circRNA_101277 Influences Cisplatin Resistance of Colorectal Cancer Cells by Modulating the miR-370/IL-6 Axis

Emerging roles of CircRNA-miRNA networks in cancer development and therapeutic response

The complex interplay of epigenetic factors is essential in regulating the hallmarks of cancer and orchestrating intricate molecular interactions during tumor progression. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), known for their covalently closed loop structures, are non-coding RNA molecules exceptionally resistant to enzymatic degradation, which enhances their stability and regulatory functions in cancer. Similarly, microRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding RNAs with linear structures that regulate cellular biological processes akin to circRNAs. Both miRNAs and circRNAs exhibit aberrant expressions in various cancers. Notably, circRNAs can function as sponges for miRNAs, influencing their activity. The circRNA/miRNA interaction plays a pivotal role in the regulation of cancer progression, including in brain, gastrointestinal, gynecological, and urological cancers, influencing key processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and more. Additionally, this interaction impacts the response of tumor cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy and contributes to immune evasion, a significant challenge in cancer therapy. Both circRNAs and miRNAs hold potential as biomarkers for cancer prognosis and diagnosis. In this review, we delve into the circRNA-miRNA circuit within human cancers, emphasizing their role in regulating cancer hallmarks and treatment responses. This discussion aims to provide insights for future research to better understand their functions and potentially guide targeted treatments for cancer patients using circRNA/miRNA-based strategies.

Hierarchical Au@Pt nanoparticle/amino benzoic acid polymer-based hybrid material for labeled and label-free detection of interleukin-6: a comparative assessment

Interleukin-6 (IL6) is a cytokine mainly involved in inflammatory processes associated with various diseases, from rheumatoid arthritis and pathogen-caused infections to cancer, where malignant cells exhibit high proliferation and overexpression of cytokines, including IL6. Furthermore, IL6 plays a fundamental role in detecting and differentiating tumor cells, including colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Therefore, given its range of biological activities and pathological role, IL6 determination has been claimed for the diagnosis/prognosis of immune-mediated diseases. Herein, a comparative study is presented of labeled and label-free electrochemical immunosensors involving a hierarchical Au@Pt nanoparticle/polymer hybrid material for detecting IL6. The electrochemical immunosensors were independently coupled to the surface of screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) previously modified with polymeric layers. While in the label-free immunosensor, an anti-IL6 antibody (IL6-Ab) was covalently bound to the modified SPCE surface, in the sandwich-like amperometric immunosensor, an anti-biotinylated-IL6 antibody (B-IL6-Ab) was attached to the electrode through biotin-avidin affinity interactions. The label-free format employed a straightforward detection of IL6 by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The resulting electrochemical immunosensors exhibited a linear dynamic range from 50 to 750 pg/mL IL6, with detection limits (LOD) of 14.4 and 6.0 pg/mL for label-free and sandwich-like immunosensors, respectively. This outstanding performance makes them versatile platforms for clinical analysis of a panel of biomarkers for early diagnosis/prognosis of inflammatory processes associated with oncological diseases, among other pathologies.

Advanced strategies of targeting circular RNAs as therapeutic approaches in colorectal cancer drug resistance

Colorectal cancer (CRC) stands second in terms of mortality and third among the highest prevalent kinds of cancer globally. CRC prevalence is rising in moderately and poorly developed regions and is greater in economically advanced regions. Despite breakthroughs in targeted therapy, resistance to chemotherapeutics remains a significant challenge in the long-term management of CRC. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been involved in growing cancer therapy resistance, particularly in CRC, according to an increasing number of studies in recent years. CircRNAs are one of the novel subclasses of non-coding RNAs, previously thought of as viroid. According to studies, circRNAs have been recommended as biological markers for therapeutic targets and diagnostic and prognostic purposes. That is particularly notable given that the expression of circRNAs has been linked to the hallmarks of CRC since they are responsible for drug resistance in CRC patients; thereby, circRNAs are significant for chemotherapy failure. Moreover, knowledge concerning circRNAs remains relatively unclear despite using all these advanced techniques. Here, in this study, we will go over the most recent published work to highlight the critical roles of circRNAs in CRC development and drug resistance and highlight the main strategies to overcome drug resistance to improve clinical outcomes.

Circ_0000395 promotes cell growth, metastasis and oxaliplatin resistance by regulating miR-153-5p/MYO6 in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the regulation of colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and chemoresistence. Here, we attempted to reveal the function and mechanism of circ_0000395 in CRC chemoresistence.

METHODS

The expression levels of circ_0000395, microRNA (miR)-153-5p, and myosin VI (MYO6) were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Cell growth, metastasis and oxaliplatin resistance were evaluated via EdU assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, transwell assay, and cell counting kit 8 assay. Xenograft tumor model was adopted to evaluate the role of circ_0000395 on CRC tumor growth and oxaliplatin sensitivity. Protein expression of drug-resistance markers and MYO6 was analyzed by western blot. The target relationship between miR-153-5p and circ_0000395 or MYO6 was validated via dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay.

RESULTS

Circ_0000395 expression was enhanced in CRC tissues and cells. Silencing of circ_0000395 repressed CRC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while promoted apoptosis and oxaliplatin sensitivity. Besides, circ_0000395 knockdown also reduced CRC tumor growth and enhanced the sensitivity of tumor to oxaliplatin. Additionally, circ_0000395 acted as a sponge for miR-153-5p, and miR-153-5p targeted MYO6. Functional experiments suggested that miR-153-5p inhibitor or MYO6 overexpression could reverse the suppressive effect of circ_0000395 knockdown on CRC cell growth, metastasis and oxaliplatin resistance.

CONCLUSION

Circ_0000395 promoted CRC cell growth, metastasis and oxaliplatin resistance via the miR-153-5p/MYO6 axis, which might provide new insights into the treatment of CRC.

USP6 and circCYFIP2 target oncoprotein GOLPH3 for deubiquitination and induce platinum resistance in colon cancer

GOLPH3 has been identified as an oncoprotein, playing a crucial role on progression and chemoresistancein of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). However, it is still unclear the regulation of GOLPH3 expression at protein level. We discovered ubiquitin-specific proteases 6 (USP6) directly regulated the deubiquitination of the GOLPH3 protein and enhanced its stability in COAD. Overexpression of USP6 promoted COAD cell viability, inhibited apoptosis, and accelerated the growth of transplanted tumors growth in vitro and in vivo by deubiquitinating GOLPH3. Additionally, circCYFIP2 showed high expression levels in DDP-resistant colon cancer cells, promoting the cell proliferation. Mechanically, circCYFIP2 binds to both GOLPH3 protein and USP6, strengthening the interaction between GOLPH3 and USP6, and consequently induced DDP resistance in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, USP6 operates as a deubiquitinase, targeting the GOLPH3 protein in COAD and enhancing its stability. Meanwhile, circCYFIP2 is crucial for the deubiquitination of GOLPH3 protein mediated by USP6 and acts as a scaffold to confer platinum resistance. The discovery of circCYFIP2/USP6/GOLPH3 pathway offers a potential target for overcoming chemoresistance in COAD.

Roles of circRNAs in the progression of colorectal cancer: novel strategies for detection and therapy

Endogenous noncoding RNAs with a covalently closed loop are known as circular RNAs (circRNAs). Recently, published works have revealed that circRNAs, which act as microRNA sponges, are critical for the biological behavior of several kinds of malignancies, including tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis. Additionally, there is a significant correlation between circRNAs and tumor resistance, stage, prognosis, and size. At present, colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most serious malignant tumors for human health. CircRNAs could represent potential targets to use in the prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of CRC, according to many studies. To fully comprehend the role of circRNAs in the incidence and progression of CRC, this review outlines the regulatory role and mechanisms of circRNAs in CRC and assesses their potential relevance as diagnostic and treatment possibilities for CRC. Our goal is to offer meaningful biological information for clinical evaluation and decision-making process for CRC treatment.

CircHIF1A induces cetuximab resistance in colorectal cancer by promoting HIF1α-mediated glycometabolism alteration

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapy is an important treatment for RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), but the resistance mechanism remains unclear. Here, the differential expression of circRNAs between Cetuximab sensitive and resistant cell lines was analyzed using whole-transcriptome sequencing. We identified that the expression of circHIF1A was significantly higher in LIM1215-R than in LIM1215. When treated with Cetuximab, downregulation of circHIF1A level weakened the proliferation and clonal formation ability of LIM1215-R, caused more cells to enter G0-G1 phase, and significantly reduced the basal respiration, ATP production, and maximal respiration, as well as the glycolytic capacity and glycolytic reserve. The response rate and prognosis of circHIF1A-positive patients were inferior to those of negative patients. Mechanistically, circHIF1A can upregulate the level of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 A (HIF1A) by competitively binding to miR-361-5p, inducing the overexpression of enzymes such as glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA). In a xenograft model, inhibition of circHIF1A expression increased the sensitivity to Cetuximab treatment. In conclusion, circHIF1A can promote HIF1α-mediated glycometabolism alteration to induce Cetuximab resistance in CRC. It has the potential to become a screening indicator for the Cetuximab beneficial population in mCRC and a new therapeutic target for enhancing treatment efficacy.

N6-methyladenosine of TRIM27 enhances the stem cell-type phenotype of cisplatin-resistant colorectal cancer cells

Colorectal cancer (CRC), classified as a lethal form of cancer, substantially threatens human well-being. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) reflect subsets for cancerous cells having basic stem-cell type properties, being significantly involved in the development of chemoresistance and tumor relapsing. The aberrant TRIM27 expression in various types of cancer indicates its potential involvement in cancer growth and progression. The current understanding of the TRIM27 involvement in CRC remains limited. In current study indicated that TRIM27 can potentially promote CSC-type phenotype of Cisplatin (DDP)-resistant CRC cells. YTHDF1 recruitment onto m6A-amended TRIM27 was crucial for facilitating the TRIM27 translating process in DDP-resistant CRC cells. The present research proposes that TRIM27 exhibits an oncogenic role by enhancing the CSC-type properties in DDP-resistant CRC via the m6A-modified pathway. The potential therapy for combating the relapse of CRC may include TRIM27 and YTHDF1, as they have been found to have significant roles in promoting CSC-type phenotypic characteristics.

Physcion increases the sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma to sorafenib through miRNA-370/PIM1 axis-regulated glycolysis

BACKGROUND

Resistance to sorafenib has become a challenge in clinical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Physcion is a common bioactive anthraquinone that has potential as an anticancer agent.

AIM

To study the effect of physcion on sensitizing HCC cells to sorafenib.

METHODS

Sorafenib-resistant HCC cells were established and treated with sorafenib and/or physcion. The cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis were measured by cell counting kit-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, and in vivo xenograft model. Glucose uptake, lactate acid production, extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) were measured to analyze glycolysis. Expression of glycolysis-related regulators was assessed by western blotting.

RESULTS

The addition of physcion significantly enhanced the antitumor effects of sorafenib on sorafenib-resistant HCC cells, manifested by enhanced apoptosis and suppressed cell growth. The glucose uptake, lactate acid production, and ECAR were elevated, and OCR was suppressed by physcion treatment. The level of PIM1 was elevated and miR-370 was suppressed in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells compared with the parental cells, which was suppressed by physcion treatment. Inhibition of miR-370 notably reversed the effects of physcion on sorafenib-resistant HCC cells.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicated that physcion enhanced the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib by enhancing miR-370 to suppress PIM1-promoted glycolysis.

CircRNAs in colorectal cancer: potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets

Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded RNA with covalently closed-loop structures and are highly stable, conserved, and abundantly expressed in various organs and tissues. Recent research found abnormal circRNA expression in CRC patients' blood/serum, cells, CRC tissues, and exosomes. Furthermore, mounting data demonstrated that circRNAs are crucial to the development of CRC. CircRNAs have been shown to exert biological functions by acting as microRNA sponges, RNA-binding protein sponges, regulators of gene splicing and transcription, and protein/peptide translators. These characteristics make circRNAs potential markers for CRC diagnosis and prognosis, potential therapeutic targets, and circRNA-based therapies. However, further studies are still necessary to improve the understanding of the roles and biological mechanisms of circRNAs in the development of CRC. In this review, up-to-date research on the role of circRNAs in CRC was examined, focusing on their potential application in CRC diagnosis and targeted therapy, which would advance the knowledge of the functions of circRNAs in the development and progression of CRC.

Non-coding RNA in cancer drug resistance: Underlying mechanisms and clinical applications

Cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignant diseases worldwide, posing a serious, long-term threat to patients’ health and life. Systemic chemotherapy remains the first-line therapeutic approach for recurrent or metastatic cancer patients after surgery, with the potential to effectively extend patient survival. However, the development of drug resistance seriously limits the clinical efficiency of chemotherapy and ultimately results in treatment failure and patient death. A large number of studies have shown that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, are widely involved in the regulation of cancer drug resistance. Their dysregulation contributes to the development of cancer drug resistance by modulating the expression of specific target genes involved in cellular apoptosis, autophagy, drug efflux, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cancer stem cells (CSCs). Moreover, some ncRNAs also possess great potential as efficient, specific biomarkers in diagnosis and prognosis as well as therapeutic targets in cancer patients. In this review, we summarize the recent findings on the emerging role and underlying mechanisms of ncRNAs involved in cancer drug resistance and focus on their clinical applications as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. This information will be of great benefit to early diagnosis and prognostic assessments of cancer as well as the development of ncRNA-based therapeutic strategies for cancer patients.

Mechanisms of chemotherapeutic resistance and the application of targeted nanoparticles for enhanced chemotherapy in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is considered one of the major malignancies that threaten the lives and health of people around the world. Patients with CRC are prone to post-operative local recurrence or metastasis, and some patients are advanced at the time of diagnosis and have no chance for complete surgical resection. These factors make chemotherapy an indispensable and important tool in treating CRC. However, the complex composition of the tumor microenvironment and the interaction of cellular and interstitial components constitute a tumor tissue with high cell density, dense extracellular matrix, and high osmotic pressure, inevitably preventing chemotherapeutic drugs from entering and acting on tumor cells. As a result, a novel drug carrier system with targeted nanoparticles has been applied to tumor therapy. It can change the physicochemical properties of drugs, facilitate the crossing of drug molecules through physiological and pathological tissue barriers, and increase the local concentration of nanomedicines at lesion sites. In addition to improving drug efficacy, targeted nanoparticles also reduce side effects, enabling safer and more effective disease diagnosis and treatment and improving bioavailability. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms by which infiltrating cells and other stromal components of the tumor microenvironment comprise barriers to chemotherapy in colorectal cancer. The research and application of targeted nanoparticles in CRC treatment are also classified.

Potential of the miR-200 Family as a Target for Developing Anti-Cancer Therapeutics

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs (18–24 nucleotides) that play significant roles in cell proliferation, development, invasion, cancer development, cancer progression, and anti-cancer drug resistance. miRNAs target multiple genes and play diverse roles. miRNAs can bind to the 3′UTR of target genes and inhibit translation or promote the degradation of target genes. miR-200 family miRNAs mostly act as tumor suppressors and are commonly decreased in cancer. The miR-200 family has been reported as a valuable diagnostic and prognostic marker. This review discusses the clinical value of the miR-200 family, focusing on the role of the miR-200 family in the development of cancer and anti-cancer drug resistance. This review also provides an overview of the factors that regulate the expression of the miR-200 family, targets of miR-200 family miRNAs, and the mechanism of anti-cancer drug resistance regulated by the miR-200 family.