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Giordo R, Ahmadi FAM, Husaini NA, Al-Nuaimi NRA, Ahmad SM, Pintus G, Zayed H. microRNA 21 and long non-coding RNAs interplays underlie cancer pathophysiology: A narrative review. Noncoding RNA Res 2024; 9:831-852. [PMID: 38586315 PMCID: PMC10995982 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2024.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a diverse group of functional RNA molecules that lack the ability to code for proteins. Despite missing this traditional role, ncRNAs have emerged as crucial regulators of various biological processes and have been implicated in the development and progression of many diseases, including cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are two prominent classes of ncRNAs that have emerged as key players in cancer pathophysiology. In particular, miR-21 has been reported to exhibit oncogenic roles in various forms of human cancer, including prostate, breast, lung, and colorectal cancer. In this context, miR-21 overexpression is closely associated with tumor proliferation, growth, invasion, angiogenesis, and chemoresistance, whereas miR-21 inactivation is linked to the regression of most tumor-related processes. Accordingly, miR-21 is a crucial modulator of various canonical oncogenic pathways such as PTEN/PI3K/Akt, Wnt/β-catenin, STAT, p53, MMP2, and MMP9. Moreover, interplays between lncRNA and miRNA further complicate the regulatory mechanisms underlying tumor development and progression. In this regard, several lncRNAs have been found to interact with miR-21 and, by functioning as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) or miRNA sponges, can modulate cancer tumorigenesis. This work presents and discusses recent findings highlighting the roles and pathophysiological implications of the miR-21-lncRNA regulatory axis in cancer occurrence, development, and progression. The data collected indicate that specific lncRNAs, such as MEG3, CASC2, and GAS5, are strongly associated with miR-21 in various types of cancer, including gastric, cervical, lung, and glioma. Indeed, these lncRNAs are well-known tumor suppressors and are commonly downregulated in different types of tumors. Conversely, by modulating various mechanisms and oncogenic signaling pathways, their overexpression has been linked with preventing tumor formation and development. This review highlights the significance of these regulatory pathways in cancer and their potential for use in cancer therapy as diagnostic and prognostic markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Giordo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43B, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Fatemeh Abdullah M. Ahmadi
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Member of QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nedal Al Husaini
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Member of QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Noora Rashid A.M. Al-Nuaimi
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Member of QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Salma M.S. Ahmad
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Member of QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Gianfranco Pintus
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43B, 07100, Sassari, Italy
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences and Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, University City Rd, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hatem Zayed
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Member of QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
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Almalki WH. Beyond the genome: lncRNAs as regulators of the PI3K/AKT pathway in lung cancer. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 251:154852. [PMID: 37837857 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154852] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer is a prevalent and devastating disease, representing a significant global health burden. Despite advancements in therapeutic strategies, the molecular mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis remain incompletely understood. Lung cancer typically displays the deregulated activity of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway, which is vital for cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis. Emerging evidence suggests that long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) can modulate the PI3K/AKT pathway, offering new insights into lung cancer biology and potential therapeutic opportunities. These lncRNA act as either oncogenes, promoting pathway activation, or tumour suppressors, attenuating pathway signalling. The dysregulation of lncRNA is associated with various cellular processes, including apoptosis, cell cycle control, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and angiogenesis, ultimately influencing lung cancer growth and metastasis. The development of novel therapeutic strategies, such as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), antisense oligonucleotides, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, holds promise for restoring lncRNAs dysregulation and re-establishing the equilibrium of the PI3K/AKT pathway. The emerging role of lncRNAs as regulators of the PI3K/AKT pathway sheds new light on the complex molecular landscape of lung cancer. Understanding the interplay between lncRNA and the PI3K/AKT pathway could lead to the identification of novel biomarkers for prognosis and therapeutic targets for precision medicine. The potential of lncRNAs-based therapeutics may pave the way for more effective and personalized treatment approaches in lung cancer and potentially other malignancies with dysregulated PI3K/AKT signalling. This review aims to explore the emerging role of lncRNAs as key regulators of the PI3K/AKT pathway in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waleed Hassan Almalki
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
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Liu Y, Liang Y, Li Q, Li Q. Comprehensive analysis of circulating cell-free RNAs in blood for diagnosing non-small cell lung cancer. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:4238-4251. [PMID: 37692082 PMCID: PMC10491804 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Early screening and detection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is crucial due to the significantly low survival rate in advanced stages. Blood-based liquid biopsy is non-invasive test to assistant disease diagnosis, while cell-free RNA is one of the promising biomarkers in blood. However, the disease related signatures have not been explored completely for most cell-free RNA transcriptome sequencing (cfRNA-Seq) datasets. To address this gap, we developed a comprehensive cfRNA-Seq pipeline for data analysis and constructed a machine learning model to facilitate noninvasive early diagnosis of NSCLC. The results of our study have demonstrated the identification of differential mRNA, lncRNAs and miRNAs from cfRNA-Seq, which have exhibited significant association with development and progression of lung cancer. The classifier based on gene expression signatures achieved an impressive area under the curve (AUC) of up to 0.9, indicating high specificity and sensitivity in both cross-validation and independent test. Furthermore, the analysis of T cell and B cell immune repertoire extracted from cfRNA-Seq have provided insights into the immune status of cancer patients, while the microbiome analysis has revealed distinct bacterial and viral profiles between NSCLC and normal samples. In our future work, we aim to validate the existence of cancer associated T cell receptors (TCR)/B cell receptors (BCR) and microorganisms, and subsequently integrate all identified signatures into diagnostic model to improve the prediction accuracy. This study not only provided a comprehensive analysis pipeline for cfRNA-Seq dataset but also highlights the potential of cfRNAs as promising biomarkers and models for early NSCLC diagnosis, emphasizing their importance in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Qiyan Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qingjiao Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
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Skiriute D, Stakaitis R, Steponaitis G, Tamasauskas A, Vaitkiene P. The Role of CASC2 and miR-21 Interplay in Glioma Malignancy and Patient Outcome. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7962. [PMID: 33120918 PMCID: PMC7663706 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were highlighted for their regulatory role in tumor biology. The novel human lncRNA cancer susceptibility candidate 2 (CASC2) has been characterized as a potential tumor suppressor in several tumor types. However, the roles of CASC2 and its interplay with miR-21 in different malignancy grade patient gliomas remain unexplored. Here we screened 99 different malignancy grade astrocytomas for CASC2, and miR-21 gene expression by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and O-6-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) assessed gliomas. CASC2 expression was significantly downregulated in glioblastomas (p = 0.0003). Gliomas with low CASC2 expression exhibited a high level of miR-21, which was highly associated with the higher glioma grade (p = 0.0001), IDH1 wild type gliomas (p < 0.0001), and poor patient survival (p < 0.001). Taken together, these observations suggest that CASC2 acts as a tumor suppressor and potentially as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-21, plays important role in IDH1 wild type glioma pathogenesis and patients' outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daina Skiriute
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurooncology, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu str. 4, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (R.S.); (G.S.); (A.T.)
| | - Rytis Stakaitis
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurooncology, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu str. 4, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (R.S.); (G.S.); (A.T.)
| | - Giedrius Steponaitis
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurooncology, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu str. 4, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (R.S.); (G.S.); (A.T.)
| | - Arimantas Tamasauskas
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurooncology, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu str. 4, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (R.S.); (G.S.); (A.T.)
| | - Paulina Vaitkiene
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu str. 4, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania;
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Ghafouri-Fard S, Dashti S, Taheri M. The role of long non-coding RNA CASC2 in the carcinogenesis process. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 127:110202. [PMID: 32559846 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The lncRNA cancer susceptibility candidate 2 (CASC2) has been initially discovered in a genomic area on 10q26 that is commonly lost in human endometrial cancer. Subsequent assessments revealed its down-regulation in almost all kinds of cancer including glioma, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Yet, it has been shown to be up-regulated in astrocytoma and in paclitaxel (PTX) resistant breast cancer tissues. In vitro studies have shown the role of this lncRNA in suppression of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Animal studies have shown that over-expression of CASC2 suppresses tumorigenesis of human cancer cells in xenograft models. Diagnostic power of CASC2 levels has been evaluated in a number of human cancers and the best parameters have been demonstrated in pituitary adenomas and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Taken together, the main body of evidence show a tumor suppressor role of CASC2 and indicate up-regulation of this lncRNA as a putative therapeutic modality for human cancers. In this review, we summarize the data regarding expression pattern, function and diagnostic role of CASC2 in human cancer based on the results of cell line studies, animal investigations and human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Urogenital Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sepideh Dashti
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Urogenital Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Urogenital Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Zhu D, Yu Y, Qi Y, Wu K, Liu D, Yang Y, Zhang C, Zhao S. Long Non-coding RNA CASC2 Enhances the Antitumor Activity of Cisplatin Through Suppressing the Akt Pathway by Inhibition of miR-181a in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells. Front Oncol 2019; 9:350. [PMID: 31134151 PMCID: PMC6514198 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Long non-coding RNA CASC2 (lncRNA CASC2) has been found to be down-regulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the effect of CASC2 on cisplatin-treated ESCC was unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of CASC2 in cisplatin-treated ESCC cells. Methods: The expression levels of CASC2 and miR-181a were detected by qRT-PCR. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The cytotoxicity effect was detected by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. Cell apoptosis was tested by flow cytometry. The protein levels of protein kinase B (Akt) and p-Akt were detected by western blotting. Results: The results showed that CASC2 was low-expressed in ESCC cell lines. Overexpression of CASC2 enhanced the inhibitory effect of cisplatin on cell viability and promoted cisplatin-induced LDH release and apoptosis. We also found that miR-181a expression levels were increased in ESCC cell lines. MiR-181a inhibitor enhanced the antitumor activity of cisplatin, which was similar with the effect of CASC2. CASC2 directly interacted with miR-181a and inhibited the miR-181a expression. MiR-181a reversed the effects of CASC2 on antitumor activity of cisplatin. In addition, we also found that CASC2 suppressed the Akt pathway by inhibiting miR-181a. Conclusions: CASC2 promoted the antitumor activity of cisplatin through inhibiting Akt pathway via negatively regulating miR-181a in ESCC cells. The results provide a new insight for ESCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengyan Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhous, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu Qi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhous, China
| | - Kai Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhous, China
| | - Donglei Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhous, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhous, China
| | - Chunyang Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhous, China
| | - Song Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhous, China
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Biersack B. Relations between approved platinum drugs and non-coding RNAs in mesothelioma. Noncoding RNA Res 2018; 3:161-173. [PMID: 30809599 PMCID: PMC6260483 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma diseases feature an increasing risk due to their severe forms and their association with asbestos exposure. Platinum(II) complexes such as cisplatin and carboplatin are clinically approved for the therapy of mesothelioma often in combination with antimetabolites such as pemetrexed or gemcitabine. It was observed that pathogenic properties of mesothelioma cells and the response of mesothelioma tumors towards platinum-based drugs are strongly influenced by non-coding RNAs, in particular, by small microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). These non-coding RNAs controlled drug sensitivity and the development of tumor resistance towards platinum drugs. An overview of the interactions between platinum drugs and non-coding RNAs is given and the influence of non-coding RNAs on platinum drug efficacy in mesothelioma is discussed. Suitable non-coding RNA-modulating agents with potentially beneficial effects on cisplatin treatment of mesothelioma diseases are mentioned. The understanding of mesothelioma diseases concerning the interactions of non-coding RNAs and platinum drugs will optimize existing therapy schemes and pave the way to new treatment options in future.
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Key Words
- ABC, ATP-binding cassette
- AKBA, 3-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid
- AKI, acute kidney injury
- Anticancer drugs
- Bcl-2, B-cell lymphoma 2
- CAF, cancer-associated fibroblast
- CBDCA, cyclobutane-1,1-dicarboxylate
- Carboplatin
- Cisplatin
- DADS, diallyl sulfide
- DHA, docosahexaenoic acid
- DIM, 3,3′-diindolylmethane
- DMPM, diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma
- EGCG, epigallocatechin-3-gallate
- EMT, epithelial-mesenchymal transition
- HOTAIR, HOX transcript antisense RNA
- I3C, indole-3-carbinol
- Long non-coding RNA
- MALAT1, metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1
- MPM, malignant pleural mesothelioma
- MRP1, multidrug resistance protein 1
- Mesothelioma
- MicroRNA
- NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer
- NaB, sodium butyrate
- PDCD4, programmed cell death 4
- PEG, polyethylene glycole
- PEITC, phenethylisothiocyanate
- PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homolog
- RA, retinoic acid
- SAHA, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid
- SFN, sulforaphane
- TNBC, triple-negative breast cancer
- TSA, trichostatin A
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