Down-regulation of lncRNA-ATB inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition of breast cancer cells by increasing miR-141-3p expression

Upregulation of hsa-miR-141-3p promotes uterine cervical carcinoma progression via targeting dual-specificity protein phosphatase 1

We aimed to explore the aberrant expression status of hsa-miR-141-3p and dual-specificity protein phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) and their relative mechanisms in uterine cervical carcinoma (UCC).Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was conducted to detect the expression of hsa-miR-141-3p. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed to examine the expression of DUSP1 in UCC. Gene chips and RNA-seq datasets were also obtained to assess the expression level. Integrated standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated to evaluate the expression status of hsa-miR-141-3p in UCC tissues comprehensively. DUSP1-overexpression and hsa-miR-141-3p-inhibition HeLa cells were established, and CCK-8, transwell, wound healing, cell cycle, and apoptosis assays were implemented. The targets of hsa-miR-141-3p were obtained with online tools, and the combination of hsa-miR-141-3p and DUSP1 was validated via dual-luciferase reporter assay. Single-cell RNA-seq data were analyzed to explore hsa-miR-141-3p and DUSP1 in different cells. An integrated SMD of 1.41 (95% CI[0.45, 2.38], p = 0.0041) with 558 samples revealed the overexpression of hsa-miR-141-3p in UCC tissues. And the pooled SMD of -1.06 (95% CI[-1.45, -0.66], p < 0.0001) with 1,268 samples indicated the downregulation of DUSP1. Inhibition of hsa-miR-141-3p could upregulate DUSP1 expression and suppress invasiveness and metastasis of HeLa cells. Overexpression of DUSP1 could hamper proliferation, invasion, and migration and boost apoptosis and distribution of G1 phase. The dual-luciferase reporter assay validated the combination of hsa-miR-141-3p and DUSP1. Moreover, the targets of hsa-miR-141-3p were mainly enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway and activated in fibroblasts and endothelial cells. The current study illustrated the upregulation of hsa-miR-141-3p and the downregulation of DUSP1 in UCC tissues. Hsa-miR-141-3p could promote UCC progression by targeting DUSP1.

miR-141-5p Affects the Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis by Targeting BTG1 in Cervical Cancer

Background: MicroRNAs have been discovered to have the possibility to play a significant role in cancer development. While miR-141-5p has been found upregulated in various cancers, its functions in cervical cancer have rarely been reported. Methods: The expression level of miR-141-5p was assessed in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines by RT-qPCR. The function of miR-141-5p in C33A and HeLa cells was detected by CCK-8, and colony formation, wound-healing, transwell chamber, and flow cytometry assays. Dual luciferase reporter was carried out to identify the interaction between miR-141-5p and BTG antiproliferation factor 1 (BTG1). Results: miR-141-5p was upregulated in cervical cancer and was negatively associated with the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer. Functional analyses demonstrated that silenced miR-141-5p expression inhibited the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and alleviated apoptosis of C33A and HeLa cells. In addition, miR-141-5p suppresses the activity of BTG1-3'-UTR. Rescue assays demonstrated that the cervical cancer progression is suppressed by miR-141-5p inhibitor and retrieved by sh-BTG1. Conclusions: The authors' findings reveal that miR-141-5p exerts its role through targeting BTG1 in cervical cancer progression, indicating that miR-141-5p may represent a promising target for the treatment of cervical cancer patients. The Clinical Trial Registration number: (2019-KY013).

Expression Profiles of Dopamine-Related Genes and miRNAs Regulating Their Expression in Breast Cancer

This study aimed to assess the expression profile of messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) related to the dopaminergic system in five types of breast cancer in Polish women. Patients with five breast cancer subtypes were included in the study: luminal A (n = 130), luminal B (n = 196, including HER2-, n = 100; HER2+, n = 96), HER2+ (n = 36), and TNBC (n = 43); they underwent surgery, during which tumor tissue was removed along with a margin of healthy tissue (control material). The molecular analysis included a microarray profile of mRNAs and miRNAs associated with the dopaminergic system, a real-time polymerase chain reaction preceded by reverse transcription for selected genes, and determinations of their concentration using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The conducted statistical analysis showed that five mRNAs statistically significantly differentiated breast cancer sections regardless of subtype compared to control samples; these were dopamine receptor 2 (DRD2), dopamine receptor 3 (DRD3), dopamine receptor 25 (DRD5), transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF-β-2), and caveolin 2 (CAV2). The predicted analysis showed that hsa-miR-141-3p can regulate the expression of DRD2 and TGF-β-2, whereas hsa-miR-4441 is potentially engaged in the expression regulation of DRD3 and DRD5. In addition, the expression pattern of DRD5 mRNA can also be regulated by has-miR-16-5p. The overexpression of DRD2 and DRD3, with concomitant silencing of DRD5 expression, confirms the presence of dopaminergic abnormalities in breast cancer patients. Moreover, these abnormalities may be the result of miR-141-3P, miR-16-5p, and miR-4441 activity, regulating proliferation or metastasis.

Deregulated miRNA Expression in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer of Ancestral Genomic-Characterized Latina Patients

Among patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), several studies have suggested that deregulated microRNA (miRNA) expression may be associated with a more aggressive phenotype. Although tumor molecular signatures may be race- and/or ethnicity-specific, there is limited information on the molecular profiles in women with TNBC of Hispanic and Latin American ancestry. We simultaneously profiled TNBC biopsies for the genome-wide copy number and miRNA global expression from 28 Latina women and identified a panel of 28 miRNAs associated with copy number alterations (CNAs). Four selected miRNAs (miR-141-3p, miR-150-5p, miR-182-5p, and miR-661) were validated in a subset of tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissue samples, with miR-182-5p being the most discriminatory among tissue groups (AUC value > 0.8). MiR-141-3p up-regulation was associated with increased cancer recurrence; miR-661 down-regulation with larger tumor size; and down-regulation of miR-150-5p with larger tumor size, high p53 expression, increased cancer recurrence, presence of distant metastasis, and deceased status. This study reinforces the importance of integration analysis of CNAs and miRNAs in TNBC, allowing for the identification of interactions among molecular mechanisms. Additionally, this study emphasizes the significance of considering the patients ancestral background when examining TNBC, as it can influence the relationship between intrinsic tumor molecular characteristics and clinical manifestations of the disease.

Non-coding RNAs and exosomal non-coding RNAs in pituitary adenoma

Pituitary adenoma (PA) is the third most common primary intracranial tumor in terms of overall disease incidence. Although they are benign tumors, they can have a variety of clinical symptoms, but are mostly asymptomatic, which often leads to diagnosis at an advanced stage when surgical intervention is ineffective. Earlier identification of PA could reduce morbidity and allow better clinical management of the affected patients. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) do not generally code for proteins, but can modulate biological processes at the post-transcriptional level through a variety of molecular mechanisms. An increased number of ncRNA expression profiles have been found in PAs. Therefore, understanding the expression patterns of different ncRNAs could be a promising method for developing non-invasive biomarkers. This review summarizes the expression patterns of dysregulated ncRNAs (microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs) involved in PA, which could one day serve as innovative biomarkers or therapeutic targets for the treatment of this neoplasia. We also discuss the potential molecular pathways by which the dysregulated ncRNAs could cause PA and affect its progression.

Interactions between circRNAs and miR-141 in Cancer: From Pathogenesis to Diagnosis and Therapy

The function of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in the pathogenesis and development of cancer is indisputable. Molecular mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis involve the aberrant expression of ncRNAs, including circular RNAs (circRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs). CircRNAs are a class of single-stranded, covalently closed RNAs responsible for maintaining cellular homeostasis through their diverse functions. As a part of the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNAs) network, they play a central role in the regulation of accessibility of miRNAs to their mRNA targets. The interplay between these molecular players is based on the primary role of circRNAs that act as miRNAs sponges, and the circRNA/miRNA imbalance plays a central role in different pathologies including cancer. Herein, we present the latest state of knowledge about interactions between circRNAs and miR-141, a well-known member of the miR-200 family, in malignant transformation, with emphasis on the biological role of circRNA/miR-141/mRNA networks as a future target for novel anti-cancer therapies.

Potential roles of lncRNA-XIST/miRNAs/mRNAs in human cancer cells

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that contain more than 200 nucleotides but do not code for proteins. In tumorigenesis, lncRNAs can have both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive properties. X inactive-specific transcript (XIST) is a known lncRNA that has been implicated in X chromosome silencing in female cells. Dysregulation of XIST is associated with an increased risk of various cancers. Therefore, XIST can be a beneficial prognostic biomarker for human malignancies. In this review, we attempt to summarize the emerging roles of XIST in human cancers.

Potential roles of endothelial cells-related non-coding RNAs in cardiovascular diseases

Endothelial dysfunction is identified by a conversion of the endothelium toward decreased vasodilation and prothrombic features and is known as a primary pathogenic incident in cardiovascular diseases. An insight based on particular and promising biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction may possess vital clinical significances. Currently, non-coding RNAs due to their participation in critical cardiovascular processes like initiation and progression have gained much attention as possible diagnostic as well as prognostic biomarkers in cardiovascular diseases. Emerging line of proof has demonstrated that abnormal expression of non-coding RNAs is nearly correlated with the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. In the present review, we focus on the expression and functional effects of various kinds of non-coding RNAs in cardiovascular diseases and negotiate their possible clinical implications as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers and curative targets.

The function of LncRNA-ATB in cancer

Cancer as a progressive and complex disease is caused by early chromosomal changes and stimulated cellular transformation. Previous studies reported that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play pivotal roles in the initiation, maintenance, and progression of cancer cells. LncRNA activated by TGF-β (ATB) has been shown to be dysregulated in different types of cancer. Aberrant expression of lncRNA-ATB plays an important role in the progression of diverse malignancies. High expression of LncRNA-ATB is associated with cancer cell growth, proliferation, metastasis, and EMT. LncRNA-ATB by targeting various signaling pathways and microRNAs (miRNAs) can trigger cancer pathogenesis. Therefore, lncRNA-ATB can be a novel target for cancer prediction and diagnosis. In this review, we will focus on the function of lncRNA-ATB in various types of human cancers.

The role of miR-200 family in the regulation of hallmarks of cancer

MiRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally contributing to the development of different diseases including cancer. The miR-200 family consists of five members, miR-200a, miR-200b, miR-200c, miR-141, and miR-429. Their expression is dysregulated in cancer tissue and their level is altered in the body fluids of cancer patients. Moreover, the levels of miR-200 family members correlate with clinical parameters such as cancer patients' survival which makes them potentially useful as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. MiRNAs can act as either oncomiRs or tumor suppressor miRNAs depending on the target genes and their role in the regulation of key oncogenic signaling pathways. In most types of cancer, the miR-200 family acts as tumor suppressor miRNA and regulates all features of cancer. In this review, we summarized the expression pattern of the miR-200 family in different types of cancer and their potential utility as biomarkers. Moreover, we comprehensively described the role of miR-200 family members in the regulation of all hallmarks of cancer proposed by Hanahan and Weinberg with the focus on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasiveness, and metastasis of tumor cells.

Xiaotan Sanjie Decoction Inhibits Gastric Cancer Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion through lncRNA-ATB and miR-200A

This study is aimed at exploring whether Xiaotan Sanjie decoction (XTSJ) inhibits gastric cancer (GC) proliferation and metastasis by regulating lncRNA-ATB expression. qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to analyze lncRNA-ATB and downstream-regulated genes/proteins in human GC cells. CCK8, Edu, and flow cytometry assays were used to detect the inhibitory effect of XTSJ on cell proliferation and apoptosis. Moreover, transwell and wound healing assays were used to detect the inhibitory effect of XTSJ on migration and invasion. qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect regulated genes and proteins levels. The HGC-27 cell line was used for follow-up analysis due to the high level of lncRNA-ATB and cell characteristics. XTSJ inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of HGC-27 in a dose-dependent manner. Further research found that XTSJ downregulated lncRNA-ATB, Vimentin, and N-cadherin, while it upregulated miR-200a and E-cadherin in a dose-dependent manner. XTSJ also upregulated Caspase 3, Caspase 9, Bax, and downregulated Bcl-2. Furthermore, XTSJ inhibited tumor growth in vivo and downregulated EMT signaling pathways. These results indicate that XTSJ may affect EMT and Bcl-2 signaling pathways by regulating lncRNA-ATB and miR-200a, thus inhibiting proliferation, migration, and invasion of HGC-27 cells. Therefore, XTSJ may be an effective treatment for the high levels of lncRNA-ATB in GC.

Study on the Expression of lncRNA ATB and Nek9 in Breast Cancer Patients Based on Q-PCR Technology and Its Relationship with the Disease

To reveal the relationship between the expression and disease progression, the expression of long noncoding RNA ATB (lncRNA ATB) and related protein kinase 9 (Nek 9) in serum of breast cancer patients by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) is analyzed. The patients treated in our hospital from April 2021 to February 2022 are selected and grouped into several groups. Among them, 73 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and 44 patients with benign breast disease are divided into groups A and B, respectively. In addition, 50 healthy subjects are chosen for group C. The expressions of lncRNA ATB and Nek9 in serum of patients are detected by Q-PCR, and the relationship between different pathological parameters and lncRNA ATB and Nek9 in group A is analyzed. Spearman correlation coefficient is used to evaluate the correlation between lncRNA ATB and Nek9 and disease. The experimental results show that lncRNA ATB and Nek9 in 3 groups are significantly different, and group A> group B> group C (all P < 0.05). The expression of lncRNA ATB and Nek9 is closely associated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage in breast cancer patients (P < 0.05). Besides, the Spearman correlation coefficient shows that lncRNA ATB and Nek9 are positively correlated with breast cancer incidence (P < 0.05). It is evident that lncRNA ATB and Nek9 are expressed at high levels in breast cancer patients and are positively correlated with the occurrence and development of the disease.

Metastatic EMT Phenotype Is Governed by MicroRNA-200-Mediated Competing Endogenous RNA Networks

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental physiologically relevant process that occurs during morphogenesis and organ development. In a pathological setting, the transition from epithelial toward mesenchymal cell phenotype is hijacked by cancer cells, allowing uncontrolled metastatic dissemination. The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) hypothesis proposes a competitive environment resembling a large-scale regulatory network of gene expression circuits where alterations in the expression of both protein-coding and non-coding genes can make relevant contributions to EMT progression in cancer. The complex regulatory diversity is exerted through an array of diverse epigenetic factors, reaching beyond the transcriptional control that was previously thought to single-handedly govern metastatic dissemination. The present review aims to unravel the competitive relationships between naturally occurring ceRNA transcripts for the shared pool of the miRNA-200 family, which play a pivotal role in EMT related to cancer dissemination. Upon acquiring more knowledge and clinical evidence on non-genetic factors affecting neoplasia, modulation of the expression levels of diverse ceRNAs may allow for the development of novel prognostic/diagnostic markers and reveal potential targets for the disruption of cancer-related EMT.

circDENND4C Promotes Proliferation and Metastasis of Lung Cancer by Upregulating BRD4 Signaling Pathway

Objective

To investigate the effects of circDENND4C on the malignant biological behavior of lung cancer and its downstream target genes and molecular mechanisms.

Methods

The expression of circDENND4C in lung cancer tissues and cells was detected. After transfection with silenced circDENND4C, the expression levels of circDENND4C, miR-141-3p, and BRD4 in lung cancer cells were detected by qRT-PCR. The targeting relationship between circDENND4C and miR-141-3p as well as miR-141-3p and BRD4 was verified. Cell activity was detected by CCK-8 and EdU assay. Transwell assay was used to detect the invasiveness of A549 and NCI-H1299 in each group. Effects of circDENND4C on proliferation and metastasis of lung cancer in nude mice were studied.

Results

In vitro and in vivo results showed that circDENND4C silencing reduced the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of lung cancer cells. Mechanism studies showed that circDENND4C has a targeting relationship with miR-141-3p. However, miR-141-3p has a targeting relationship with BRD4. circDENND4C indirectly upregulated BRD4 through sponge adsorption of miR-141-3p, thereby promoting metastasis and proliferation of NSCLC.

Conclusion

circDENND4C, as an oncogene, promotes the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of lung cancer cells.

What is beyond LncRNAs in breast cancer: A special focus on colon cancer-associated Transcript-1 (CCAT-1)

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) play a vital role in the process of malignant transformation. In breast cancer (BC), lncRNAs field is currently under intensive investigations. Yet, the role of lncRNAs as promising diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers and as therapeutic target/tool among BC patients still needs a special focus from the biomedical scientists. In BC, triple negative breast cancer patients (TNBC) are the unlucky group as they are always represented with the worst prognosis and the highest mortality rates. For that reason, a special focus on TNBC and associated lncRNAs was addressed in this review. Colon cancer-associated transcript 1 (CCAT-1) is a newly discovered oncogenic lncRNA that has been emerged as a vital biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic interventions in multiple malignancies and showed differential expression among TNBC patients. In this review, the authors shed the light onto the general role of lncRNAs in BC and the specific functional activities, molecular mechanisms, competing endogenous ncRNA role of CCAT-1 in TNBC.

Long Non-Coding RNAs as Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Breast Cancer: Progress and Prospects

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women worldwide, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer. It is now well understood that breast cancer is a heterogeneous entity that exhibits distinctive histological and biological features, treatment responses and prognostic patterns. Therefore, the identification of novel ideal diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers is of utmost importance. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are commonly defined as transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that lack coding potential. Extensive research has shown that lncRNAs are involved in multiple human cancers, including breast cancer. LncRNAs with dysregulated expression can act as oncogenes or tumor-suppressor genes to regulate malignant transformation processes, such as proliferation, invasion, migration and drug resistance. Intriguingly, the expression profiles of lncRNAs tend to be highly cell-type-specific, tissue-specific, disease-specific or developmental stage-specific, which makes them suitable biomarkers for breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Multifaceted roles of long non-coding RNAs in triple-negative breast cancer: biology and clinical applications

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous breast cancer subtype that lacks targeted therapy due to the absence of estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors. Moreover, TNBC was shown to have a poor prognosis, since it involves aggressive phenotypes that confer significant hindrance to therapeutic treatments. Recent state-of-the-art sequencing technologies have shed light on several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), previously thought to have no biological function and were considered as genomic junk. LncRNAs are involved in various physiological as well as pathological conditions, and play a key role in drug resistance, gene expression, and epigenetic regulation. This review mainly focuses on exploring the multifunctional roles of candidate lncRNAs, and their strong association with TNBC development. We also summarise various emerging research findings that establish novel paradigms of lncRNAs function as oncogenes and/or tumor suppressors in TNBC development, suggesting their role as prospective therapeutic targets.

Upregulation of microRNA miR-141-3p and its prospective targets in endometrial carcinoma: a comprehensive study

The clinicopathological value of microRNA-141-3p (miR-141-3p) and its prospective target genes in endometrial carcinoma (EC) remains unclear. The present study determined the expression level of miR-141-3p in EC via quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). RT-qPCR showed a markedly higher expression level of miR-141-3p in EC tissues than in non-EC endometrium tissues (P < 0.0001). The microarray and miRNA-seq data revealed upregulation of miR-141-3p. Integrated analysis based on 675 cases of EC and 63 controls gave a standardized mean difference of 1.737, confirmed the upregulation of miR-141-3p. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that a higher expression of miR-141-3p positively corelated with a poorer prognosis. Combining the predicted targets and downregulated genes in EC, we obtained 271 target genes for miR-141-3p in EC. Two potential targets, PPP1R12A and PPP1R12B, were downregulated at both the mRNA and protein levels. This study indicates that the overexpression of miR-141-3p may play an important part in the carcinogenesis of EC. The overexpression of miR-141-3p may be a risk factor for the prognosis of patients with EC.

LINC01296/miR-141-3p/ZEB1-ZEB2 axis promotes tumor metastasis via enhancing epithelial-mesenchymal transition process

Purpose: Tumor metastasis seriously affects the survival of patients. In recent years, some studies confirmed that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) played an essential role in tumor progression. A few studies reported that LINC01296 acted as an oncogenic regulator of cancer. However, its in-depth specific biological mechanism in tumor metastasis is still unknown.

Methods: Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to detect the expression of LINC01296 and miR-141-3p in NSCLC, CRC tissues and cell lines, and the dual luciferase report was used to evaluate the relationship between LINC01296, miR-141-3p and ZEB1/ZEB2 relationship. Western blot experiments are used to detect changes in protein levels. Transwell and wound healing measures migration and invasion capabilities.

Results: In this study, we used non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) as the research objects, LINC01296 was found to be highly expressed in NSCLC and CRC tissues and positively related to poor prognosis. We also demonstrated LINC01296 regulated NSCLC and CRC invasion and metastasis by modulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by up-regulating ZEB1 and ZEB2. Consequently, LINC01296 acted as a sponge of miR-141-3p, which negatively regulates EMT process.

Conclusions: The report revealed a new mechanism by which LINC01296 regulates the EMT process through miR-141-3p/ZEB1-ZEB2 axis and affects cancer metastasis.

Overview of host miRNA properties and their association with epigenetics, long non-coding RNAs, and Xeno-infectious factors

MicroRNA-derived structures play impressive roles in various biological processes. So dysregulation of miRNAs can lead to different human diseases. Recent studies have extended our comprehension of the control of miRNA function and features. Here, we overview some remarkable miRNA properties that have potential implications for the miRNA functions, including different variants of a miRNA called isomiRs, miRNA arm selection/arm switching, and the effect of these factors on miRNA target selection. Besides, we review some aspects of miRNA interactions such as the interaction between epigenetics and miRNA (different miRNAs and their related processing enzymes are epigenetically regulated by multiple DNA methylation enzymes. moreover, DNA methylation could be controlled by diverse mechanisms related to miRNAs), direct and indirect crosstalk between miRNA and lnc (Long Non-Coding) RNAs as a further approach to conduct intercellular regulation called "competing endogenous RNA" (ceRNA) that is involved in the pathogenesis of different diseases, and the interaction of miRNA activities and some Xeno-infectious (virus/bacteria/parasite) factors, which result in modulation of the pathogenesis of infections. This review provides some related studies to a better understanding of miRNA involvement mechanisms and overcoming the complexity of related diseases that may be applicable and useful to prognostic, diagnostic, therapeutic purposes and personalized medicine in the future.

Therapeutic Implications of TGFβ in Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is a pleiotropic cytokine that participates in a wide range of biological functions. The alterations in the expression levels of this factor, or the deregulation of its signaling cascade, can lead to different pathologies, including cancer. A great variety of therapeutic strategies targeting TGFβ, or the members included in its signaling pathway, are currently being researched in cancer treatment. However, the dual role of TGFβ, as a tumor suppressor or a tumor-promoter, together with its crosstalk with other signaling pathways, has hampered the development of safe and effective treatments aimed at halting the cancer progression. This systematic literature review aims to provide insight into the different approaches available to regulate TGFβ and/or the molecules involved in its synthesis, activation, or signaling, as a cancer treatment. The therapeutic strategies most commonly investigated include antisense oligonucleotides, which prevent TGFβ synthesis, to molecules that block the interaction between TGFβ and its signaling receptors, together with inhibitors of the TGFβ signaling cascade-effectors. The effectiveness and possible complications of the different potential therapies available are also discussed.

Long non-coding RNA ATB is associated with metastases and promotes cell invasion in colorectal cancer via sponging miR-141-3p

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve crucial roles in cancer development and progression. lncRNA-activated by transforming growth factor-β (lncRNA-ATB) mediates cell proliferation. However, the association between lncRNA-ATB and human colorectal cancer (CRC) is not completely understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of lncRNA-ATB in CRC, as well as the underlying mechanism. 50 pairs of tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues from patients with primary CRC were collected. The expression of lncRNA-ATB and microRNA (miR)-141-3p in CRC tissues, adjacent normal tissues and cell lines was detected using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. CCK-8, colony formation, Transwell, western blot, dual luciferase reporter gene, RNA immunoprecipitation and immunohistochemistry staining assays were conducted to assess the biological function of lncRNA-ATB and miR-141-3p in CRC progression. lncRNA-ATB was upregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines compared with healthy tissues and cells, respectively. Moreover, high expression of lncRNA-ATB was significantly associated with advanced TNM stage and metastasis in CRC. In addition, the results indicated that lncRNA-ATB expression predicted the prognosis and overall survival of patients with CRC. Compared with small interfering RNA-negative control, lncRNA-ATB knockdown inhibited CRC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, whereas, compared with vector, lncRNA-ATB overexpression promoted CRC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, the in vivo experiment suggested that lncRNA-ATB knockdown inhibited tumor growth. The results also indicated that lncRNA-ATB may contribute to CRC progression via binding to tumor suppressor microRNA-141-3p. Collectively, the present study suggested a crucial role of lncRNA-ATB in CRC tumorigenesis, suggesting that lncRNA-ATB may serve as an important marker for the diagnosis and development of CRC.

LncRNA SNHG6 Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Pituitary Adenoma Via Suppressing MiR-944

Background:

Pituitary adenoma (PA) is a common primary brain tumor with invasive properties. Despite that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 6 (SNHG6) exerts oncogenic function in cancer cells and that miR-944 inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells are well documented, few studies have explored the function and mechanism of SNHG6 and miR-944 in invasive pituitary adenoma (IPA).

Materials and Methods:

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expressions of SNHG6 and miR-944 in PA samples. Human PA cell line HP75 was used as a cell model. The biological effects of SNHG6 and miR-944 on HP75 cells were investigated with cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Transwell assay, and scratch healing assay in vitro, respectively. Markers of EMT, including E-cadherin and vimentin, were detected by Western blot. Interactions between SNHG6 and miR-944, miR-944 and RAB11A were determined by bioinformatics analysis, qRT-PCR, and dual luciferase reporter assay.

Results:

SNHG6 was significantly upregulated in IPA samples, whereas miR-944 was downregulated. SNHG6 markedly promoted viability, migration, invasion, and EMT of PA cells, whereas miR-944 transfection had the opposite effects. SNHG6 could downregulate miR-944, and there was a negative correlation between SNHG6 expression and miR-944 expression in IPA samples. Besides, it was confirmed that miR-944 could pair with the 3′-untranslated region of RAB11A and repress its expression.

Conclusions:

This study authenticates that the SNHG6/miR-994/RAB11A axis plays a crucial role in regulating proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of IPA cells. SNHG6 and miR-994 can serve as novel valuable therapeutic targets for IPA.

Long noncoding RNAs in cancer immunity: a new avenue in drug discovery

The central role of the nonprotein-coding portion of the genome, such as long noncoding (lnc)RNAs is emerging as a hidden player manipulating the immune system in cancer. lncRNAs, in association with their interacting partners, regulate the expression of various immune system genes, which are perturbed during cancer. The tissue-specific expression of lncRNAs and their importance in cellular proliferation, the tumor microenvironment (TME), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and modulation of the cells of the innate and adaptive immune system have novel therapeutic implications in establishing lncRNAs as biomarkers and targets to overcome cancer-associated immunosuppression. In this review, we establish and strengthen the link between lncRNAs and cancer immunity.

Serum LncRNA-ATB and FAM83H-AS1 as diagnostic/prognostic non-invasive biomarkers for breast cancer

AIMS

Circulating long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have proven to be useful non-invasive tools for diagnosis of various cancers. FAM83H antisense RNA 1 (FAM83H-AS1) and lncRNA activated by TGF β (lncRNA-ATB) are two lncRNAs that have been shown to play an important role in different cancer types including breast cancer. The primary aim of our study was to investigate the potential role of serum FAM83H-AS1 and lncRNA-ATB as diagnostic/prognostic markers for breast cancer patients.

MAIN METHODS

Serum expression levels of FAM83H-AS1 and lncRNA-ATB were analyzed in 90 breast cancer patients and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls using RT-qPCR.

KEY FINDINGS

We found that FAM83H-AS1 and lncRNA-ATB were significantly overexpressed in sera of breast cancer patients compared to controls (p = 0.000 for both). Analysis of receiver operating characteristic curve demonstrated that lncRNA-ATB had a higher area under curve (AUC) value than the conventional tumor marker cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) (AUC: 0.844, p = 0.000 versus 0.738, p = 0.002) for early diagnosis of breast cancer in patients with stage I-II. On the other hand, FAM83H-AS1 showed a significant correlation with tumor-node metastasis (TNM) stages, large tumor size and lymph node metastasis, suggesting a prognostic rather than diagnostic value.

SIGNIFICANCE

This is the first study to demonstrate that serum lncRNA-ATB could be used as a non-invasive diagnostic marker for early stages of breast cancer. Furthermore, serum FAM83H-AS1 has a potential ability for monitoring of progression and staging of breast cancer.

The prognostic value of long noncoding RNA activated by TGF-β in digestive system cancers: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

To systematically evaluate whether the expression level of long non-coding RNA activated by transforming growth factor-β (lncRNA-ATB) is correlated with the prognosis of digestive system cancer (DSC) patients.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Springerlink, Nature, and Karger databases were searched up to April 20, 2019 by 2 experienced researchers independently. The quality of studies was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The Review Manager 5.2 and STATA 12.0 software were used for this meta-analysis.

RESULT

Eleven studies with 1227 DSC patients were included in the meta-analysis. Except for pancreatic cancer, high expression of lncRNA-ATB was associated with lymph node metastasis (risk ratio (RR) = 1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-1.42, P < .001), advanced clinical staging (RR = 1.44, 95%CI: 1.23-1.69, P < .001), reduced overall survival rate (OS) (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.33, 95%CI: 1.22-4.50, P = .01), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) (HR = 2.61, 95%CI: 1.46-4.65, P = .001) compared with low lncRNA-ATB expression in DSCs.

CONCLUSIONS

High expression of lncRNA-ATB was significantly correlated with poor prognosis for most DSCs. The expression level of lncRNA-ATB could be a promising prognostic biomarker for DSC patients.

Hypoxia-responsive miR-141-3p is involved in the progression of breast cancer via mediating the HMGB1/HIF-1α signaling pathway

Background

Hypoxia‐responsive miRs have been frequently reported in the growth of various malignant tumors. The present study aimed to investigate whether hypoxia‐responsive miR‐141–3p was implicated in the pathogenesis of breast cancer via mediating the high‐mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1)/hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1α signaling pathway.

Materials and methods

miRs expression profiling was filtrated by miR microarray assays. Gene and protein expression levels, respectively, were examined by a quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chaion reaction and western blotting. Cell migration and invasion were analyzed using a transwell assay. Cell growth was determined using nude‐mouse transplanted tumor experiments.

Results

miR‐141–3p was observed as a hypoxia‐responsive miR in breast cancer. miR‐141–3p was down‐regulated in breast cancer specimens and could serve as an independent prognostic factor for predicting overall survival in breast cancer patients. In addition, the overexpression of miR‐141–3p could inhibit hypoxia‐induced cell migration and impede human breast cancer MDA‐MB‐231 cell growth in vivo. Mechanistically, the hypoxia‐related HMGB1/HIF‐1α signaling pathway might be a possible target of miR‐141–3p with respect to preventing the development of breast cancer.

Conclusions

Our finding provides a new mechanism by which miR‐141–3p could prevent hypoxia‐induced breast tumorigenesis via post‐transcriptional repression of the HMGB1/HIF‐1α signaling pathway.

LncRNA-ATB in cancers: what do we know so far?

Cancer-related deaths did not apparently decrease in the past decades despite aggressive treatments. It's reported that cancer will become the leading cause of death worldwide in the twenty-first century. Increasing evidence has revealed that lncRNAs will emerge as promising cancer biomarkers or therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. LncRNA-ATB, a long noncoding RNA activated by TGF-β, was found to be abnormally expressed in certain cancers and participate in the development and progression of tumors. In addition, aberrant lncRNA-ATB expression was also associated with clinical characteristics of tumors. The purpose of this review is to summarize functions and underlying mechanisms of lncRNA-ATB in tumors, and discuss whether lncRNA-ATB can be a biomarker and therapeutic target in cancers.

lncRNA-ATB promotes stemness maintenance in colorectal cancer by regulating transcriptional activity of the β-catenin pathway

Long non-coding RNA activated by transforming growth factor-β (ATB) was recently reported to be involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. However, the role of ATB in colorectal cancer (CRC) stemness remains unclear. In the present study, the functional role of ATB in maintaining stemness of CRC was determined using colony formation and sphere formation assays, and xenograft models. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry were performed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of ATB. Knockdown of ATB impaired colony formation and sphere formation in CRC cells, accompanied by an inhibition of colon tumor growth. Further results suggested that ATB regulated the transcriptional activity of the β-catenin pathway by inhibiting β-catenin expression. In addition, the results confirmed the role of β-catenin in ATB-mediated regulation of stemness in CRC. Collectively, the results indicated that ATB is a promising therapeutic target for CRC.

PRKCZ-AS1 promotes the tumorigenesis of lung adenocarcinoma via sponging miR-766-5p to modulate MAPK1

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most prevalent histological subclass of non-small cell lung cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recognized as the crucial regulatory factors in tumor development and progression. Nevertheless, limited research has been carried on the function of PRKCZ-AS1 in LUAD. In this study, the expression of PRKCZ-AS1 in LUAD tissues and cell lines was notably upregulated. Moreover, knockdown of PRKCZ-AS1 inhibited the proliferation and migration, but promoted apoptosis in LUAD cells. Furthermore, miR-766-5p could bind with PRKCZ-AS1. Besides, the expression miR-766-5p was negatively regulated by PRKCZ-AS1 expression in LUAD cells. Furtherly, PRKCZ-AS1 expression positively regulated the expression of MAPK1. Similarly, the expression of MAPK1 was negatively regulated by miR-766-5p expression. Moreover, the binding ability between miR-766-5p and MAPK1 was confirmed. Furthermore, knockdown of MAPK1 partly rescued the miR-766-5p inhibition-mediated promoting effect on proliferation and migration in LUAD cells transfected with PRKCZ-AS1#1. Overall, above results suggested that PRKCZ-AS1 promotes the occurrence of LUAD by sponging miR-766-5p to upregulate MAPK1 expression, which may provide new insights into LUAD treatment.

LncRNA-ATB Promotes Lung Squamous Carcinoma Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion by Targeting microRNA-590-5p/NF90 Axis

Lung cancer with highest morbidity and mortality seriously threatens human health worldwide. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert important biological functions by acting as microRNA, which is implicated in tumorigenesis and cancer development. Previous work has reported that lncRNA-ATB expression was significantly upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and promoted tumor progression; however, the mechanisms of lncRNA-ATB in lung squamous carcinoma (LSC) are still fairly elusive. In our study, lncRNA-ATB expression also markedly increases in LSC tissues and cell lines in comparison to the adjacent normal tissues and normal lung epithelial cells, respectively. Functional experiments indicate that lncRNA-ATB overexpression improves the proliferative, migratory, and invasive capabilities of normal lung epithelial cells compared with control group. Furthermore, the migratory and invasive abilities are strikingly inhibited in lncRNA-ATB silenced LSC cells. Mechanistically, lncRNA-ATB directly binds to microRNA-590-5p and downregulates microRNA-590-5p level, leading to the upregulation of NF-90 expression. In addition, lncRNA-ATB overexpression promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process, where lncRNA-ATB overexpression facilitates the expression of mesenchymal phenotype related molecules N-cadherin and vimentin, while restrains the expression of epithelial phenotype related proteins E-cadherin and CK-19, compared to the control. Conversely, microRNA-590-5p mimics can reverse the results caused by lncRNA-ATB overexpression. Taken together, our initial data suggest that lncRNA-ATB overexpression may promote the progression of LSC by modulating the microRNA-590-5p/NF-90 axis.

Long noncoding RNA CERS6-AS1 functions as a malignancy promoter in breast cancer by binding to IGF2BP3 to enhance the stability of CERS6 mRNA

Breast cancer (BC) leads to the highest mortality in women worldwide, characterized by inevitable proliferation and metastasis of BC cells. Mounting evidence confirm that lncRNAs play a significant role in the tumorigenesis and development of BC. lncRNA CERS6-AS1 is a novel discovery, and its role and molecular mechanism in BC has not been studied. In this study, it was discovered that CERS6-AS1 was overexpressed in BC tissues and cells. CERS6-AS1 accelerated cell proliferation and suppressed cell apoptosis in BC. Moreover, molecular mechanism exploration uncovered that there was a positive association between CERS6 and CERS6-AS1 (or IGF2BP3) expression in BC. Furthermore, IGF2BP3 serves as a RNA-binding protein for CERS6-AS1 and CERS6-AS1 promoted CERS6 mRNA stability by binding to IGF2BP3. In the end, rescue experiments verified that overexpression of CERS6 rescues the inhibition of CERS6-AS1 deficiency on BC progression in vitro and vivo. Taken together, these evidences suggested that CERS6-AS1 promoted the progression of BC by binding to IGF2BP3 and thus enhancing the stability of CERS6 mRNA, providing a new underlying therapeutic target for BC to improve prognosis.

Long noncoding RNA CHL1-AS1 promotes cell proliferation and migration by sponging miR-6076 to regulate CHL1 expression in endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer (EC) is deemed to be the most typical gynecologic malignant tumor. Despite the incidence of EC being lower in Asia than that in western countries, substantial increased incidence has been observed in the past few decades in Asia. Although various molecular testing methods and genomic science have developed, the overall prognosis is still disappointing. LncRNAs have been found to influence the progression of various cancers. CHL1-AS1 has been found to be upregulated in ovarian endometriosis, nevertheless, the molecular mechanism and biological function of CHL1-AS1 in EC have not been explored. In our exploration, both CHL1-AS1 and CHL1 were upregulated in EC cells. Knockdown of CHL1-AS1 or CHL1 inhibited cell proliferation and migration in EC. Furthermore, microRNA-6076 (miR-6076) could bind with CHL1-AS1 or CHL1, and regulate the expression of CHL1. Finally, absence of miR-6076 or overexpression of CHL1 can partially rescue the effect of CHL1-AS1 knockdown or miR-6076 upregulation on cell proliferation and migration, respectively. All in all, our research was the first endeavor to study the underlying mechanism of CHL1-AS1 in EC and confirmed that CHL1-AS1 regulated EC progression via targeting the miR-6076/CHL1 axis, offering new insight into treating EC.

TGF-β-Mediated Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Metastasis

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a secreted cytokine that regulates cell proliferation, migration, and the differentiation of a plethora of different cell types. Consistent with these findings, TGF-β plays a key role in controlling embryogenic development, inflammation, and tissue repair, as well as in maintaining adult tissue homeostasis. TGF-β elicits a broad range of context-dependent cellular responses, and consequently, alterations in TGF-β signaling have been implicated in many diseases, including cancer. During the early stages of tumorigenesis, TGF-β acts as a tumor suppressor by inducing cytostasis and the apoptosis of normal and premalignant cells. However, at later stages, when cancer cells have acquired oncogenic mutations and/or have lost tumor suppressor gene function, cells are resistant to TGF-β-induced growth arrest, and TGF-β functions as a tumor promotor by stimulating tumor cells to undergo the so-called epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The latter leads to metastasis and chemotherapy resistance. TGF-β further supports cancer growth and progression by activating tumor angiogenesis and cancer-associated fibroblasts and enabling the tumor to evade inhibitory immune responses. In this review, we will consider the role of TGF-β signaling in cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, EMT and cancer cell metastasis. In particular, we will highlight recent insights into the multistep and dynamically controlled process of TGF-β-induced EMT and the functions of miRNAs and long noncoding RNAs in this process. Finally, we will discuss how these new mechanistic insights might be exploited to develop novel therapeutic interventions.

Long Noncoding RNA and Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a multistep process that allows epithelial cells to acquire mesenchymal properties. Fundamental in the early stages of embryonic development, this process is aberrantly activated in aggressive cancerous cells to gain motility and invasion capacity, thus promoting metastatic phenotypes. For this reason, EMT is a central topic in cancer research and its regulation by a plethora of mechanisms has been reported. Recently, genomic sequencing and functional genomic studies deepened our knowledge on the fundamental regulatory role of noncoding DNA. A large part of the genome is transcribed in an impressive number of noncoding RNAs. Among these, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to control several biological processes affecting gene expression at multiple levels from transcription to protein localization and stability. Up to now, more than 8000 lncRNAs were discovered as selectively expressed in cancer cells. Their elevated number and high expression specificity candidate these molecules as a valuable source of biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. Rising evidence currently highlights a relevant function of lncRNAs on EMT regulation defining a new layer of involvement of these molecules in cancer biology. In this review we aim to summarize the findings on the role of lncRNAs on EMT regulation and to discuss their prospective potential value as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer.

New Insights into the Implication of Epigenetic Alterations in the EMT of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide, encompassing a wide heterogeneity of subtypes with different clinical features. During the last two decades, the use of targeted therapies has emerged in clinical research in order to increase treatment efficiency, improve prognosis and reduce recurrence. However, the triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype remains a clinical challenge, with poor prognosis since no therapeutic targets have been identified. This aggressive breast cancer entity lacks expression of oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), and it does not overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). The major reason for TNBC poor prognosis is early therapeutic escape from conventional treatments, leading to aggressive metastatic relapse. Metastases occur after an epithelial-mesenchymal transition EMT of epithelial cells, allowing them to break free from the primary tumour site and to colonize distant organs. Cancer-associated EMT consists not only of acquired migration and invasion ability, but involves complex and comprehensive reprogramming, including changes in metabolism, expression levels and epigenetic. Recently, many studies have considered epigenetic alterations as the primary initiator of cancer development and metastasis. This review builds a picture of the epigenetic modifications implicated in the EMT of breast cancer. It focuses on TNBC and allows comparisons with other subtypes. It emphasizes the role of the main epigenetic modifications lncRNAs, miRNAs, histone and DNA- modifications in tumour invasion and appearance of metastases. These epigenetic alterations can be considered biomarkers representing potential diagnostic and prognostic factors in order to define a global metastatic signature for TNBC.