miR-10b is a prognostic marker in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

The role of natural products versus miRNA in renal cell carcinoma: implications for disease mechanisms and diagnostic markers

Natural products are chemical compounds produced by living organisms. They are isolated and purified to determine their function and can potentially be used as therapeutic agents. The ability of some bioactive natural products to modify the course of cancer is fascinating and promising. In the past 50 years, there have been advancements in cancer therapy that have increased survival rates for localized tumors. However, there has been little progress in treating advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which is resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. Oncogenes and tumor suppressors are two roles played by microRNAs (miRNAs). They are involved in important pathogenetic mechanisms like hypoxia and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT); they control apoptosis, cell growth, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and proliferation through target proteins involved in various signaling pathways. Depending on their expression pattern, miRNAs may identify certain subtypes of RCC or distinguish tumor tissue from healthy renal tissue. As diagnostic biomarkers of RCC, circulating miRNAs show promise. There is a correlation between the expression patterns of several miRNAs and the prognosis and diagnosis of patients with RCC. Potentially high-risk primary tumors may be identified by comparing original tumor tissue with metastases. Variations in miRNA expression between treatment-sensitive and therapy-resistant patients' tissues and serum allow for the estimation of responsiveness to target therapy. Our knowledge of miRNAs' function in RCC etiology has a tremendous uptick. Finding and validating their gene targets could have an immediate effect on creating anticancer treatments based on miRNAs. Several miRNAs have the potential to be used as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the current knowledge regarding natural compounds and their modes of action in combating cancer. Also, this study aims to give information about the diagnostic and prognostic value of miRNAs as cancer biomarkers and their involvement in the pathogenesis of RCC.

A pan-cancer analysis unveiling the function of NR4A family genes in tumor immune microenvironment, prognosis, and drug response

BACKGROUND

NR4A family genes play crucial roles in cancers. However, the role of NR4A family genes in cancers remains paradoxical as they promote or suppress tumorigenesis.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to conduct comprehensive analyses of the association between the expression of NR4A family genes and tumor microenvironment (TME) based on bioinformatics methods.

METHODS

We collected RNA-seq data from 33 cancer types and 20 normal tissue sites from the TCGA and GTEx databases. Expression patterns of NR4A family genes and their associations with DNA methylation, miRNA, overall survival, drug responses, and tumor microenvironment were investigated.

RESULTS

Significant downregulation of all NR4A family genes was observed in 15 cancer types. DNA promoter methylation and expression of NR4A family genes were negatively correlated in five cancers. The expression of 10 miRNAs targeting NR4A family genes was negatively correlated with the expression of NR4A family genes. High expression of all NR4A family genes was associated with poor prognosis in stomach adenocarcinoma and increased expressions of NR4A2 and NR4A3 were associated with poor prognosis in adrenocortical carcinoma. In addition, we found an elevated expression of NR4A2, which enhances the response to various chemotherapeutic drugs, whereas NR4A3 decreases drug sensitivity. Interestingly, in breast cancer, NR4A3 was significantly associated with C2 (IFN-γ dominant), C3 (inflammatory), and C6 (TGF-β dominant) immune subtypes and infiltrated immune cell types, implying both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive functions of NR4A3 in breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

The NR4A family genes have the potential to serve as a diagnostic, prognostic, and immunological marker of human cancers.

Visual analytics identifies key miRNAs for differentiating peripancreatic paraganglioma and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Introduction

Paragangliomas (PGL), a type of neuroendocrine tumor, pose a significant diagnostic challenge due to their potential for unpredictable locations and asymptomatic presentation. Misdiagnosis of peripancreatic PGLs, particularly as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PANNETs), is a pressing issue as it can negatively impact both pre- and post-treatment decision-making. The aim of our study was to identify microRNA markers for the reliable differential diagnosis of peripancreatic PGLs and PANNETs, addressing a crucial unmet need in the field and advancing the standard of care for these patients.

Methods

Morphing projections tool was used to analyze miRNA data from PGL and PANNET tumors present in the TCGA database. The findings were validated using two additional databases: GSE29742 and GSE73367.

Results

Our research uncovered substantial differences in the miRNA expression profiles of PGL and PANNET, leading to the identification of 6 key miRNAs (miR-10b-3p, miR-10b-5p, and the miRNA families miR-200c/141 and miR-194/192) that can effectively differentiate between the two types of tumors.

Discussion

These miRNA levels hold potential as biomarkers for improved diagnosis, offering a solution to the diagnostic challenge posed by these tumors and potentially improving the standard of care for patients.

miRNAs as potential game-changers in renal cell carcinoma: Future clinical and medicinal uses

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has the highest mortality rate of all genitourinary cancers, and its prevalence has grown over time. While RCC can be surgically treated and recurrence is only probable in a tiny proportion of patients, early diagnosis is crucial. Mutations in a large number of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes contribute to pathway dysregulation in RCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have considerable promise as biomarkers for detecting cancer due to their special combination of properties. Several miRNAs have been proposed as a diagnostic or monitoring tool for RCC based on their presence in the blood or urine. Moreover, the expression profile of particular miRNAs has been associated with the response to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapeutic options like sunitinib. The goal of this review is to go over the development, spread, and evolution of RCC. Also, we emphasize the outcomes of studies that examined the use of miRNAs in RCC patients as biomarkers, therapeutic targets, or modulators of responsiveness to treatment modalities.

The Role, Significance, and Association of MicroRNA-10a/b in Physiology of Cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate the translation of mRNA and protein, mainly at the posttranscriptional level. Global expression profiling of miRNAs has demonstrated a broad spectrum of aberrations that correlated with several diseases, and miRNA- 10a and miRNA-10b were the first examined miRNAs to be involved in abnormal activities upon dysregulation, including many types of cancers and progressive diseases. It is expected that the same miRNAs behave inconsistently within different types of cancer. This review aims to provide a set of information about our updated understanding of miRNA-10a and miRNA-10b and their clinical significance, molecular targets, current research gaps, and possible future applications of such potent regulators.

MicroRNA‑10b modulates cisplatin tolerance by targeting p53 directly in lung cancer cells

MicroRNA (miRNA or miR)‑10b is an oncogenic miRNA associated with metastasis that is present in various types of tumor, including lung cancer. However, whether miR‑10b is involved in different malignant characteristics, such as drug resistance or stemness, remains unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated whether miR‑10b is an upstream regulator of p53. Ectopic expression of miR‑10b‑agomir decreased the expression of p53 and its downstream effectors, such as Bax and p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis. Two non‑canonical sites, including 1,580‑1,587 and 2,029‑2,035, located in p53 3'‑untranslated region (UTR) were affected by the presence of miR‑10b. In functional assays, upregulation of the p53 signaling pathway following cisplatin treatment was associated with decreased levels of miR‑10b and upregulation of the luciferase activity of wild‑type, but not 1,584, 2,032‑dual‑mutant, p53 3'‑UTR. The ectopic expression of miR‑10b‑agomir attenuated the stability of p53 3'‑UTR and the expression of p53 and its downstream effectors induced by cisplatin. By contrast, the knockdown of miR‑10b induced the stability of p53 3'‑UTR and increased levels of p53 and the sensitivity of A549 cells to cisplatin treatment. Similar results were also observed for Beas 2B cells. In the clinical investigation, p53 exhibited two distinct associations (cocurrent and countercurrent) with miR‑10b in patients with lung cancer. Patients with lung cancer with low p53 and high miR‑10b levels exhibited the poorest prognosis, while those with high p53 and low miR‑10b exhibited the most favorable prognosis. These findings indicate a novel pathway in which cisplatin induces the levels of p53 by increasing mRNA stability via miR‑10b, indicating a novel oncogenic role of miR‑10b in promoting the malignant characteristics of non‑small cell lung carcinoma.

MicroRNA Signature in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) includes 2.2% of all diagnosed cancers and 1.8% of cancer-related mortalities. The available biomarkers or screening methods for RCC suffer from lack of sensitivity or high cost, necessitating identification of novel biomarkers that facilitate early diagnosis of this cancer especially in the susceptible individuals. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have several advantageous properties that potentiate them as biomarkers for cancer detection. Expression profile of miRNAs has been assessed in biological samples from RCC patients. Circulatory or urinary levels of certain miRNAs have been proposed as markers for RCC diagnosis or follow-up. Moreover, expression profile of some miRNAs has been correlated with response to chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapeutic options such as sunitinib. In the current study, we summarize the results of studies that assessed the application of miRNAs as biomarkers, therapeutic targets or modulators of response to treatment modalities in RCC patients.

Targeting Strategies for Renal Cancer Stem Cell Therapy

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an intractable genitourinary malignancy that accounts for approximately 4% of adult malignancies. Currently, there is no approved targeted therapy for RCC that has yielded durable remissions, and they remain palliative in intent. Emerging evidence has indicated that renal tumorigenesis and RCC treatment-resistance may originate from renal cancer stem cells (CSCs) with tumor-initiating capacity (CSC hypothesis). A better understanding of the mechanism underlying renal CSCs will help to dissect RCC heterogeneity and drug treatment efficiency, to promote more personalized and targeted therapies. In this review, we summarized the stem cell characteristics of renal CSCs. We outlined the targeting strategies and challenges associated with developing therapies that target renal CSCs angiogenesis, immunosuppression, signaling pathways, surface biomarkers, microRNAs and nanomedicine. In conclusion, CSCs are an important role in renal carcinogenesis and represent a valid target for treatment of RCC patients.

Renal Cell Tumors: Uncovering the Biomarker Potential of ncRNAs

Renal cell tumors (RCT) remain as one of the most common and lethal urological tumors worldwide. Discrimination between (1) benign and malignant disease, (2) indolent and aggressive tumors, and (3) patient responsiveness to a specific therapy is of major clinical importance, allowing for a more efficient patient management. Nonetheless, currently available tools provide limited information and novel strategies are needed. Over the years, a putative role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as disease biomarkers has gained relevance and is now one of the most prolific fields in biological sciences. Herein, we extensively sought the most significant reports on ncRNAs as potential RCTs' diagnostic, prognostic, predictive, and monitoring biomarkers. We could conclude that ncRNAs, either alone or in combination with currently used clinical and pathological parameters, might represent key elements to improve patient management, potentiating the implementation of precision medicine. Nevertheless, most ncRNA biomarkers require large-scale validation studies, prior to clinical implementation.

A cancer stem cell-like phenotype is associated with miR-10b expression in aggressive squamous cell carcinomas

Background

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCC) are the primary cause of premature deaths in patients suffering from the rare skin-fragility disorder recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), which is in marked contrast to the rarely metastasizing nature of these carcinomas in the general population. This remarkable difference is attributed to the frequent development of chronic wounds caused by impaired skin integrity. However, the specific molecular and cellular changes to malignancy, and whether there are common players in different types of aggressive cSCCs, remain relatively undefined.

Methods

MiRNA expression profiling was performed across various cell types isolated from skin and cSCCs. Microarray results were confirmed by qPCR and by an optimized in situ hybridization protocol. Functional impact of overexpression or knock-out of a dysregulated miRNA was assessed in migration and 3D-spheroid assays. Sample-matched transcriptome data was generated to support the identification of disease relevant miRNA targets.

Results

Several miRNAs were identified as dysregulated in cSCCs compared to control skin. These included the metastasis-linked miR-10b, which was significantly upregulated in primary cell cultures and in archival biopsies. At the functional level, overexpression of miR-10b conferred the stem cell-characteristic of 3D-spheroid formation capacity to keratinocytes. Analysis of miR-10b downstream effects identified a novel putative target of miR-10b, the actin- and tubulin cytoskeleton-associated protein DIAPH2.

Conclusion

The discovery that miR-10b mediates an aspect of cancer stemness – that of enhanced tumor cell adhesion, known to facilitate metastatic colonization – provides an important avenue for future development of novel therapies targeting this metastasis-linked miRNA.

Deregulation of CSMD1 targeted by microRNA-10b drives gastric cancer progression through the NF-κB pathway

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the oncogenic activity of microRNA-10b by targeting CUB and sushi multiple domains protein 1 (CSMD1) in human gastric cancer (GC) and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The expression of CSMD1 in human GC tissues was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunoblotting, and immunohistochemical analysis. The expressive abundance of microRNA-10b was detected by stem-loop RT-PCR. Molecular and cellular techniques, including lentiviral vector-mediated knockdown or overexpression, were used to elucidate the effect of microRNA-10b on the expression of CSMD1. Results: CSMD1 was targeted and downregulated by microRNA-10b in human GC tissues and cells, and the down-regulated expression of CSMD1 contributed to poor survival. The knockdown of microRNA-10b expression inhibited cell proliferation in GC cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. The inhibition of microRNA-10b expression repressed invasion and migration of HGC27 cells and retarded GC cells metastasis to the liver in Balb/c nude mice. The up-regulated expression of microRNA-10b promoted the proliferation and metastasis of MKN74 cell in vitro. Intratumoral injection of microRNA-10b mimic also promoted the growth and metastasis of tumor xenografts in Balb/c nude mice. Mechanistically, microRNA-10b promoted the invasion and metastasis of human GC cells through inhibiting the expression of CSMD1, leading to the activation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway that links inflammation to carcinogenesis, subsequently resulting in the upregulation of c-Myc, cyclin D1 (CCND1), and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. Conclusions: The findings established that microRNA-10b is an oncomiR that drives metastasis. Moreover, a set of critical tumor suppressor mechanisms was defined that microRNA-10b overcame to drive human GC progression.

Radiogenomics in renal cell carcinoma

Radiogenomics, a field of radiology investigating the association between the imaging features of a disease and its gene expression pattern, has expanded considerably in the last few years. Recent advances in whole-genome sequencing of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and the identification of mutations with prognostic significance have led to increased interest in the relationship between imaging and genomic data. ccRCC is particularly suitable for radiogenomic analysis as the relative paucity of mutated genes allows for more straightforward genomic-imaging associations. The ultimate aim of radiogenomics of ccRCC is to retrieve additional data for accurate diagnosis, prognostic stratification, and optimization of therapy. In this review article, we will present the state-of-the-art of radiogenomics of ccRCC, and after briefly reviewing updates in genomics, we will discuss imaging-genomic associations for diagnosis and staging, prognosis, and for assessment of optimal therapy in ccRCC.

Molecular Mechanisms in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Role of miRNAs and Hypermethylated miRNA Genes in Crucial Oncogenic Pathways and Processes

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the third most common urological cancer, and it has the highest mortality rate. The increasing drug resistance of metastatic ccRCC has resulted in the search for new biomarkers. Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, such as genome-wide DNA methylation and inhibition of protein translation by interaction of microRNA (miRNA) with its target messenger RNA (mRNA), are deeply involved in the pathogenesis of human cancers, including ccRCC, and may be used in its diagnosis and prognosis. Here, we review oncogenic and oncosuppressive miRNAs, their putative target genes, and the crucial pathways they are involved in. The contradictory behavior of a number of miRNAs, such as suppressive and anti-metastatic miRNAs with oncogenic potential (for example, miR-99a, miR-106a, miR-125b, miR-144, miR-203, miR-378), is examined. miRNAs that contribute mostly to important pathways and processes in ccRCC, for instance, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Wnt-β, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling, are discussed in detail. We also separately consider their participation in crucial oncogenic processes, such as hypoxia and angiogenesis, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The review also considers the interactions of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and miRNAs of significance in ccRCC. Recent advances in the understanding of the role of hypermethylated miRNA genes in ccRCC and their usefulness as biomarkers are reviewed based on our own data and those available in the literature. Finally, new data and perspectives concerning the clinical applications of miRNAs in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of ccRCC are discussed.

miR-10b suppresses cell invasion and metastasis through targeting HOXA3 regulated by FAK/YAP signaling pathway in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma

Background

MicroRNAs have been related to tumor progression in diverse human cancers including clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Previous study has suggested the important regulation function of miR-10b in ccRCC. However, the direct target of miR-10b in ccRCC and the related molecular mechanisms has not yet been revealed.

Methods

miR-10b and HOXA3 was detected by qRT-PCR. MTT, colony formation assay, wound-healing and transwell assays were performed to detect cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion abilities in ccRCC. Western blot analyses were performed to evaluate the protein expression of HOXA3, YAP, FAK and MMP-9. Dual luciferase reporter assay was employed to measure potential molecular mechanism of miR-10b in ccRCC.

Results

miR-10b was down-regulated in 786-O and A498 cells as compared to renal tubular HK-2 cells. By contrast, HOXA3 and YAP was up-regulated in ccRCC cells and tissues. Functionally, knockdown of YAP inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Knockdown of FAK downregulated YAP, in turn, resulted in a decrease of HOXA3 expression. Mechanically, miR-10b targets HOXA3 to exert its tumor-suppressive effect on ccRCC in vitro.

Conclusions

These novel data suggest that miR-10b suppresses cell invasion and metastasis through targeting HOXA3, which partially passed through the FAK/YAP signaling pathway.

Droplet digital PCR improves urinary exosomal miRNA detection compared to real-time PCR

OBJECT

Quantification of urinary miRNAs can be challenging especially for low abundance miRNAs. We aimed to optimize the quantification of urinary exosomal miRNAs and compare the performance efficiency between droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR).

METHODS

We optimized a number of parameters for ddPCR such as annealing temperatures, annealing time and PCR cycle number. We also compared the performance of ddPCR and qPCR.

RESULTS

By comparing the fluorescence amplification separation, the optimal annealing temperature was 59 °C, optimal annealing time was 60s and optimal cycle number was 45 for measuring urinary exosomal miRNAs. ddPCR had much higher technical sensitivity compared to qPCR. The minimal detectable concentration of miR-29a was <50 copies/μL by ddPCR compared to 6473 copies/μL for qPCR. Also, ddPCR generated more consistent results for serially diluted samples compared to qPCR. ddPCR generated smaller within-run variations than qPCR though this did not reach statistical significance. It also resulted in better reproducibility with smaller between-run variations.

CONCLUSIONS

Optimization of urinary exosomal miRNA ddPCR assay is dependent on assessing key variables including experimental annealing temperature and time as well as the number of PCR cycles. ddPCR has a higher sensitivity, reproducibility, and accuracy in comparison to qPCR.

The potential role of miR-126, miR-21 and miR-10b as prognostic biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most commonly diagnosed renal tumor, consisting of ~3% of all malignancies worldwide. The prognosis of RCC can vary widely, and detecting patients at risk of recurrence at an early stage of disease may improve patient outcome. The factors presently used in a clinical setting cannot reliably predict the natural history of the disease. Therefore, there is a requirement to identify novel biomarkers that can aid in predicting patient outcome. Previous studies have indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are potential candidates as prognostic biomarkers for patients suffering from RCC. Consequently, the aims of the present study were to validate the potential of 3 of these miRNAs to predict the prognosis of patients with RCC, and to investigate the stability of endogenous control genes for miRNA studies in RCC tissues. The expression of 7 endogenous controls was measured using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor and benign tissues from patients suffering from clear cell RCC (ccRCC). The analyses identified RNU48 and U47 as the most stable endogenous controls. The expression of miR-126, miR-21 and miR-10b was analyzed using RT-qPCR in renal tissues from 116 patients diagnosed with ccRCC. All three investigated miRNAs were differentially expressed between malignant and benign tissues. miR-126 and miR-10b were also differentially expressed between grades and stages of ccRCC. In a univariate, but not in a multivariate model, low expression of miR-126 was associated with shorter time to recurrence of the disease. The results of the present study indicate that of the 3 miRNAs investigated, the expression of miR-126 has the strongest potential as a prognostic biomarker for patients suffering from ccRCC.

miR-10b-5p regulates 3T3-L1 cells differentiation by targeting Apol6

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that have been proposed to control or fine-tune complex genetic pathways by post-transcriptional regulation of target genes. It was proved that numerous miRNAs have influence on the biology of adipocytes as well as on the function of adipose tissues. This study shows that miR-10b-5p expression was decreased in mice, rats, and human under obesity. In addition, the obtained results indicated that the expression level of miR-10b-5p was increased in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes without manifesting a significant role in 3T3-L1 cells proliferation. On the other hand, the downregulation of miR-10b-5p by the inhibitor played a role in 3T3-L1 cells differentiation and adipogenesis. Our results strongly suggest that Apol6 was the target gene of miR-10b-5p. The inhibition of miR-10b-5p promoted the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and adipogenesis by upregulating the Apol6 expression. Then, the upregulated Apol6 acted as an oncogene in certain obesity-related cancers. These results indicate that miR-10b-5p may have a therapeutic significance for obesity and obesity-related cancers.

MicroRNA-191-5p exerts a tumor suppressive role in renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common tumor of the urinary system. Previously, miR-191-5p has been reported to be associated with various types of cancer; however, its specific functions in RCC have not been investigated to date. In the present study, the expression of miR-191-5p in the 786-O and ACHN cell lines was detected in vitro by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The results of RT-qPCR revealed that miR-191-5p was significantly downregulated in the two cell lines compared with the 293T cell line. miR-191-5p was also significantly downregulated in RCC tissue compared with paired normal tissue. In addition, the effects of miR-191-5p on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were examined by CCK-8, MTT, wound scratch, Transwell and flow cytometry assays. Downregulation of miR-191-5p was observed to promote cell proliferation, migration and invasion, as well as to repress the cell apoptosis of 786-O and ACHN cells. Therefore, the current study suggests that miR-191-5p functions as a tumor suppressor in RCC. Further studies are required to uncover the underlying signaling pathway of miR-191-5p and its potential role as a biomarker for early detection and prognosis prediction, and as a therapeutic target of RCC.

miR‑873 inhibits colorectal cancer cell proliferation by targeting TRAF5 and TAB1

MicroRNA-873 (miR-873) has been reported to be dysregulated in a variety of malignancies, however, the biological function and underlying molecular mechanism of miR-873 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear. In the present study we found that the expression levels of miR-873 were markedly decreased in CRC cell lines and tissues from patients. Statistical analysis revealed that miR-873 expression was inversely correlated with the disease stage of CRC. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients with CRC with lower miR-873 expression had shorter overall survival rates. Additionally, downregulation of miR-873 enhanced the proliferation of CRC cells, while upregulation of miR-873 reduced this proliferation. Furthermore, we found that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 5 (TRAF5) and TGF-β activated kinase 1 (MAP3K7) binding protein 1 (TAB1) were direct targets of miR-873 in CRC cells. A luciferase assay revealed that ectopic expression of miR-873 significantly reduced nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) luciferase activity, while ectopic expression of miR-873 inhibitor enhanced luciferase activity, suggesting that downregulation of miR-873 can activate NF-κB signaling. Therefore, our findings established a tumor-suppressive role for miR-873 in the inhibition of CRC progression, which may be employed as a novel prognostic marker and as an effective therapeutic target for CRC.

Genetic association of polymorphisms in AXIN1 gene with clear cell renal cell carcinoma in a Chinese population

Aim: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the association between the polymorphisms in AXIN1 with susceptibility to clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Materials & methods: A total of 284 ccRCC patients and 439 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Totally three tag single nucleotide polymorphisms in AXIN1 gene were genotyped using PCR & restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: Significantly increased ccRCC risk was observed to be associated with the CT/CC genotypes of rs1805105 and AA genotype of rs12921862. Patients carrying the rs1805105 CT genotype had a 1.92-fold increased risk to developing clinical stage III and IV cancer. Conclusion: Our results suggested the rs1805105 CT/CC genotypes and rs12921862 AA genotype may relate to ccRCC development.