3p, but also miR-20b-5p and miR-378a-3p, in metastatic tumour samples when compared with primary tumour or control samples. In TGCT patient plasma samples, we detected increased expression of miR-218-5p, miR-31-5p, miR-517a-3p and miR-375-5p when compared to healthy individuals. We propose that miR-218-5p, miR-31-5p, miR-375-5p, miR-517-3p, miR-20b-5p and miR-378a-3p represent a new panel of biomarkers for better prediction of chemoresistance and more aggressive phenotypes potentially underlying metastatic spread in non-seminomatous TGCTs. In addition, we provide predictions of the targets and functional and regulatory networks of selected miRNAs.

LncRNA VPS9D1-AS1 Sponging miR-520a-5p Contributes to the Development of Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma by Enhancing BIRC5 Expression

The pattern of VPS9D1-AS1 expression and its effects on uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) remained unclear. VPS9D1-AS1, miR-520a-5p, and BIRC5 mRNA levels were quantified by qRT-PCR. Bax, Bcl-2, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and BIRC5 protein levels were analyzed through western blotting. Cell migration, invasion, proliferation, as well as apoptosis of cells were checked after performing assay for wound-healing, Transwell, cell-counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and western blotting. VPS9D1-AS1 effects on UCEC were observed in nude mice. Through bioinformatics tools, we analyzed the association present among miR-520a-5p, BIRC5, and VPS9D1-AS1 along with RNA immunoprecipitation, and Dual-Luciferase verification reporter analysis. Our findings suggested VPS9D1-AS1 gene expression was up-regulated in both tissues as well as cells of UCEC. VPS9D1-AS1 knockdown suppressed migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) along with proliferation of UCEC cells, caused in vitro cell apoptosis initiation, and in vivo reduction of tumor growth. Mechanistically, it was verified that VPS9D1-AS1 targeted BIRC5 and caused miR-520a-5p sponging. Inhibitor of miR-520-5p markedly reversed the anti-tumor effects of VPS9D1-AS1 knockdown or BIRC5 knockdown on UCEC progression. Our studies revealed that VPS9D1-AS1 contributed to the UCEC development and progression by binding to miR-520a-5p competitively and inducing BIRC5 expression, indicating that VPS9D1-AS1 might act as a therapeutic target to develop new therapies for UCEC patients.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Role of MicroRNAs

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. HCC is diagnosed in its advanced stage when limited treatment options are available. Substantial morphologic, genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity has been reported in HCC, which poses a challenge for the development of a targeted therapy. In this review, we discuss the role and involvement of several microRNAs (miRs) in the heterogeneity and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma with a special emphasis on their possible role as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in the risk prediction, early detection, and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Restoration of miR-23a expression by chidamide sensitizes CML cells to imatinib treatment with concomitant downregulation of CRYAB

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in various processes from the initiation and development of cancers, including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In this report, we aimed to investigate the roles of miR-23a in the regulation of imatinib mesylate (IM) sensitivity in CML cells and the possible mechanisms involved in this process. We demonstrated that the expression of miR-23a was markedly low in bone marrow mononuclear cells from patients in whom IM treatment had failed and imatinib-resistant K562/G01 cells when compared to patients with optimal responses and imatinib-sensitive K562 cells, respectively. Overexpression of miR-23a was shown to induce apoptosis of K562/G01 cells and sensitize these cells to imatinib treatment. With the aid of bioinformatics analysis, we revealed that CRYAB could be a potential downstream effector of miR-23a, contributing to miR-23a-mediated IM resistance. We also observed that the expression of CRYAB was inversely correlated with miR-23a expression in CML cell lines and patient samples. Importantly, chidamide upregulated miR-23a expression and reversed the IM resistance of CML cells. Together, these findings strongly suggest that miR-23a acts as a tumor suppressor by downregulating CRYAB expression. Restoration of miR-23a by chidamide may therefore have a therapeutic effect in controlling the sensitivity of CML cells to imatinib.

How do non-coding RNAs impact treatment regimens currently being used in AML?

not applicable.

Molecular Landscape of Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma

Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare malignancy, with lower incidence, later stage at diagnosis, and poor overall prognosis compared to other cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. Owing to the rarity of the disease along with the paucity of high-quality tissue samples and preclinical models, little is known about the molecular alterations characteristic of SBA. This is reflected by the fact that the clinical management of SBA is primarily extrapolated from colorectal cancer (CRC). Recent advances in genomic profiling have highlighted key differences between these tumors, establishing SBA as a molecularly unique intestinal cancer. Moreover, comprehensive molecular analysis has identified a relatively high incidence of potentially targetable genomic alterations in SBA, predictive of response to targeted and immunotherapies. Further advances in our knowledge of the mutational and transcriptomic landscape of SBA, guided by an increased understanding of the molecular drivers of SBA, will provide opportunities to develop novel diagnostic tools and personalized therapeutic strategies.

Serum RNAs can predict lung cancer up to 10 years prior to diagnosis

Lung cancer (LC) prognosis is closely linked to the stage of disease when diagnosed. We investigated the biomarker potential of serum RNAs for the early detection of LC in smokers at different prediagnostic time intervals and histological subtypes. In total, 1061 samples from 925 individuals were analyzed. RNA sequencing with an average of 18 million reads per sample was performed. We generated machine learning models using normalized serum RNA levels and found that smokers later diagnosed with LC in 10 years can be robustly separated from healthy controls regardless of histology with an average area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.68-0.83). Furthermore, the strongest models that took both time to diagnosis and histology into account successfully predicted non-small cell LC (NSCLC) between 6 and 8 years, with an AUC of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.76-0.88), and SCLC between 2 and 5 years, with an AUC of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.77-1.0), before diagnosis. The most important separators were microRNAs, miscellaneous RNAs, isomiRs, and tRNA-derived fragments. We have shown that LC can be detected years before diagnosis and manifestation of disease symptoms independently of histological subtype. However, the highest AUCs were achieved for specific subtypes and time intervals before diagnosis. The collection of models may therefore also predict the severity of cancer development and its histology. Our study demonstrates that serum RNAs can be promising prediagnostic biomarkers in an LC screening setting, from early detection to risk assessment.

miR-7/TGF-β2 axis sustains acidic tumor microenvironment-induced lung cancer metastasis

Acidosis, regardless of hypoxia involvement, is recognized as a chronic and harsh tumor microenvironment (TME) that educates malignant cells to thrive and metastasize. Although overwhelming evidence supports an acidic environment as a driver or ubiquitous hallmark of cancer progression, the unrevealed core mechanisms underlying the direct effect of acidification on tumorigenesis have hindered the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and clinical therapy. Here, chemical-induced and transgenic mouse models for colon, liver and lung cancer were established, respectively. miR-7 and TGF-β2 expressions were examined in clinical tissues (n = 184). RNA-seq, miRNA-seq, proteomics, biosynthesis analyses and functional studies were performed to validate the mechanisms involved in the acidic TME-induced lung cancer metastasis. Our data show that lung cancer is sensitive to the increased acidification of TME, and acidic TME-induced lung cancer metastasis via inhibition of miR-7-5p. TGF-β2 is a direct target of miR-7-5p. The reduced expression of miR-7-5p subsequently increases the expression of TGF-β2 which enhances the metastatic potential of the lung cancer. Indeed, overexpression of miR-7-5p reduces the acidic pH-enhanced lung cancer metastasis. Furthermore, the human lung tumor samples also show a reduced miR-7-5p expression but an elevated level of activated TGF-β2; the expressions of both miR-7-5p and TGF-β2 are correlated with patients' survival. We are the first to identify the role of the miR-7/TGF-β2 axis in acidic pH-enhanced lung cancer metastasis. Our study not only delineates how acidification directly affects tumorigenesis, but also suggests miR-7 is a novel reliable biomarker for acidic TME and a novel therapeutic target for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. Our study opens an avenue to explore the pH-sensitive subcellular components as novel therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

Emerging Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Regulation of T-Lymphocyte Function

T-lymphocytes (T cells) play a major role in adaptive immunity and current immune checkpoint inhibitor-based cancer treatments. The regulation of their function is complex, and in addition to cytokines, receptors and transcription factors, several non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been shown to affect differentiation and function of T cells. Among these non-coding RNAs, certain small microRNAs (miRNAs) including miR-15a/16-1, miR-125b-5p, miR-99a-5p, miR-128-3p, let-7 family, miR-210, miR-182-5p, miR-181, miR-155 and miR-10a have been well recognized. Meanwhile, IFNG-AS1, lnc-ITSN1-2, lncRNA-CD160, NEAT1, MEG3, GAS5, NKILA, lnc-EGFR and PVT1 are among long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that efficiently influence the function of T cells. Recent studies have underscored the effects of a number of circular RNAs, namely circ_0001806, hsa_circ_0045272, hsa_circ_0012919, hsa_circ_0005519 and circHIPK3 in the modulation of T-cell apoptosis, differentiation and secretion of cytokines. This review summarizes the latest news and regulatory roles of these ncRNAs on the function of T cells, with widespread implications on the pathophysiology of autoimmune disorders and cancer.

Long non-coding RNA NEAT1 promotes the malignancy of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma by regulating the microRNA-204-5p/SEMA4B axis

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a highly invasive malignant tumor in the head and neck area. As an oncogene, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion several types of cancer. The present study aimed to reveal the effects of NEAT1 on the progression of LSCC. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect relative mRNA expression levels of NEAT1, microRNA (miR)-204-5p and semaphorin (SEMA) 4B. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to analyze overall survival times. RNA in-situ hybridization (ISH) exhibited the distribution of NEAT1 and miR-204-5p in tissues. RNA fluorescence ISH was used to analyze the distribution of NEAT1 and miR-204-5p in the cells. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression level of target proteins. Cell viability was analyzed using a MTT assay, while flow cytometry was used to determine cell apoptosis. Wound healing and Transwell invasion assays were used to value cell migration and invasion, respectively. RNA immunoprecipitation assay, bioinformatics prediction and a dual luciferase reporter assay were used to analyze the target relationship. The RT-qPCR results showed that NEAT1 was highly expressed and miR-204-5p had decreased expression in LSCC tissues and cells compared with that in the normal tissue and the 16HBE-14o cell line, respectively. Knockdown of NEAT1 using small interfering (si) RNA and overexpressed miR-204-5p both effectively inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of LSCC cells. Besides, further experiments revealed that miR-204-5p was a target of NEAT1. At the same time, silenced miR-204-5p reversed the anti-tumor effects of si-NEAT1. In addition, SEMA4B was targeted by miR-204-5p in LSCC cells and upregulated SEMA4B weakened the antitumor effects of miR-204-5p in LSCC cells. NEAT1 regulated the expression of SEMA4B by targeting miR-204-5p in LSCC cells. Overall, NEAT1 promoted the proliferation and invasion of LSCC cells by regulating the miR-204-5p/SEMA4B axis.

The Role of Long Non-coding RNA, Nuclear Enriched Abundant Transcript 1 (NEAT1) in Cancer and Other Pathologies

Nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1), consisting of two kinds of lncRNAs of 3.7 kB NEAT1-1 and 23 kB NEAT1-2, can be highly expressed in organs and tissues such as the ovary, prostate, colon, and pancreas, and is involved in paraspeckle formation and mRNA editing and gene expression. Therefore, NEAT1 is a potential biomarker for the treatment of a variety of diseases, which may be caused by two factors (isoforms of NEAT1 and NEAT1 sponging miRNA as ceRNA). However, there is still much confusion about the mechanism and downstream effector between the abnormal expression of NEAT1 and various diseases. This review summarizes recent research progress on NEAT1 in cancer and other pathologies and provides a more reliable theoretical basis for the treatment of related diseases.

Serum circulating miRNA-342-3p as a potential diagnostic biomarker in parathyroid carcinomas: A pilot study

Objective

To compare the serum miRNA expression profiles between patients with benign and malignant parathyroid tumours.

Background

Despite recent advances in molecular biology, a histological tissue biopsy is still the method of choice used to diagnose most cancers. The preoperative cytology is not an applicable method for diagnosis of parathyroid cancer (PC); therefore, huge interest exists in terms of finding alternative methodologies to seek specific cancer biomarkers.

Design

A retrospective cross‐sectional study.

Patients and Methods

Serum samples of patients with PC (n = 13) and parathyroid adenoma (PA) (n = 11), age (p = .999) and sex (p = .999) were matched and examined via the simultaneous comparative expression analysis of 754 microRNAs (miRNAs). The «TaqMan OpenArray Human MicroRNA Panel» (Applied Biosystems) was used to conduct real‐time PCRs using the «QuantStudio 12К Flex» station (Life Technologies).

Results

According to the results of a pilot study, significant changes in expression levels between the PC group and the PA group (control) (p < .05) were observed for 17 miRNAs. Among them, the downregulation of miRNA‐342‐3p met the Benjamini‐Hochberg adjustment criteria for multiple comparisons (p = .02).

Conclusions

Serum miRNA‐342‐3p could be a promising biomarker for PC to improve diagnosis and prognosis.

Long Noncoding RNA TTC39A-AS1 Promotes Breast Cancer Tumorigenicity by Sponging MicroRNA-483-3p and Thereby Upregulating MTA2

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, the regulatory activities of long noncoding RNAs have received increasing attention as an important research focus. This study aimed to characterize the expression and detailed roles of TTC39A antisense RNA 1 (TTC39A-AS1) in breast cancer (BC), in addition to concentrating on its downstream mechanisms.

METHODS

Quantitative RT-PCR was performed to determine the expression levels of TTC39A-AS1, microRNA-483-3p (miR-483-3p), and metastasis-associated gene 2 (MTA2). Further, the detailed functions of TTC39A-AS1 in BC cells were confirmed using the Cell Counting Kit 8 assay, flow cytometric analysis, and Transwell cell migration and invasion assays. The targeting relationship between TTC39A-AS1, miR-483-3p, and MTA2 in BC was predicted via bioinformatics analysis and further confirmed by performing the luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation.

RESULTS

TTC39A-AS1 was present in high levels in BC; this result was confirmed in our sample cohort and The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Patients with BC with a high level of TTC39A-AS1 had a shorter overall survival than those with a low level of TTC39A-AS1. Functionally, the absence of TTC39A-AS1 accelerated cell apo-ptosis but retained cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Mechanistically, TTC39A-AS1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA in BC by sponging miR-483-3p and thereby indirectly increasing MTA2 expression. Finally, rescue experiments revealed that the tumor-inhibiting actions of TTC39A-AS1 knockdown on the malignant characteristics of BC cells could be reversed by inhibiting miR-483-3p or upregulating MTA2.

CONCLUSION

The newly identified TTC39A-AS1/miR-483-3p/MTA2 pathway was revealed to be a critical regulator in the tumorigenicity of BC, possibly offering a novel therapeutic direction for the anticancer treatment of BC.

LncRNA FAM230B Promotes Gastric Cancer Growth and Metastasis by Regulating the miR-27a-5p/TOP2A Axis

AIM

Long non-coding RNAs serve as key components of competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks that underlie tumorigenesis. We investigated the pathogenic roles of lncRNA FAM230B and its molecular mechanism in gastric cancer (GC).

METHOD

The levels of FAM230B expression in five gastric cancer cell lines and in human gastric mucosal cells were compared by quantitative RT-PCR. To analyze the function of FAM230B in GC, we overexpressed FAM230B in AGS cells, silenced FAM230B in MGC-803 cells, and tested the effect of FAM230B on tumor growth in nude mice. The interaction between miR-27a-5p and FAM230B was predicted by a bioinformatics analysis and then verified with a dual-luciferase reporter assay. We also further investigated the role and mechanism of FAM230B by forcing overexpression of miR-27a-5p in MGC-803 gastric cancer cells.

RESULTS

We found that FAM230B was highly expressed in gastric cancer cell lines and mainly located in the cytoplasm. FAM230B overexpression promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of AGS cells and repressed their apoptosis; it also facilitated tumor growth in vivo. In contrast, FAM230B knockdown suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of MGC0803 cells, but enhanced their apoptosis and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. MiR-27a-5p expression was suppressed by FAM230B overexpression in AGS cells. MiR-27a-5p inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells, and promoted the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells by reducing TOP2A (topoisomerase 2 alpha) expression.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that lncRNA FAM230B might function to promote GC. FAM230B functioned as a ceRNA by sponging miR-27a-5p and enhancing TOP2A expression.

LncRNA MORT (ZNF667-AS1) in Cancer-Is There a Possible Role in Gynecological Malignancies?

Gynecological cancers (GCs) are currently among the major threats to female health. Moreover, there are different histologic subtypes of these cancers, which are defined as ‘rare’ due to an annual incidence of <6 per 100,000 women. The majority of these tend to be associated with a poor prognosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in the normal development of organisms as well as in tumorigenesis. LncRNAs can be classified into tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes, depending on their function within the cellular context and the signaling pathways in which they are involved. These regulatory RNAs are potential therapeutic targets for cancer due to their tissue and tumor specificity. However, there still needs to be a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which lncRNAs are involved in the regulation of numerous biological functions in humans, both in normal health and disease. The lncRNA Mortal Obligate RNA Transcript (MORT; alias ZNF667-AS1) has been identified as a tumor-related lncRNA. ZNF667-AS1 gene, located in the human chromosome region 19q13.43, has been shown to be silenced by DNA hypermethylation in several cancers. In this review, we report on the biological functions of ZNF667-AS1 from recent studies and describe the regulatory functions of ZNF667-AS1 in human disease, including cancer. Furthermore, we discuss the emerging insights into the potential role of ZNF667-AS1 as a biomarker and novel therapeutic target in cancer, including GCs (ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers).

MicroRNA 452 regulates IL20RA-mediated JAK1/STAT3 pathway in inflammatory colitis and colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

MicroRNAs are a class of small, non-coding RNAs that play a key role in several biological and molecular processes, including tumorigenesis. We previously identified that MIR452 is upregulated in both colorectal cancer (CRC) and colitis. However, the functional mechanisms of MIR452 and its target genes in CRC and colitis are not well understood. So, we hypothesize that MIR452 can influence CRC and DSS-induced colitis model through the regulation of IL20RA and its downstream JAK-STATs signaling pathway.

METHODS

We used a luciferase reporter assay to confirm the effect of MIR452 on IL20RA expression. The protein and mRNA expression of a target gene and its associated molecules were measured by western blot, quantitative RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

We found that the IL20RA was a direct target gene of MIR452. Overexpression of MIR452 in CRC cell lines significantly decreased IL20RA and its downstream Janus kinase 1 (JAK1), Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and STAT3. Knockdown of IL20RA in CRC cell lines by IL20RA gene silencing also decreased the expression of IL20RA, JAK1, and STAT3, but not of STAT1.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that MIR452 regulates STAT3 through the IL20RA-mediated JAK1 pathway, but not STAT1. Overall, MIR452 acts as tumor suppressor in human CRC and in a mouse colitis model. These findings suggest that MIR452 is a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of cancer and colitis.

The regulation of CD47-SIRPα signaling axis by microRNAs in combination with conventional cytotoxic drugs together with the help of nano-delivery: a choice for therapy?

CD47, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is an important "Don't Eat-Me" signal in phagocytosis process [clearance of apoptotic cells] as well as a regulator of the adaptive immune response. The lower level of CD47 on the cell surface leads to the clearance of apoptotic cells. Dysregulation of CD47 plays a critical role in the development of disorders, particularly cancers. In cancers, recognition of CD47 overexpression on the surface of cancer cells by its receptor, SIRPα on the phagocytic cells, inhibits phagocytosis of cancer cells. Thus, blocking of CD47-SIRPα signaling axis might be as a promising therapeutic target, which promotes phagocytosis of cancer cells, antigen-presenting cell function as well as adaptive T cell-mediated anti-cancer immunity. In this respect, it has been reported that CD47 expression can be regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs can regulate phagocytosis of macrophages apoptotic process, drug resistance, relapse of disease, radio-sensitivity, and suppress cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through post-transcriptional regulation of CD47-SIRPα signaling axis. Moreover, the regulation of CD47 expression by miRNAs and combination with conventional cytotoxic drugs together with the help of nano-delivery represent a valuable opportunity for effective cancer treatment. In this review, we review studies that evaluate the role of miRNAs in the regulation of CD47-SIRPα in disorders to achieve a novel preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategy.Please confirm if the author names are presented accurately and in the correct sequence (given name, middle name/initial, family name). Also, kindly confirm the details in the metadata are correct. Confirmed.Journal standard instruction requires a structured abstract; however, none was provided. Please supply an Abstract with subsections..Not confirmed. This is a review article. According to submission guidelines: "The abstract should be presented divided into subheadings (unless it is a mini or full review article)". Kindly check and confirm whether the corresponding authors and mail ID are correctly identified. Confirmed.

Sarcoma Metabolomics: Current Horizons and Future Perspectives

The vast array of metabolic adaptations that cancer cells are capable of assuming, not only support their biosynthetic activity, but also fulfill their bioenergetic demands and keep their intracellular reduction-oxidation (redox) balance. Spotlight has recently been placed on the energy metabolism reprogramming strategies employed by cancer cells to proliferate. Knowledge regarding soft tissue and bone sarcomas metabolome is relatively sparse. Further characterization of sarcoma metabolic landscape may pave the way for diagnostic refinement and new therapeutic target identification, with benefit to sarcoma patients. This review covers the state-of-the-art knowledge on cancer metabolomics and explores in detail the most recent evidence on soft tissue and bone sarcoma metabolomics.

Recent advances of miRNAs in the development and clinical application of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. The mechanism of how GC develops is vague, and therapies are inefficient. The function of microRNAs (miRNAs) in tumorigenesis has attracted the attention from many scientists. During the development of GC, miRNAs function in the regulation of different phenotypes, such as proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis, drug sensitivity and resistance, and stem-cell-like properties. MiRNAs were evaluated for use in diagnostic and prognostic predictions and exhibited considerable accuracy. Although many problems exist for the application of therapy, current studies showed the antitumor effects of miRNAs. This paper reviews recent advances in miRNA mechanisms in the development of GC and the potential use of miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of GC.

Immunity reloaded: Deconstruction of the PD-1 axis in B cell lymphomas

Over the past decade therapies targeting the PD-1 axis with monoclonal antibodies to reinstate host immune function have revolutionized the clinical management of some cancers but have had minimal impact on others. This dichotomy is exemplified by B cell lymphomas. Whilst striking results are observed in classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) and Primary Mediastinal B Cell Lymphoma (PMBL), responses in other B cell lymphomas are infrequent. Even with cHL and PMBL, responses are not always durable and adverse effects can result in treatment discontinuation. A more nuanced approach to manipulate the PD-1 axis is required before the full benefits of PD-1 axis blockade can be realised. In this review, we provide an outline of PD-1 axis biology, including the range of cellular expression, the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation and the impacts of downstream signalling. These may permit the development of alternate strategies to PD-1 axis blockade to enhance the therapeutic efficacy in B cell lymphomas.

micro-RNA 21 detection with a limit of 2 pM in 1 min using a size-accordable concentration module operated by electrohydrodynamic actuation

We present a fluorimetry-based technology for micro-RNA-21 (miR-21) sensing based on the concentration of miR-molecular beacon (MB) complexes and flushing of unbound MB. This concentration module consists of a microfluidic channel with the shape of a funnel operated with electrohydrodynamic actuation. We report a limit of detection of 2 pM in less than 1 min for miR-21 alone, and then demonstrate that miR-21 levels, measured in fine needle biopsy samples, from patients with pancreatic cancer correlate with the reference technique of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Altogether, this technology has promising clinical performances for the follow-up of patients with cancer.

miRNAs and Biomarkers in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: An Update

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are the leading form of solid cancer and death affecting males between the ages of 20 and 40. Today, their surgical resection and chemotherapy are the treatments of first choice, even if sometimes this is not enough to save the lives of patients with TGCT. As seen for several tumors, the deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is also a key feature in TGCTs. miRNAs are small molecules of RNA with biological activity that are released into biological fluids by testicular cancer cells. Their presence, therefore, can be detected and monitored by considering miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers for TGCTs. The purpose of this review is to collect all the studies executed on miRNAs that have a potential role as biomarkers for testicular tumors.

miRNA-195 expression in the tumor tissues of female Brazilian breast cancer patients with operable disease

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess miRNA-195 expression in the tumor tissues from a cohort of Brazilian female breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and evaluate its correlation with various clinicopathological markers.

METHODS

Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate the miRNA-195 expression in tumor tissues from a cohort of female breast cancer patients undergoing NAC. This expression was then correlated with the occurrence of several distinct breast cancer molecular subtypes and other clinicopathological variables.

RESULTS

A total of 55 patients were included in this study, 28 (50.9%) of whom were treated using NAC. Tumor miRNA-195 expression was suppressed in breast cancer patients, regardless of their exposure to systemic treatments, histological grade, size, nodal status, and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging. This was more pronounced in luminal and triple-negative patients, and patient's response to NAC was correlated with an increase in miRNA-195 expression.

CONCLUSION

miRNA-195 is downregulated in the tumor tissues of Brazilian breast cancer patients regardless of NAC exposure; this reinforces its role as a tumor suppressor and a potential biomarker for chemotherapy response.

Potential miRNA biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of esophageal cancer detected by a novel absolute quantitative RT-qPCR method

miRNAs are expected to become potential biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of Esophageal cancer (EC). Through a series of screening, miR-34a-5p, miR-148a-3p and miR-181a-5p were selected as EC-associated miRNAs. Based on AllGlo probe, a novel absolute quantitative RT-qPCR method with high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy was established for detecting miRNAs. Then the clinical significance of these 3 miRNAs was explored with 213 patients (166 cases with EC and 47 cases with benign diseases) and 170 normal controls. Compared with normal controls, the level of miR-34a-5p increased while miR-148a-3p and miR-181a-5p decreased in EC and benign patients (P < 0.001), and the level of miR-181a-5p in early EC patients was significantly lower (P < 0.001). According to logistic regression analysis, combined detection of miR-34a-5p, miR-148a-3p and Cyfra21-1 provided the highest diagnosis efficiency of 85.07% with sensitivity and specificity reaching 85.45% and 84.71%. Compared with preoperative samples, the level of miR-34a-5p decreased while miR-148a-3p and miR-181a-5p increased in postoperative samples (P < 0.001). Collectively, this first developed, novel absolute quantitative RT-qPCR method exhibits high application value in detecting miRNAs, miR-34a-5p, miR-148a-3p and miR-181a-5p may serve as potential biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of EC, and miR-181a-5p probably could serve as a new biomarker for early EC.

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0001785 inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo by sponging miR-942 to upregulate SOCS3

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of widely expressed noncoding RNA with significant regulatory potential discovered in recent years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of hsa_circ_0001785 on the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer (BC) cells in vivo and in vitro and the potential underlying molecular mechanism. In the present study, the expressions of hsa_circ_0001785 in five BC cells (T47D, MCF-7, MDA-MB-453, MDA-MB-231 and BT-549) and one normal breast cell (MCF-10A) were the first to examined by qRT-PCR. Then, we studied the biological function of hsa_circ_0001785 in BC by in vivo and in vitro experiments. CCK-8, clone formation, wound-healing and Transwell assays were performed to analyze the cellular proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. The subcutaneous tumor model of nude mice was used for in vivo experiment. In addition, we determined that hsa_circ_0001785 acted as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) in BC by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays. Results showed that the expressions of hsa_circ_0001785 were decreased in BC cells. Hsa_circ_0001785 overexpression inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion of BC cells and tumor growth in nude mice. RIP and dual-luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that hsa_circ_0001785 could regulate the SOCS3 by sponging miR-942. In general, circular RNA hsa_circ_0001785 inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of BC cells by modulating the miR-942/SOCS3 signaling axis.

Mirna21 Expression in the Breast Cancer Tumor Tissue is Independent of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Introduction

MicroRNA-21 (miRNA-21) has been described as one of the most significantly upregulated miRNAs in human breast cancer. However, limited knowledge exists on miRNA-21 expression in breast cancer tissue after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess miRNA-21 expression in the tumor tissues of Brazilian patients with breast cancer who underwent NAC and its correlation with clinicopathological variables.

Patients and Methods

Utilizing qRT-PCR, miRNA-21 expression in tumor tissue was measured in a cohort of female patients with breast cancer who underwent NAC. The correlation of miRNA-21 expression with breast cancer molecular subtypes and other clinicopathological variables was also assessed.

Results

A total of 55 patients were included in the study, and 28 (50.9%) underwent NAC. miRNA-21 was upregulated in patients with breast cancer, regardless of previous exposure to chemotherapy, molecular subtypes, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging and lymph node status of the axilla. miRNA-21 expression did not differ between patients with breast cancer who achieved a pathologic complete response after NAC and healthy controls.

Conclusion

miRNA-21 was upregulated in the tumor tissue of Brazilian patients with breast cancer regardless of NAC treatment, which reinforces its role as an “oncomiR” and a potential biomarker.

Post-Transcriptional Expression Control in Platelet Biogenesis and Function

Platelets are highly abundant cell fragments of the peripheral blood that originate from megakaryocytes. Beside their well-known role in wound healing and hemostasis, they are emerging mediators of the immune response and implicated in a variety of pathophysiological conditions including cancer. Despite their anucleate nature, they harbor a diverse set of RNAs, which are subject to an active sorting mechanism from megakaryocytes into proplatelets and affect platelet biogenesis and function. However, sorting mechanisms are poorly understood, but RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have been suggested to play a crucial role. Moreover, RBPs may regulate RNA translation and decay following platelet activation. In concert with other regulators, including microRNAs, long non-coding and circular RNAs, RBPs control multiple steps of the platelet life cycle. In this review, we will highlight the different RNA species within platelets and their impact on megakaryopoiesis, platelet biogenesis and platelet function. Additionally, we will focus on the currently known concepts of post-transcriptional control mechanisms important for RNA fate within platelets with a special emphasis on RBPs.

MicroRNAs as mediators of drug resistance mechanisms

MicroRNAs are small RNA transcripts involved in fine-tuning of several cellular mechanisms and pathways crucial for maintaining cells' homeostasis like apoptosis, differentiation, inflammation and cell-cycle regulation. They act by regulation of gene expression at post-transcriptional level through fine-tuning of target proteins expression. Expression of microRNAs is cell-type specific and since their discovery they have been proven to be deregulated in various disorders including cancer. Several lines of evidence are emerging that link microRNAs to drug resistance mechanisms in tumours given their important role in modulating oncogenic and tumour suppressive mechanisms. This review will focus on latest knowledge of the roles and mechanisms of microRNAs as mediators to drug resistance and the implications for future therapies.

Emerging role of miRNAs as liquid biopsy markers for prediction of glioblastoma multiforme prognosis

Serum miRNAs (miRs) have gained consideration as encouraging molecular markers for cancer diagnosis and prediction of prognosis. The authors aimed to identify the exact role of miR-17-5p, miR-125b, and miR-221 among glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients before and after standard treatment, and correlate their expression with survival pattern. The study included 25 GBM patients and 20 healthy controls. Serum miR-17-5p, miR-125b, and miR-221 expression were analyzed before and after treatment using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The diagnostic efficacy for the tested miRs was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the relation of miRs expression versus clinical criteria for GBM was assessed. Patients' survival patterns were examined versus miRs expression levels. A significant difference was reported between miRs expression among the enrolled individuals. Both miR-17-5p and miR-221 reported significant elevations in GBM patients who: are above 60 years old, underwent biopsy resection, have a non-frontal lesion, with tumor size above 5 cm, and with performance status equals 2 according to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status. With regard to miR-125b, a significant difference was detected according to surgery strategy, primary lesion of the tumor, and ECOG status. MiRs levels were significantly decreased for GBM patients after treatment. Survival patterns demonstrated an increase in miR-17-5p, miR-125b, and miR-221 in GBM patients with worse progression-free survival and among those with worse overall survival. Detection of serum miR-17-5p, miR-125b, and miR-221 aids in the prediction of prognosis and response to treatment strategy for GBM patients.

Non-coding RNAs: the new central dogma of cancer biology

The central dogma of molecular biology states that the functions of RNA revolve around protein translation. Until the last decade, most researches were geared towards characterization of RNAs as intermediaries in protein translation, namely, messenger RNAs (mRNAs) as temporary copies of genetic information, ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) as a main component of ribosome, or translators of codon sequence (tRNAs). The statistical reality, however, is that these processes account for less than 2% of the genome, and insufficiently explain the functionality of 98% of transcribed RNAs. Recent discoveries have unveiled thousands of unique non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and shifted the perception of them from being "junk" transcriptional products to "yet to be elucidated"-and potentially monumentally important-RNAs. Most ncRNAs are now known as key regulators in various networks in which they could lead to specific cellular responses and fates. In major cancers, ncRNAs have been identified as both oncogenic drivers and tumor suppressors, indicating a complex regulatory network among these ncRNAs. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the various ncRNAs and their functional roles in cancer, and the pre-clinical and clinical development of ncRNA-based therapeutics. A deeper understanding of ncRNAs could facilitate better design of personalized therapeutics.

Role of Epigenetic Modifications in Inhibitory Immune Checkpoints in Cancer Development and Progression

A balance between co-inhibitory and co-stimulatory signals in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical to suppress tumor development and progression, primarily via maintaining effective immunosurveillance. Aberrant expression of immune checkpoints (ICs), including programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3), lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) and T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), can create an immune-subversive environment, which helps tumor cells to evade immune destruction. Recent studies showed that epigenetic modifications play critical roles in regulating the expression of ICs and their ligands in the TME. Reports showed that the promoter regions of genes encoding ICs/IC ligands can undergo inherent epigenetic alterations, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications (acetylation and methylation). These epigenetic aberrations can significantly contribute to the transcriptomic upregulation of ICs and their ligands. Epigenetic therapeutics, including DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase inhibitors, can be used to revert these epigenetic anomalies acquired during the progression of disease. These discoveries have established a promising therapeutic modality utilizing the combination of epigenetic and immunotherapeutic agents to restore the physiological epigenetic profile and to re-establish potent host immunosurveillance mechanisms. In this review, we highlight the roles of epigenetic modifications on the upregulation of ICs, focusing on tumor development, and progression. We discuss therapeutic approaches of epigenetic modifiers, including clinical trials in various cancer settings and their impact on current and future anti-cancer therapies.

The Chinese Medicine, Shezhi Huangling Decoction, Inhibits the Growth and Metastasis of Glioma Cells via the Regulation of miR-1298-5p/TGIF1 Axis

Purpose

In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has achieved good results in treating gliomas. This research aimed to reveal the effect of Shezhi Huangling decoction (SD) on glioma cell process.

Methods

U87 and U251 cells were treated with different concentrations (10, 30 and 50 μg/mL) of SD or transfected with miR-1298-5p mimic, inhibitor and siRNA targeting TGIF1. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were detected. The expression of miR-1298-5p was measured by qRT-PCR, while TGIF1 expression was examined by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blot.

Results

SD treatment inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells and induced the apoptosis. In addition, SD treatment induced the expression of miR-1298-5p in glioma cells. The low expression of miR-1298-5p was examined in glioma tissues and was significantly related to the high histological grade of glioma patients and predicted a poor prognosis. MiR-1298-5p directly targeted the 3'-UTR of transforming growth factor β induced factor 1 (TGIF1) and reduced TGIF1 protein expression. MiR-1298-5p restricted the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells and induced cell apoptosis by targeting TGIF1.

Conclusion

Our data reveal that SD acts as a cancer-inhibiting agent in glioma via miR-1298-5p/TGIF1 axis, suggesting a potential therapeutic application of SD in glioma.

Machine Learning Supports Long Noncoding RNAs as Expression Markers for Endometrial Carcinoma

Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) is the second most common type of gynecological tumor. Several research studies have recently shown the potential of different ncRNAs as biomarkers for prognostics and diagnosis in different types of cancers, including UCEC. Thus, we hypothesized that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) could serve as efficient factors to discriminate solid primary (TP) and normal adjacent (NT) tissues in UCEC with high accuracy. We performed an in silico differential expression analysis comparing TP and NT from a set of samples downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, targeting highly differentially expressed lncRNAs that could potentially serve as gene expression markers. All analyses were performed in R software. The receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analyses and both supervised and unsupervised machine learning indicated a set of 14 lncRNAs that may serve as biomarkers for UCEC. Functions and putative pathways were assessed through a coexpression network and target enrichment analysis.

The Interplay between MicroRNAs and the Components of the Tumor Microenvironment in B-Cell Malignancies

An increased focus is being placed on the tumorigenesis and contexture of tumor microenvironment in hematopoietic and solid tumors. Despite recent clinical revolutions in adoptive T-cell transfer approaches and immune checkpoint blockade, tumor microenvironment is a major obstacle to tumor regression in B-cell malignancies. A transcriptional alteration of coding and non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), has been widely demonstrated in the tumor microenvironment of B-cell malignancies. MiRNAs have been associated with different clinical-biological forms of B-cell malignancies and involved in the regulation of B lymphocyte development, maturation, and function, including B-cell activation and malignant transformation. Additionally, tumor-secreted extracellular vesicles regulate recipient cell functions in the tumor microenvironment to facilitate metastasis and progression by delivering miRNA contents to neighboring cells. Herein, we focus on the interplay between miRNAs and tumor microenvironment components in the different B-cell malignancies and its impact on diagnosis, proliferation, and involvement in treatment resistance.

3D DNA nanonet structure coupled with target-catalyzed hairpin assembly for dual-signal synergistically amplified electrochemical sensing of circulating microRNA

DNA nanomaterials are reliable and powerful tools in the development of a variety of biosensors owing to their notable self-assembly ability and precise recognition capability. Here, we propose a DNA nanomaterial-based system for the dual-amplified electrochemical sensing of circulating microRNAs by a coupled cascade of catalyzed hairpin assembly (CHA) and three-dimensional (3D) DNA nanonet structure. In the target-assisted CHA process, the stable hairpin structures H1 and H2 act as probes for the recognition and recycling of circulating microRNAs, leading to the formation of abundant H1-H2 duplexes with tails. Subsequently, a 3D DNA nanonet structure was introduced, which was assembled using three DNA strands constructed X-DNA monomers as the building blocks, and hybridized to the tails of H1-H2 duplexes. The successful integration of target-assisted CHA and 3D DNA nanonet structure induced the second signal amplification. The designed biosensor performed under optimized experimental conditions, and exposed admirable analytical performance for the detection of circulating miR-21, with a wide linear range from 10 fM to 1 nM, high sensitivity of limit of detection (LOD) of 3.6083 fM, good specificity in the face of single nucleotides and other microRNAs, satisfactory stability and reproducibility for practical analysis. Furthermore, the clinical applicability for circulating miR-21 detection was verified in human serum samples without additional treatment. We hope that this elaborated biosensor will provide new opportunities for bioassays based on DNA nanomaterials.

The multiple function of long noncoding RNAs in osteosarcoma progression, drug resistance and prognosis

Osteosarcoma is a bone tumor prevalent in children and young adults. LncRNAs are a family of non-protein-coding transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides. The tumor-related pathological functions of lncRNAs include proliferation, migration, and chemotherapy resistance, all of which have been widely acknowledged in research on osteosarcoma. In addition, compelling evidence suggests that lncRNAs could serve as diagnostic indicators, prognostic biomarkers, and targets for disease treatment. In this review, we systematically summarize how lncRNAs regulate tumorigenesis, invasion and therapeutic resistance. By deepening our knowledge of the relationship between lncRNAs and osteosarcoma, we hope to translate research findings into clinical applications as soon as possible.

Role of tumor microenvironment in the regulation of PD-L1: A novel role in resistance to cancer immunotherapy

Tumor evasion from the host immune system is a substantial strategy for tumor development and survival. The expression of many immune checkpoint proteins in cancer cells is a mechanism by which tumor cells escape from the immune system. Among the well-known immune checkpoints that can tremendously affect tumor development and cancer therapy are the programmed death-ligand-1/programmed death-1 (PD-L1/PD-1). To tackle this phenomenon and improve the therapeutic strategies in cancer treatment, the blockade of the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway is introduced as a target, but the therapeutic advantage of PD L1/PD-1 blockade has not fulfilled the expectations. This condition may be associated with a different type of resistance in a considerable number of patients. A crucial issue to conquer resistance against immune checkpoint blockade therapy is to understand how PD-L1 level is regulated. However, the mechanisms by which the PD-L1 expression is regulated are complicated, and they can occur at different levels from signaling pathways to posttranscriptional levels. For example, various transcriptional factors, such as hypoxia-inducible factor-1, nuclear factor-κΒ, interferon-γ, STAT3, MYC, and AP-1 can regulate the PD-L1 distribution at the transcriptional level. Herein, we tried to focus on the most important regulatory mechanisms of PD-L1 by inducible agents in the tumor cells, such as signaling pathways, transcriptional factors, and posttranscriptional factors. Finally, these approaches may open up new windows for targeting tumor immune evasion and suggest the novel suppressors of PD-L1 for efficient therapeutics.