Long noncoding RNA BLACAT2 promotes bladder cancer-associated lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis

Exploration on the construction of a bladder cancer prognostic model based on disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs and its clinical significance

Disulfidptosis is a novel programmed cell death mode that has been reported to play a role in oncogenesis. Increasing evidences suggest that the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in the initiation and progression of bladder cancer (BLCA). However, the role and prognostic value of disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs in BLCA remain unknown.The aim of this study was to construct and validate a disulfidptosis-related lncRNA risk model for predicting the prognosis of BLCA patients. A risk model consisting of 5 disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs was developed to predict the prognosis of BLCA patients. The overall survival (OS) of BLCA patients in the high-risk group was significantly shorter than that in the low-risk group (P < 0.05). The effectiveness of this model was validated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and this model proved superior in prognostic accuracy compared with other clinical features. Furthermore, the tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) score in the high-risk group was significantly higher than that in the low-risk group, suggesting that the high-risk group had a less favorable response to immunotherapy. Simultaneously, patients in the low-risk group exhibited significantly higher sensitivity to CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody therapy compared to those in the high-risk group, suggesting potential benefits of immunotherapy for patients in the low-risk group. The combination of high risk and low tumor mutational burden (TMB) could further shortened the OS of BLCA patients. Lastly, the drug sensitivity analysis revealed that the BLCA cells in the high-risk group showed an increased sensitivity to cisplatin, sunitinib, cetuximab, axitinib, docetaxel, saracatinib, vinblastine and pazopanib compared with those in the low-risk group. According to the Quantitative real time PCR results, we found that five lncRNAs of the risk model were more highly expressed in BCa cell lines than human immortalized uroepithelial cell line. The disulfidptosis-related lncRNA risk model has a valuable effect in assessing the prognosis of BLCA patients.

Identifying functional cuproptosis-related long non-coding RNAs in patients with bladder cancer

Background

Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract and one of the most common cancers in the world. Cuproptosis is a novel type of cell death associated with tumorigenesis. In this study, we assessed the correlation between cuproptosis-related genes and tumorigenesis. Moreover, we constructed a prognostic signature.

Methods

Pearson correlation analysis and univariate Cox regression were utilized to extract cuproptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) predicting prognosis in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression was utilized to establish a cuproptosizs-related prognostic signature. A nomogram signature was generated to predict individual survival.

Results

We obtained 19 cuproptosis-related genes and 14 prognostic cuproptosis-related lncRNAs. We constructed a seven-prognostic risk signature. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated good predictive power (1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of 0.711, 0.673, and 0.684, respectively). The high-risk group reported a worse prognosis than the low-risk group, and the risk signature was identified as an independent factor. The biological process of risk-related genes primarily involved tumorigenesis and migration. The high-risk group expressed high chemokines and T cell inhibition and low antigen-presenting cells.

Conclusions

Cuproptosis-related lncRNAs are central to tumorigenesis, providing a novel therapeutic target for patients with bladder cancer. We constructed an individualized predictive signature based on cuproptosis-related lncRNAs.

Long non-coding RNAs: regulators of autophagy and potential biomarkers in therapy resistance and urological cancers

The non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) comprise a large part of human genome that mainly do not code for proteins. Although ncRNAs were first believed to be non-functional, the more investigations highlighted tthe possibility of ncRNAs in controlling vital biological processes. The length of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exceeds 200 nucleotidesand can be present in nucleus and cytoplasm. LncRNAs do not translate to proteins and they have been implicated in the regulation of tumorigenesis. On the other hand, One way cells die is by a process called autophagy, which breaks down proteins and other components in the cytoplasm., while the aberrant activation of autophagy allegedly involved in the pathogenesis of diseases. The autophagy exerts anti-cancer activity in pre-cancerous lesions, while it has oncogenic function in advanced stages of cancers. The current overview focuses on the connection between lncRNAs and autophagy in urological cancers is discussed. Notably, one possible role for lncRNAs is as diagnostic and prognostic variablesin urological cancers. The proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis and therapy response in prostate, bladder and renal cancers are regulated by lncRNAs. The changes in autophagy levels can also influence the apoptosis, proliferation and therapy response in urological tumors. Since lncRNAs have modulatory functions, they can affect autophagy mechanism to determine progression of urological cancers.

LNMAC Promotes Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma Lymphatic Metastasis via Epigenetic Regulation of FGF2-Induced Lymphangiogenesis

The lymph node is the most common site of distant metastasis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), which elicits dismal prognosis and limited efficiency for treatment. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying CSCC lymphatic metastasis would provide potential therapeutic strategies for nodal metastatic of CSCC. Here, based on in vivo lymphatic metastasis screening model, a circular RNA is identified that is termed as lymph node metastasis associated circRNA (LNMAC), is markedly upregulated in lymphatic metastatic CSCC and correlated with lymph node metastasis. Overexpression of LNMAC dramatically augments the metastatic capability of CSCC cells to the lymph node via inducing lymphangiogenesis. Mechanistically, LNMAC epigenetically upregulates fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) expression by directly associating with histone acacetylase 1 (HDAC1), preventing Importin α6/8-mediated nuclear translocation of HDAC1 and eliciting histone H3K27ac-induced FGF2 transcriptional activation. Treatment with 3F12E7, an anti-FGF2 monoclonal antibody, effectively inhibits LNMAC-induced CSCC lymphatic metastasis. Taken together, these findings indicate that LNMAC plays a crucial role in FGF2-mediated lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis, highlighting that LNMAC might be a therapeutic target for lymph node metastasis in CSCC patients.

Integrin α6-containing extracellular vesicles promote lymphatic remodelling for pre-metastatic niche formation in lymph nodes via interplay with CD151

Heterogeneous extracellular vesicles (EVs) from various types of tumours are acknowledged for inducing the formation of pre-metastatic "niches" in draining lymph nodes (LNs) to promote lymphatic metastasis. In order to identify the specific subpopulations of EVs involved, we performed high-resolution proteomic analysis combined with nanoflow cytometry of bladder cancer (BCa) tissue-derived EVs to identify a novel subset of tumour-derived EVs that contain integrin α6 (ITGA6+EVs) and revealed the positive correlation of ITGA6+EVs with the formation of pre-metastatic niche in draining LNs and lymphatic metastasis in multicentre clinical analysis of 820-case BCa patients. BCa-derived ITGA6+EVs induced E-selectin (SELE)-marked lymphatic remodelling pre-metastatic niche and promoted metastasis in draining LNs through delivering cargo circRNA-LIPAR to lymphatic endothelial cells in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, LIPAR linked ITGA6 to the switch II domain of RAB5A and sustained RAB5A GTP-bound activated state, thus maintaining the production of ITGA6+EVs loaded with LIPAR through endosomal trafficking. ITGA6+EVs targeted lymphatic vessels through ITGA6-CD151 interplay and released LIPAR to induce SELE overexpression-marked lymphatic remodelling pre-metastatic niche. Importantly, we constructed engineered-ITGA6 EVs to inhibit lymphatic pre-metastatic niche, which suppressed lymphatic metastasis and prolonged survival in preclinical models. Collectively, our study uncovers the mechanism of BCa-derived ITGA6+EVs mediating pre-metastatic niche and provides an engineered-EV-based strategy against BCa lymphatic metastasis.

Role of Non-coding RNAs in the Response of Glioblastoma to Temozolomide

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are widely used in clinical practice across the globe as cancer treatments. Intrinsic or acquired chemoresistance poses a significant problem for medical practitioners and researchers, causing tumor recurrence and metastasis. The most dangerous kind of malignant brain tumor is called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) that often recurs following surgery. The most often used medication for treating GBM is temozolomide chemotherapy; however, most patients eventually become resistant. Researchers are studying preclinical models that accurately reflect human disease and can be used to speed up drug development to overcome chemoresistance in GBM. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been shown to be substantial in regulating tumor development and facilitating treatment resistance in several cancers, such as GBM. In this work, we mentioned the mechanisms of how different ncRNAs (microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs) can regulate temozolomide chemosensitivity in GBM. We also address the role of these ncRNAs encapsulated inside secreted exosomes.

UBE2C-induced crosstalk between mono- and polyubiquitination of SNAT2 promotes lymphatic metastasis in bladder cancer

Ubiquitination plays an essential role in protein stability, subcellular localization, and interactions. Crosstalk between different types of ubiquitination results in distinct biological outcomes for proteins. However, the role of ubiquitination-related crosstalk in lymph node (LN) metastasis and the key regulatory factors controlling this process have not been determined. Using high-throughput sequencing, we found that ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 C (UBE2C) was overexpressed in bladder cancer (BCa) and was strongly associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Overexpression of UBE2C increased BCa lymphangiogenesis and promoted LN metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, UBE2C mediated sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2 (SNAT2) monoubiquitination at lysine 59 to inhibit K63-linked polyubiquitination at lysine 33 of SNAT2. Crosstalk between monoubiquitination and K63-linked polyubiquitination increased SNAT2 membrane protein levels by suppressing epsin 1-mediated (EPN1-mediated) endocytosis. SNAT2 facilitated glutamine uptake and metabolism to promote VEGFC secretion, ultimately leading to lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis in patients with BCa. Importantly, inhibition of UBE2C significantly attenuated BCa lymphangiogenesis in a patient-derived xenograft model. Our results reveal the mechanism by which UBE2C mediates crosstalk between the monoubiquitination and K63-linked polyubiquitination of SNAT2 to promote BCa metastasis and identify UBE2C as a promising target for treating LN-metastatic BCa.

LINC00958 as new diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia of B cells

Background

Paediatric acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common cancer of the paediatric age. Although the advancement of scientific and technological knowledge has ensured a huge step forward in the management of this disease, there are 15%-20% cases of recurrence leading to serious complications for the patient and sometimes even death. It is therefore necessary to identify new and increasingly personalised biomarkers capable of predicting the degree of risk of B-ALL in order to allow the correct management of paediatric leukaemia patients.

Methods

Starting from our previously published results, we validate the expression level of LINC00958 in a cohort of 33 B-ALL and 9 T-ALL childhood patients, using in-silico public datasets as support. Expression levels of LINC00958 in B-ALL patients stratified by risk (high risk vs. standard/medium risk) and who relapsed 3 years after the first leukaemia diagnosis were also evaluated.

Results

We identified the lncRNA LINC00958 as a biomarker of B-ALL, capable of discriminating B-ALL from T-ALL and healthy subjects. Furthermore, we associated LINC00958 expression levels with the disease risk classification (high risk and standard risk). Finally, we show that LINC00958 can be used as a predictor of relapses in patients who are usually stratified as standard risk and thus not always targeted for marrow transplantation.

Conclusions

Our results open the way to new diagnostic perspectives that can be directly used in clinical practice for a better management of B-ALL paediatric patients.

Chitinase 3-like 1 expression associated with lymphatic metastasis and prognosis in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

Objectives

Lymphatic metastasis, an early stage of the metastasis process, is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB). However, the role of inflammation in triggering lymphatic metastasis remains unclear.

Methods

We employed an RNA-sequencing cohort (n = 50) from Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital (SYMH) to identify the most highly upregulated inflammatory gene associated with lymphatic metastasis. Using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses, we validated the association of the identified molecule with clinical features and prognosis in an independent UCB cohort (n = 244) from SYMH. We also analysed TCGA-BLCA cohort (n = 408) to identify its potential biological pathways and immune landscape.

Results

In our study, chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) emerged as a significantly overexpressed proinflammatory mediator in UCB tissues with lymphatic metastasis compared to those without lymphatic metastasis (81.1% vs. 47.8%, P < 0.001). Within UCB tissues, CHI3L1 was expressed in both stromal cells (52.8%) and tumor cells (7.3%). Moreover, CHI3L1+ stromal cells, but not tumor cells, exhibited independent prognostic significance for both overall survival (P < 0.001) and recurrence-free survival (P = 0.006). CHI3L1+ stromal cells were positively associated with D2-40+ lymphatic vessel density (P < 0.001) and the immunosuppressive PD-L1/PD-1/CD8 axis in UCB tissues (all P < 0.05). A bioinformatics analysis also identified a positive association between CHI3L1 expression and lymphangiogenesis or immunosuppression pathways.

Conclusion

Our study established a clear association between stromal CHI3L1 expression and lymphatic metastasis, suggesting that stromal CHI3L1 expression is a potential prognostic marker for bladder cancer patients.

DLGAP5 triggers proliferation and metastasis of bladder cancer by stabilizing E2F1 via USP11

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is one of the most widespread malignancies worldwide, and displays significant tumor heterogeneity. Understanding the molecular mechanisms exploitable for treating aggressive BLCA represents a crucial objective. Despite the involvement of DLGAP5 in tumors, its precise molecular role in BLCA remains unclear. BLCA tissues exhibit a substantial increase in DLGAP5 expression compared with normal bladder tissues. This heightened DLGAP5 expression positively correlated with the tumor's clinical stage and significantly affected prognosis negatively. Additionally, experiments conducted in vitro and in vivo revealed that alterations in DLGAP5 expression notably influence cell proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, the findings demonstrated that DLGAP5 was a direct binding partner of E2F1 and that DLGAP5 stabilized E2F1 by preventing the ubiquitination of E2F1 through USP11. Furthermore, as a pivotal transcription factor, E2F1 fosters the transcription of DLGAP5, establishing a positive feedback loop between DLGAP5 and E2F1 that accelerates BLCA development. In summary, this study identified DLGAP5 as an oncogene in BLCA. Our research unveils a novel oncogenic mechanism in BLCA and offers a potential target for both diagnosing and treating BLCA.

Lymphatic vessel: origin, heterogeneity, biological functions, and therapeutic targets

Lymphatic vessels, comprising the secondary circulatory system in human body, play a multifaceted role in maintaining homeostasis among various tissues and organs. They are tasked with a serious of responsibilities, including the regulation of lymph absorption and transport, the orchestration of immune surveillance and responses. Lymphatic vessel development undergoes a series of sophisticated regulatory signaling pathways governing heterogeneous-origin cell populations stepwise to assemble into the highly specialized lymphatic vessel networks. Lymphangiogenesis, as defined by new lymphatic vessels sprouting from preexisting lymphatic vessels/embryonic veins, is the main developmental mechanism underlying the formation and expansion of lymphatic vessel networks in an embryo. However, abnormal lymphangiogenesis could be observed in many pathological conditions and has a close relationship with the development and progression of various diseases. Mechanistic studies have revealed a set of lymphangiogenic factors and cascades that may serve as the potential targets for regulating abnormal lymphangiogenesis, to further modulate the progression of diseases. Actually, an increasing number of clinical trials have demonstrated the promising interventions and showed the feasibility of currently available treatments for future clinical translation. Targeting lymphangiogenic promoters or inhibitors not only directly regulates abnormal lymphangiogenesis, but improves the efficacy of diverse treatments. In conclusion, we present a comprehensive overview of lymphatic vessel development and physiological functions, and describe the critical involvement of abnormal lymphangiogenesis in multiple diseases. Moreover, we summarize the targeting therapeutic values of abnormal lymphangiogenesis, providing novel perspectives for treatment strategy of multiple human diseases.

DUSP2 affects bladder cancer prognosis by down-regulating MEK/ERK and P38 MAPK signaling pathways through PTPN7

BACKGROUND

As one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide, bladder cancer (BCa) ranks 12th in incidence rate. Dual Specific Phosphatase 2 (DUSP2) is a member of the bispecific protein phosphatase subfamily. DUSP2 is closely related to the prognosis of cancer, but the role of DUSP2 in bladder cancer is still unclear. This study aims to explore how DUSP2 affects the prognosis of bladder cancer and clarify the important mechanism in bladder cancer.

METHODS

Bioinformatics and experiments have detected the anti-tumor effect of DUSP2. Construct a DUSP2 overexpression cell model, and then use protein blotting experiments to verify the efficiency of transfection. The effects of DUSP2 on proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and immune invasion of bladder cancer cells were detected in vitro or in vivo. In addition, the mechanism of DUSP2 regulating MEK/ERK through PTPN7 pathway and P38 MAPK inhibiting the progression of bladder cancer was also discussed.

RESULTS

The expression of DUSP2 was down regulated in bladder cancer samples and cell lines. The overexpression of DUSP2 inhibits the proliferation, metastasis and immune microenvironment of bladder cancer cells. In addition, we confirmed that DUSP2 regulates MEK/ERK and P38 MAPK through PTPN7 pathway to inhibit the progression of bladder cancer.

CONCLUSION

DUSP2 inhibits the progression of bladder cancer by regulating PTPN7. These results suggest that DUSP2/PTPN7/MEK/ERK pathway may become a new therapeutic target for bladder cancer.

LncRNA TYMSOS is a novel prognostic biomarker associated with immune infiltration in prostate cancer

The long noncoding RNA thymidylate synthetase opposite strand (lncRNA TYMSOS) plays an important role in cancers; however, its impact on prostate cancer (PCa) is still unclear. By analyzing the online data, we found that lncRNA TYMSOS was highly expressed in PCa and associated with T stage, Gleason score, age, and primary therapy outcome. The results of the ROC curve showed that lncRNA TYMSOS has a significant diagnostic ability. Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier analyses suggested that lncRNA TYMSOS plays an important role in progression-free survival (PFS). Increased lncRNA TYMSOS expression was an independent risk factor correlated with PFS in PCa patients. GSEA and GSVA indicated that the lncRNA TYMSOS was involved in the cell cycle, neurodegenerative diseases, oxidative phosphorylation, spliceosomes, and adaptive immune system pathways. Additionally, lncRNA TYMSOS expression was also associated with immune cell infiltrates and tumor mutational burden in PCa. Functional experiments were further conducted, and we verified that lncRNA TYMSOS played an oncogenic role in regulating PCa aggressiveness. Specifically, silencing of lncRNA TYMSOS suppressed cell proliferation, division and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) but promoted cell apoptosis in PCa cells, and conversely, lncRNA TYMSOS overexpression had the opposite effects. In summary, our study revealed that the lncRNA TYMSOS could be a biomarker and therapeutic target in PCa and participate in tumor-immune cell infiltration.

WDR4 promotes the progression and lymphatic metastasis of bladder cancer via transcriptional down-regulation of ARRB2

Lymph node (LN) metastasis is one of the key prognostic factors in bladder cancer, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we found that elevated expression of WD repeat domain 4 (WDR4) in bladder cancer correlated with worse prognosis. WDR4 can promote the LN metastasis and proliferation of bladder cancer cells. Mechanistic studies showed that WDR4 can promote the nuclear localization of DEAD-box helicase 20 (DDX20) and act as an adaptor to bind DDX20 and Early growth response 1 (Egr1), thereby inhibiting Egr1-promoted transcriptional expression of arrestin beta 2 (ARRB2) and ultimately contributing to the progression of bladder cancer. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that WDR4 expression is also an independent predictor of LN metastasis in bladder cancer. Our results reveal a novel mechanism of LN metastasis and progression in bladder cancer and identify WDR4 as a potential therapeutic target for metastatic bladder cancer.

Lymph node metastasis in cancer progression: molecular mechanisms, clinical significance and therapeutic interventions

Lymph nodes (LNs) are important hubs for metastatic cell arrest and growth, immune modulation, and secondary dissemination to distant sites through a series of mechanisms, and it has been proved that lymph node metastasis (LNM) is an essential prognostic indicator in many different types of cancer. Therefore, it is important for oncologists to understand the mechanisms of tumor cells to metastasize to LNs, as well as how LNM affects the prognosis and therapy of patients with cancer in order to provide patients with accurate disease assessment and effective treatment strategies. In recent years, with the updates in both basic and clinical studies on LNM and the application of advanced medical technologies, much progress has been made in the understanding of the mechanisms of LNM and the strategies for diagnosis and treatment of LNM. In this review, current knowledge of the anatomical and physiological characteristics of LNs, as well as the molecular mechanisms of LNM, are described. The clinical significance of LNM in different anatomical sites is summarized, including the roles of LNM playing in staging, prognostic prediction, and treatment selection for patients with various types of cancers. And the novel exploration and academic disputes of strategies for recognition, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions of metastatic LNs are also discussed.

LncRNA AC142119.1 facilitates the progression of neuroblastoma by epigenetically initiating the transcription of MYCN

BACKGROUND

Oncogene MYCN is closely related with malignant progression and poor prognosis of neuroblastoma (NB). Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recognized as crucial regulators in various cancers. However, whether lncRNAs contribute to the overexpression of MYCN in NB is unclear.

METHODS

Microarray analysis were applied to analyze the differentially expressed lncRNAs between MYCN-amplified and MYCN-non-amplified NB cell lines. Bioinformatic analyses were utilized to identify lncRNAs nearby MYCN locus. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression level of lncRNA AC142119.1 in NB cell lines and tissues. Gain- and loss-of-function assays were conducted to investigate the biological effect of AC142119.1 in NB. Fluorescence in situ hybridization, RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, RNA electrophoretic mobility shift, chromatin immunoprecipitation and chromatin isolation by RNA purification assays were performed to validate the interaction between AC142119.1 and WDR5 protein as well as MYCN promoter.

RESULTS

AC142119.1 was significantly elevated in NB tissues with MYCN amplification, advanced INSS stage and high risk, and associated with poor survival of NB patients. Moreover, enforced expression of AC142119.1 reinforced the proliferation of NB cells in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, AC142119.1 specifically recruited WDR5 protein to interact with MYCN promoter, further initiating the transcription of MYCN and accelerating NB progression.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified a novel lncRNA AC142119.1, which promoted the progression of NB through epigenetically initiating the transcription of MYCN via interacting with both WDR5 protein and the promoter of MYCN, indicating that AC142119.1 might be a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for NB.

Angiogenesis-An Emerging Role in Organ Fibrosis

In recent years, the study of lymphangiogenesis and fibrotic diseases has made considerable achievements, and accumulating evidence indicates that lymphangiogenesis plays a key role in the process of fibrosis in various organs. Although the effects of lymphangiogenesis on fibrosis disease have not been conclusively determined due to different disease models and pathological stages of organ fibrosis, its importance in the development of fibrosis is unquestionable. Therefore, we expounded on the characteristics of lymphangiogenesis in fibrotic diseases from the effects of lymphangiogenesis on fibrosis, the source of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), the mechanism of fibrosis-related lymphangiogenesis, and the therapeutic effect of intervening lymphangiogenesis on fibrosis. We found that expansion of LECs or lymphatic networks occurs through original endothelial cell budding or macrophage differentiation into LECs, and the vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGFC)/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR3) pathway is central in fibrosis-related lymphangiogenesis. Lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE1), as a receptor of LECs, is also involved in the regulation of lymphangiogenesis. Intervention with lymphangiogenesis improves fibrosis to some extent. In the complex organ fibrosis microenvironment, a variety of functional cells, inflammatory factors and chemokines synergistically or antagonistically form the complex network involved in fibrosis-related lymphangiogenesis and regulate the progression of fibrosis disease. Further clarifying the formation of a new fibrosis-related lymphangiogenesis network may potentially provide new strategies for the treatment of fibrosis disease.

M6A-mediated-upregulation of lncRNA BLACAT3 promotes bladder cancer angiogenesis and hematogenous metastasis through YBX3 nuclear shuttling and enhancing NCF2 transcription

Lymphatic metastasis is recognized as the leading manner of metastasis in bladder cancer (BLCa), but hematogenous metastasis accounts for a majority of cancer-associated deaths. The past two decades have witnessed tremendous attention in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are a new hope for the development of targeted drug therapy for metastatic cancers; however, the underlying mechanism of lncRNAs involved in BLCa hematogenous metastasis remains to be elucidated. Here, we identified BLCa-associated transcript 3 (BLACAT3), a lncRNA, which was aberrantly upregulated in BLCa and corelated with poor prognosis of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Methodologically, m6A epitranscriptomic microarray, RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry (MS) were used to screen the key molecules of the regulatory axis. Functional assays, animal models and clinical samples were used to explore the roles of BLACAT3 in BLCa in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, m6A modification contributes to BLACAT3 upregulation by stabilizing RNA structure. BLACAT3 recruits YBX3 to shuttle into the nucleus, synergistically enhances NCF2 transcription, and promotes BLCa angiogenesis and hematogenous metastasis by activating downstream NF-κB signaling. Our findings will develop prognosis prediction tools for BLCa patients and discover novel therapeutic biological targets for metastatic BLCa.

Molecular landscape of LncRNAs in bladder cancer: From drug resistance to novel LncRNA-based therapeutic strategies

Bladder cancer (BC) is a common and serious type of cancer that ranks among the top ten most prevalent malignancies worldwide. Due to the high occurrence rate of BC, the aggressive nature of cancer cells, and their resistance to medication, managing this disease has become a growing challenge in clinical care. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of RNA transcripts that do not code for proteins and are more than 200 nucleotides in length. They play a significant role in controlling cellular pathways and molecular interactions during the onset, development and progression of different types of cancers. Recent advancements in high-throughput gene sequencing technology have led to the identification of various differentially expressed lncRNAs in BC, which indicate abnormal expression. In this review, we summarize that these lncRNAs have been found to impact several functions related to the development of BC, including proliferation, cell growth, migration, metastasis, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and chemo- and radio-resistance. Additionally, lncRNAs may improve prognosis prediction for BC patients, indicating a future use for them as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for BC patients. This review highlights that genetic tools and anti-tumor agents, such as CRISPR/Cas systems, siRNA, shRNA, antisense oligonucleotides, and vectors, have been created for use in preclinical cancer models. This has led to a growing interest in using lncRNAs based on positive research findings.

The emerging roles of long noncoding RNAs in lymphatic vascular development and disease

Recent advances in RNA sequencing technologies helped uncover what was once uncharted territory in the human genome-the complex and versatile world of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Previously thought of as merely transcriptional "noise", lncRNAs have now emerged as essential regulators of gene expression networks controlling development, homeostasis and disease progression. The regulatory functions of lncRNAs are broad and diverse, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are highly variable, acting at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels. In recent years, evidence has accumulated to support the important role of lncRNAs in the development and functioning of the lymphatic vasculature and associated pathological processes such as tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis and cancer metastasis. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of lncRNAs in regulating the key genes and pathways involved in lymphatic vascular development and disease. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of lncRNAs as novel therapeutic targets and outline possible strategies for the development of lncRNA-based therapeutics to treat diseases of the lymphatic system.

Crosstalk between autophagy and bladder transitional cell carcinoma by autophagy-related lncRNAs

The aim of this study was to investigate the crosstalk between autophagy and bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) by autophagy-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). A total of 400 TCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas were enrolled in this study. We identified the autophagy-related lncRNA expression profile of the TCC patients and then constructed a prognostic signature using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operation and Cox regression. Risk, survival, and independent prognostic analyses were carried out. Receiver operating characteristic curve, nomogram, and calibration curves were explored. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was employed to verify the enhanced autophagy-related functions. Finally, we compared the signature with several other lncRNA-based signatures. A 9-autophagy-related lncRNA signature was established by least absolute shrinkage and selection operation-Cox regression that was significantly associated with overall survival in TCC. Among them, 8 of the 9 lncRNAs were protective factors while the remaining was a risk factor. The risk scores calculated by the signature showed significant prognostic value in survival analysis between the high- or low-risk groups. The 5-year survival rate for the high-risk group was 26.0% while the rate for the low-risk group was 56.0% (P < .05). Risk score was the only significant risk factor in the multivariate Cox regression survival analysis (P < .001). A nomogram connecting this signature with clinicopathologic characteristics was assembled. To assess the performance of the nomogram, a C-index (0.71) was calculated, which showed great convergence with an ideal model. The Gene Set Enrichment Analysis results demonstrated 2 major autophagy-related pathways were significantly enhanced in TCC. And this signature performed a similar predictive effect as other publications. The crosstalk between autophagy and TCC is significant, and this 9 autophagy-related lncRNA signature is a great predictor of TCC.

Loss of MIR503HG facilitates papillary renal cell carcinoma associated lymphatic metastasis by triggering NOTCH1/VEGFC signaling

Clinical lymphatic metastasis indicates an extremely poor prognosis. Patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) have a high probability of progressing to lymphatic metastasis. However, the molecular mechanism of pRCC-associated lymphatic metastasis has not been elucidated. In this study, we found a downregulated long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MIR503HG in pRCC primary tumor tissues due to hypermethylation at the CpG islands within its transcriptional start site. Decreased MIR503HG expression could stimulate tube formation and migration of human lymphatic endothelial cell (HLEC) and play a central role to promote lymphatic metastasis in vivo by enhancing tumor lymphangiogenesis. MIR503HG, located in the nucleus, bound with histone variant H2A.Z and affected the recruitment of histone variant H2A.Z to chromatin. Subsequently, increasing the H3K27 trimethylation caused by MIR503HG-overexpression epigenetically downregulated the NOTCH1 expression, which ultimately resulted in decreasing VEGFC secretion and lymphangiogenesis. Additionally, downregulated MIR503HG facilitated the HNRNPC expression, which ultimately promoted the maturation of NOTCH1 mRNA. Notably, upregulating MIR503HG expression might decrease pRCC resistance to the mTOR inhibitor. Together, these findings highlighted a VEGFC-independent mechanism of MIR503HG-mediated lymphatic metastasis. MIR503HG, identified as a novel pRCC-suppressor, would serve as the potentially biomarker for lymphatic metastasis.

Long non-coding RNA MFSD4A-AS1 promotes lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer

Lymphatic metastasis is the leading cause responsible for recurrence and progression in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), where dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been extensively demonstrated to be implicated. However, the specific lymphatic node metastatsis-related lncRNAs remain not identified in PTC yet. Lymphatic node metastatsis-related lncRNA, MFSD4A-AS1, was explored in the PTC dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas and our clinical samples. The roles of MFSD4A-AS1 in lymphatic metastasis were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatic analysis, luciferase assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were performed to identify the potential targets and the underlying pathway of MFSD4A-AS1 in lymphatic metastasis of PTC. MFSD4A-AS1 was specifically upregulated in PTC tissues with lymphatic metastasis. Upregulating MFSD4A-AS1 promoted mesh formation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and invasion and migration of PTC cells. Importantly and consistently, MFSD4A-AS1 promoted lymphatic metastasis of PTC cells in vivo by inducing the lymphangiogenic formation and enhancing the invasive capability of PTC cells. Mechanistic dissection further revealed that MFSD4A-AS1 functioned as competing endogenous RNA to sequester miR-30c-2-3p, miR-145-3p and miR-139-5p to disrupt the miRNA-mediated inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factors A and C, and further activated transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling by sponging miR-30c-2-3p that targeted TGFBR2 and USP15, both of which synergistically promoted lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis of PTC. Our results unravel novel dual mechanisms by which MFSD4A-AS1 promotes lymphatic metastasis of PTC, which will facilitate the development of anti-lymphatic metastatic therapeutic strategy in PTC.

LncRNA SNHG3 enhances BMI1 mRNA stability by binding and regulating c-MYC: Implications for the carcinogenic role of SNHG3 in bladder cancer

The transformation of nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (BLCa) to muscle-invasive type and distant metastasis are the two major threats to patients after surgery. Thus, it is important to identify the key genes of BLCa cell invasion and metastasis. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is a potential clinical tool for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Herein, we verified that lncRNA SNHG3 is upregulated in human BLCa specimens and is proportional to poor clinical prognosis via a combination of bioinformatic analyses and wet bench experiments. Then, we constructed SNHG3 knockdown and overexpression cell models via lentiviral packaging and CRISPR-Cas9 technique. Fluorescence in situ hybridization assay showed that SNHG3 is distributed in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of BLCa cell lines. In vitro assays including CCK-8, EdU, colony formation, wound healing, transwell, and tube formation demonstrated that SNHG3 knockdown and overexpression potently inhibited and enhanced BLCa cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. In addition, IVIS imaging revealed that SNHG3 knockdown could significantly inhibit M-NSG mice xenograft tumor growth. Next, RNA sequencing, bioinformatics analyses and western blots indicated that SNHG3 could promote c-MYC expression. RNA immunoprecipitation, actinomycin D assay and western blot assays suggested that SNHG3 could also bind c-MYC protein which subsequently facilitate the stabilization of BMI1 mRNA, thus enhancing BMI1 protein level. However, SNHG3 knockdown had a slightly weaker inhibitory effect on BMI1 expression than c-MYC knockdown. Further, in vitro assays demonstrated that BMI1 knockdown could suppress the SNHG3 activation-induced tumor promoting effect in BLCa cells. Overall, this study has provided new insights into the potential implication of lncRNA SNHG3 in the pathogenesis of BLCa. Importantly, SNHG3/c-MYC/BMI1 axis may be a novel target for regulating tumor growth and metastasis in BLCa patients.

The Long Noncoding RNA LINC00958 Is Induced in Psoriasis Epidermis and Modulates Epidermal Proliferation

Psoriasis is a common, immune-mediated skin disease characterized by epidermal hyperproliferation and chronic skin inflammation. Long noncoding RNAs are >200 nucleotide-long transcripts that possess important regulatory functions. To date, little is known about the contribution of long noncoding RNAs to psoriasis. In this study, we identify LINC00958 as a long noncoding RNA overexpressed in keratinocytes (KCs) from psoriasis skin lesions, in a transcriptomic screen performed on KCs sorted from psoriasis and healthy skin. Increased levels of LINC00958 in psoriasis KCs were confirmed by RT-qPCR and single-molecule in situ hybridization. Confocal microscopy and analysis of subcellular fractions showed that LINC00958 is mainly localized in the cytoplasm of KCs. IL-17A, a key psoriasis cytokine, induced LINC00958 in KCs through C/EBP-β and the p38 pathway. The inhibition of LINC00958 led to decreased proliferation as measured by Ki-67 expression, IncuCyte imaging, and 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine assays. Transcriptomic analysis of LINC00958-depleted KCs revealed enrichment of proliferation- and cell cycle‒related genes among differentially expressed transcripts. Moreover, LINC00958 depletion led to decreased basal and IL-17A‒induced phosphorylation of p38. Furthermore, IL-17A‒induced KC proliferation was counteracted by the inhibition of LINC00958. In summary, our data support a role for the IL-17A‒induced long noncoding RNA, LINC00958, in the pathological circuits of psoriasis by reinforcing IL-17A‒induced epidermal hyperproliferation.

Extracellular Vesicles: New Classification and Tumor Immunosuppression

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived membrane-surrounded vesicles carrying various types of molecules. These EV cargoes are often used as pathophysiological biomarkers and delivered to recipient cells whose fates are often altered in local and distant tissues. Classical EVs are exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, while recent studies discovered autophagic EVs, stressed EVs, and matrix vesicles. Here, we classify classical and new EVs and non-EV nanoparticles. We also review EVs-mediated intercellular communication between cancer cells and various types of tumor-associated cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts, adipocytes, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and immune cells. Of note, cancer EVs play crucial roles in immunosuppression, immune evasion, and immunotherapy resistance. Thus, cancer EVs change hot tumors into cold ones. Moreover, cancer EVs affect nonimmune cells to promote cellular transformation, including epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), chemoresistance, tumor matrix production, destruction of biological barriers, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and metastatic niche formation.

ALKBH5 activates FAK signaling through m6A demethylation in ITGB1 mRNA and enhances tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis in ovarian cancer

Background: Lymph node (LN) metastasis is common in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and is associated with poor prognosis. Tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis is the first stage of LN metastasis. Research on lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastases can help develop new anti-LN-targeted therapies. Aberrant N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications have been reported to be linked to LN metastasis in several cancers, however, their role in EOC lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis remains unclear. Methods: m6A levels in EOC tissues with or without LN metastases were evaluated by dot blot analysis. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence were used to examine the expression of m6A-related enzymes. Additionally, in vitro and in vivo functional studies were performed to discover the importance of the AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) gene in EOC lymphatic metastasis. To identify the downstream target genes regulated by ALKBH5, we performed RNA pulldown, RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR, co-immunoprecipitation, m6A-modified RNA immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR, and luciferase reporter assays. Results: m6A modification was reduced in ovarian cancers with LN metastases. ALKBH5 overexpression increased tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. ALKBH5 overexpression also reversed the m6A modification in ITGB1 mRNA and suppressed the YTHDF2 protein-mediated m6A-dependent ITGB1 mRNA degradation, which resulted in increased expression of ITGB1 and phosphorylation of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Src proto-oncogene proteins, thereby increasing LN metastasis. Furthermore, hypoxia induced the expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha, which increased ALKBH5 expression and enhanced LN metastasis in EOC. Conclusions: The ALKBH5/m6A-ITGB1/FAK signalling axis is important in ovarian cancer lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis. Antibodies that block ITGB1 and FAK kinase-inhibitors are promising anti-metastatic agents.

LncRNA CEBPA-DT promotes liver cancer metastasis through DDR2/β-catenin activation via interacting with hnRNPC

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the world's third leading cause of cancer-related death; due to the fast growth and high prevalence of tumor recurrence, the prognosis of HCC patients remains dismal. Long non-coding RNA CEBPA-DT, a divergent transcript of the CCAAT Enhancer Binding Protein Alpha (CEBPA) gene, has been shown to participate in multiple tumor progression. However, no research has established its cancer-promoting mechanism in HCC yet.

METHODS

CEBPA-DT was identified in human HCC tissues through RNA sequencing. The expression level of CEBPA-DT was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. The biological effects of CEBPA-DT were evaluated in vitro and in vivo through gain or loss of function experiments. RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays were applied to investigate the downstream target of CEBPA-DT. Immunofluorescence, subcellular protein fractionation, western blot, and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to analyze the subcellular location of β-catenin and its interaction with Discoidin domain-containing receptor 2 (DDR2).

RESULTS

CEBPA-DT was upregulated in human HCC tissues with postoperative distant metastasis and intimately related to the worse prognosis of HCC patients. Silencing of CEBPA-DT inhibited the growth, migration and invasion of hepatoma cells in vitro and in vivo, while enhancement of CEBPA-DT played a contrasting role. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that CEBPA-DT could bind to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (hnRNPC), which facilitated cytoplasmic translocation of hnRNPC, enhanced the interaction between hnRNPC and DDR2 mRNA, subsequently promoted the expression of DDR2. Meanwhile, CEBPA-DT induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process through upregulation of Snail1 via facilitating nuclear translocation of β-catenin. Using DDR2 inhibitor, we revealed that the CEBPA-DT induced the interaction between DDR2 and β-catenin, thus promoting the nuclear translocation of β-catenin to activate transcription of Snail1, contributing to EMT and HCC metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that CEBPA-DT promoted HCC metastasis through DDR2/β-catenin mediated activation of Snail1 via interaction with hnRNPC, indicating that the CEBPA-DT-hnRNPC-DDR2/β-catenin axis may be used as a potential therapeutic target for HCC treatment.

Prognostic implications of necroptosis-related long noncoding RNA signatures in muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Background: Bladder cancer (BLCA) is the sixth most common cancer in men, with an increasing incidence of morbidity and mortality. Necroptosis is a type of programmed cell death and plays a critical role in the biological processes of bladder cancer (BLCA). However, current studies focusing on long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and necroptosis in cancer are limited, and there is no research about necroptosis-related lncRNAs (NRLs) in BLCA. Methods: We obtained the RNA-seq data and corresponding clinical information of BLCA from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The seven determined prognostic NLRs were analyzed by several methods and verified by RT-qPCR. Then, a risk signature was established based on the aforementioned prognostic NLRs. To identify it, we evaluated its prognostic value by Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curve and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. Moreover, the relationships between risk signature and clinical features, functional enrichment, immune landscape, and drug resistance were explored as well. Results: We constructed a signature based on seven defined NLRs (HMGA2-AS1, LINC02489, ETV7-AS1, EMSLR, AC005954.1, STAG3L5P-PVRIG2P-PILRB, and LINC02178). Patients in the low-risk cohort had longer survival times than those in the high-risk cohort, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) value of risk signature was higher than other clinical variables. Functional analyses, the infiltrating level of immune cells and functions, ESTIMATE score, and immune checkpoint analysis all indicated that the high-risk group was in a relatively immune-activated state. In terms of treatments, patients in the high-risk group were more sensitive to immunotherapy, especially anti-PD1/PD-L1 immunotherapy and conventional chemotherapy. Conclusion: The novel NLR signature acts as an invaluable tool for predicting prognosis, immune microenvironment, and drug resistance in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients.

LINC00958 may be a new prognostic biomarker in various cancers: A meta-analysis and bioinformatics analysis

Background: There have been many studies on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as tumor markers. LINC00958 is a lncRNA that has been studied in a variety of tumor types. This meta-analysis aims to explore the relationship between LINC00958 and clinical prognosis and pathological characteristics in various cancers. Methods: We searched for related studies from PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library and Embase (up to October 2021). The association of LINC00958 expression with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis was evaluated using the pooled odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: 16 studies (1,121 patients) were included in this meta-analysis, we found that overexpression of LINC00958 was associated with poor overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.36-2.49; p < 0.001). We also found that LINC00958 overexpression was correlated with positive lymph node metastasis (LNM) (OR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.39-2.63; p < 0.001), advanced degree of infiltration (OR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.11-2.41; p = 0.013), advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (OR = 2.80; 95% CI: 1.48-5.33; p = 0.002). Other clinicopathological characteristics have no obvious correlation, such as age, sex, tumor size, distant metastasis, and differentiation grade (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In summary, the overexpression of LINC00958 is significantly correlated with poor OS, positive LNM, advanced degree of infiltration, and advanced TNM stage. LINC00958 might serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for a variety of cancers. However, rigorous studies with large sample sizes are still needed for further research and demonstration.

Long non-coding RNA and RNA-binding protein interactions in cancer: Experimental and machine learning approaches

Understanding the complex and specific roles played by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which comprise the bulk of the genome, is important for understanding virtually every hallmark of cancer. This large group of molecules plays pivotal roles in key regulatory mechanisms in various cellular processes. Regulatory mechanisms, mediated by long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and RNA-binding protein (RBP) interactions, are well documented in several types of cancer. Their effects are enabled through networks affecting lncRNA and RBP stability, RNA metabolism including N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) and alternative splicing, subcellular localization, and numerous other mechanisms involved in cancer. In this review, we discuss the reciprocal interplay between lncRNAs and RBPs and their involvement in epigenetic regulation via histone modifications, as well as their key role in resistance to cancer therapy. Other aspects of RBPs including their structural domains, provide a deeper knowledge on how lncRNAs and RBPs interact and exert their biological functions. In addition, current state-of-the-art knowledge, facilitated by machine and deep learning approaches, unravels such interactions in better details to further enhance our understanding of the field, and the potential to harness RNA-based therapeutics as an alternative treatment modality for cancer are discussed.

m6A-immune-related lncRNA prognostic signature for predicting immune landscape and prognosis of bladder cancer

Background

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may have prognostic value in bladder cancer for their key role in tumorigenesis and innate immunity.

Methods

Bladder cancer transcriptome data and the corresponding clinical data were acquired from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The m6A-immune-related lncRNAs were identified using univariate Cox regression analysis and Pearson correlation analysis. A risk model was established using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analyses, and analyzed using nomogram, time-dependent receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. The differences in infiltration scores, clinical features, and sensitivity to Talazoparib of various immune cells between low- and high-risk groups were investigated.

Results

Totally 618 m6A-immune-related lncRNAs and 490 immune-related lncRNAs were identified from TCGA, and 47 lncRNAs of their intersection demonstrated prognostic values. A risk model with 11 lncRNAs was established by Lasso Cox regression, and can predict the prognosis of bladder cancer patients as demonstrated by time-dependent ROC and Kaplan–Meier analysis. Significant correlations were determined between risk score and tumor malignancy or immune cell infiltration. Meanwhile, significant differences were observed in tumor mutation burden and stemness-score between the low-risk group and high-risk group. Moreover, high-risk group patients were more responsive to Talazoparib.

Conclusions

An m6A-immune-related lncRNA risk model was established in this study, which can be applied to predict prognosis, immune landscape and chemotherapeutic response in bladder cancer.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03711-1.

Role of the JNK Pathway in Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer, one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide, is associated with high morbidity and mortality and a poor prognosis. The bladder cancer types include 1) non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and 2) muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Metastases and chemoresistance in MIBC patients are the leading causes of the high death rate. c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is an important factor for the undifferentiated state of cancer cells. JNK belongs to the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) family; it is activated by various extracellular stimuli, such as stress, radiation, and growth factors and mediates diverse cellular functions, such as apoptosis, autophagy, proliferation, invasion, and migration by mediating AKT (Ak strain transforming), ATG (Autophagy related), mTOR (Mammalian target of rapamycin), and caspases 3, 8, and 9. This review describes the JNK-related functions, mechanisms, and signaling in bladder cancer.

MITF-Mediated lncRNA CCDC183-As1 Promotes the Tumorigenic Properties and Aerobic Glycolysis of Bladder Cancer via Upregulating TCF7L2

As a primary malignancy tumor of the urology system, bladder cancer (BC) is characterized by its high recurrence and metastasis characteristics. Despite the great improvement in clinical interventions over the past decades, the outcomes of BC patients are still unsatisfactory. Novel molecular mechanisms for developing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are urgently needed; therefore, we screened the lncRNA expression profile in four pairs of BC tissues, showing that CCDC183-AS1 was the most upregulated lncRNA. Subsequently, results of CCK-8, EdU, Transwell, and aerobic glycolysis detection showed that CCDC183-AS1 plays an oncogene role in BC progression. Furthermore, an investigation of the downstream and upstream factors of CCDC183-AS1 identified a novel MITF/CCDC183-AS1/miR-4731-5p/TCF7L2 axis in BC progression, which might furnish novel insights for developing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for BC.

Construction of a Novel Prognostic Signature in Lung Adenocarcinoma Based on Necroptosis-Related lncRNAs

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are drawing increasing attention as promising predictors of prognosis for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. Necroptosis, a novel regulated mechanism of necrotic cell death, plays an important role in the biological process of cancer. The aim of this study was to identify the necroptosis-related lncRNAs (NRLRs) in a LUAD cohort and establish a necroptosis-related lncRNA signature (NRLSig) to stratify LUAD patients.

Methods: NRLRs were identified in LUAD patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database using Pearson correlation analysis between necroptosis-related genes and lncRNAs. Then the NRLSig was identified using univariate Cox regression analysis and LASSO regression analysis. Assessments of the signature were performed based on survival analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and clustering analysis. Next, a nomogram containing the NRLSig and clinical information was developed through univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Further, functional enrichment analysis of the selected lncRNAs in NRLSig and the association between NRLSig and the immune infiltration were also evaluated.

Results: A 4-lncRNA signature, incorporating LINC00941, AP001453.2, AC026368.1, and AC236972.3, was identified to predict overall survival (OS) and stratify LUAD patients into different groups. Survival analysis, ROC curve analysis and clustering analysis showed good performance in the prognostic prediction of the lncRNA signature. Then, a nomogram containing the NRLSig was developed and showed satisfactory predictive accuracy, calibration and clinical usefulness. The co-expressed genes of selected NRLRs were enriched in several biological functions and signaling pathways. Finally, differences in the abundance of immune cells were investigated among the high-risk group and low-risk group divided by the NRLSig.

Conclusion: The proposed NRLSig may provide promising therapeutic targets or prognostic predictors for LUAD patients.

LncRNA CASC9 activated by STAT3 promotes the invasion of breast cancer and the formation of lymphatic vessels by enhancing H3K27ac-activated SOX4

Numerous long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are abnormally expressed in breast cancer (BC), but the underlying mechanisms remain large unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the functions and mechanisms of lncRNA cancer susceptibility candidate 9 (CASC9) in BC. Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were performed to assess gene and protein expression, respectively. The proliferative and metastatic abilities of BC cells were tested by cell counting kit-8 and transwell assays, respectively. The formation of lymphatic vessels was detected by tube formation assay. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual luciferase reporter assays were performed to verify molecular interactions. CASC9 was found to be highly expressed in BC tissues and cell lines, and ectopic overexpression was positively associated with tumor volume, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis. In addition, CASC9 silencing significantly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of BC cells, as well as BC-associated invasion and formation of lymphatic vessels of human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells. Mechanical studies demonstrated that CASC9 could be transcriptionally activated by STAT3 and elevate SOX4 expression by enhancing the acetylation of its promoter region. Our results illustrated that STAT3-activated CASC9 served as a tumor-promoting gene involved in promoting BC invasion and BC-associated formation of lymphatic vessels by upregulating SOX4 through altering H3K27ac level. This finding elucidated a new underlying network of CASC9 in the metastasis of BC.

An Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis towards the Identification of Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Predictive Key Biomarkers for Urinary Bladder Cancer

Simple Summary

Bladder cancer is evidently a challenge as far as its prognosis and treatment are concerned. The investigation of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets is indispensable and still in progress. Most studies attempt to identify differential signatures between distinct molecular tumor subtypes. Therefore, keeping in mind the heterogeneity of urinary bladder tumors, we attempted to identify a consensus gene-related signature between the common expression profile of bladder cancer and control samples. In the quest for substantive features, we were able to identify key hub genes, whose signatures could hold diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic significance, but, primarily, could contribute to a better understanding of urinary bladder cancer biology.

Abstract

Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide and accounts for high morbidity and mortality. This study intended to elucidate potential key biomarkers related to the occurrence, development, and prognosis of BCa through an integrated bioinformatics analysis. In this context, a systematic meta-analysis, integrating 18 microarray gene expression datasets from the GEO repository into a merged meta-dataset, identified 815 robust differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The key hub genes resulted from DEG-based protein–protein interaction and weighted gene co-expression network analyses were screened for their differential expression in urine and blood plasma samples of BCa patients. Subsequently, they were tested for their prognostic value, and a three-gene signature model, including COL3A1, FOXM1, and PLK4, was built. In addition, they were tested for their predictive value regarding muscle-invasive BCa patients’ response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A six-gene signature model, including ANXA5, CD44, NCAM1, SPP1, CDCA8, and KIF14, was developed. In conclusion, this study identified nine key biomarker genes, namely ANXA5, CDT1, COL3A1, SPP1, VEGFA, CDCA8, HJURP, TOP2A, and COL6A1, which were differentially expressed in urine or blood of BCa patients, held a prognostic or predictive value, and were immunohistochemically validated. These biomarkers may be of significance as prognostic and therapeutic targets for BCa.

LINC00958: A promising long non-coding RNA related to cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides, do not encode proteins; however, they encode small peptides and micropeptides that act as bioactive peptides with notable effects in regulating the progression of malignant tumors, such as lung and colorectal cancers, and affecting patient prognosis. lncRNAs are important intracellular regulators, particularly in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA958 (LINC00958), which has received increasing attention in recent years, is highly expressed in various malignancies, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC), non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, and breast cancer. Here, we reviewed the recent studies on LINC00958 as well as its closely related clinical features and functional regulation in cancers. We systematically expounded the molecular mechanisms underlying the biological functions of LINC00958 in inhibiting cell apoptosis and enhancing the chemoradiotherapy resistance of tumor cells. The upregulation of LINC00958 enhances the resistance of tumor cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy and induces lymphangiogenesis. Moreover, it is involved in tumor glycolytic metabolism, which plays a crucial role in facilitating the proliferation, invasion, and migration of tumor cells. Additionally, analysis of various studies revealed that LINC00958 acts as an endogenous competitive RNA (ceRNA) and regulates the malignant behavior of tumor cells through the miRNA-mRNA axis. Collectively, the use of LINC00958 as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of different cancers has bright prospects in the future.

Identification of Feature Genes of a Novel Neural Network Model for Bladder Cancer

Background: The combination of deep learning methods and oncogenomics can provide an effective diagnostic method for malignant tumors; thus, we attempted to construct a reliable artificial neural network model as a novel diagnostic tool for Bladder cancer (BLCA). Methods: Three expression profiling datasets (GSE61615, GSE65635, and GSE100926) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. GSE61615 and GSE65635 were taken as the train group, while GSE100926 was set as the test group. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were filtered out based on the logFC and FDR values. We also performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses to explore the biological functions of the DEGs. Consequently, we utilized a random forest algorithm to identify feature genes and further constructed a neural network model. The test group was given the same procedures to validate the reliability of the model. We also explored immune cells' infiltration degree and correlation coefficients through the CiberSort algorithm and corrplot R package. The qRT-PCR assay was implemented to examine the expression level of the feature genes in vitro. Results: A total of 265 DEGs were filtered out and significantly enriched in muscle system processes, collagen-containing and focal adhesion signaling pathways. Based on the random forest algorithm, we selected 14 feature genes to construct the neural network model. The area under the curve (AUC) of the training group was 0.950 (95% CI: 0.850-1.000), and the AUC of the test group was 0.667 (95% CI: 0.333-1.000). Besides, we observed significant differences in the content of immune infiltrating cells and the expression levels of the feature genes. Conclusion: After repeated verification, our neural network model had clinical feasibility to identify bladder cancer patients and provided a potential target to improve the management of BLCA.

The Specifically Androgen-Regulated Gene (SARG) Promotes Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC) Lymphatic Metastasis Through Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C (VEGF-C) and VEGF Receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) Axis

The papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) metastasizes through lymphatic spread, but the follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) metastasis occurs by following hematogenous spread. To date, the molecular mechanism underlying different metastatic routes between PTC and FTC is still unclear. Here, we showed that specifically androgen-regulated gene (SARG) was significantly up-regulated in PTC, while obviously down-regulated in FTC through analyzing the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Immunohistochemistry assay verified that the PTC lymph node metastasis was associated with higher levels of SARG protein in clinical PTC patient samples. SARG-knockdown decreased TPC-1 and CGTH-W3 cells viability and migration significantly. On the contrary, SARG-overexpressed PTC cells possessed more aggressive migratory ability and viability. In vivo, SARG overexpression dramatically promoted popliteal lymph node metastasis of xenografts from TPC-1 cells mouse footpad transplanting. Mechanistically, SARG overexpression and knockdown significantly increased and decreased the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and VEGF receptor 3 (VEGFR-3), respectively, thereby facilitating or inhibiting the tube formation in HUVECs. The tube formation experiment showed that SARG overexpression and knockdown promoted or inhibited the number of tube formations in HUVEC cells, respectively. Taken together, we showed for the first time the differential expression profile of SARG between PTC and FTC, and SARG promotes PTC lymphatic metastasis via VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signal. It indicates that SARG may represent a target for clinical intervention in lymphatic metastasis of PTC.

IGF2BP3 enhances the mRNA stability of E2F3 by interacting with LINC00958 to promote endometrial carcinoma progression

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important regulatory roles in a variety of pathological processes involving cancer. However, the exact molecular mechanisms of lncRNA regulation in endometrial carcinoma (EC) remain poorly defined. The aim of this study was to illustrate the mechanism of LINC00958 in regulating the function of IGF2BP3, an RNA binding protein involved in mRNA stability, and their clinical implications in EC. First, we investigated the clinical role of IGF2BP3 in EC and demonstrated its prognostic value. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies showed that IGF2BP3 promoted EC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Then, we carried out RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (RIP-seq) analysis, RNA pulldown and immunofluorescence-RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization to identify LINC00958 that interacted with IGF2BP3 in the cytoplasm of EC cells. Rescue experiments indicated that knockdown of LINC00958 partially offset the EC cell progression mediated by IGF2BP3. After that, RNA sequencing was used to screen out the downstream genes of IGF2BP3 and LINC00958. The results revealed that IGF2BP3 upregulated E2F3 expression by interacting with LINC00958. Furthermore, RNA stability assays demonstrated that silencing LINC00958 partially rescued the IGF2BP3-mediated promoting effect on the mRNA stability of E2F3. Collectively, this study suggests that LINC00958, as an oncogene, assists IGF2BP3 in stabilizing E2F3 mRNA and ultimately promotes EC progression, providing a promising therapeutic target for patients with EC.

MYC/MAX-Activated LINC00958 Promotes Lung Adenocarcinoma by Oncogenic Transcriptional Reprogramming Through HOXA1 Activation

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common histological subtype of lung cancer. The role of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) LINC00958, which regulates the malignant behavior of multiple tumors, in LUAD has not been elucidated.

METHODS

Tissue microarray, FISH, and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of LINC00958. Plasmid and viral infections were used to manipulate gene expression. The role of LINC00958 in LUAD was studied by cell proliferation analysis, cell apoptosis analysis, cell migration and invasion analysis, and subcutaneous inoculation of animal models. At the same time, RNA-Seq, RNA pull-down, ChIRP, ChIP, and luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to clarify the mechanism.

RESULTS

The expression of LINC00958 in LUAD tissues was significantly upregulated when compared with that in adjacent tissues and could independently predict poor survival of patients with LUAD. LINC00958 knockdown significantly inhibited the growth and metastasis of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. LINC00958 localized to the nucleus, regulated oncogenes and metabolism-related and immune response-related genes, and interacted with histones. The targets of LINC00958 were TRPV3, STAP2, and EDN2 promoters with motifs of HOXA1, NANOG, FOSL2, JUN, and ATF4. Moreover, HOXA1 overexpression mitigated the LINC00958 knockdown-induced oncogenic phenotype. MYC/MAX motif, which was detected at the cis-element of LINC00958, trans-activated the LINC00958 promoter.

CONCLUSIONS

MYC/MAX-trans-activated LINC00958 promotes the malignant behavior of LUAD by recruiting HOXA1 and inducing oncogenic reprogramming.

Comprehensive Analysis of N6-Methylandenosine-Related Long Non-Coding RNAs Signature in Prognosis and Tumor Microenvironment of Bladder Cancer

To investigate the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A)- related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in bladder cancer (BC). 50 m6A-related lncRNAs were screened out and were correlated with prognosis from BC samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The lncRNAs were subdivided into cluster 1 and cluster 2 with consensus cluster analysis, and it was found that lncRNAs in cluster 2 were associated with poor prognosis and increased PD-L1 expression. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed tumor-related pathways in cluster 2. Through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression, and ROC analyses, 14 prognostic lncRNAs were selected and used to construct the m6A-related lncRNA prognostic signature (m6A-LPS), furthermore, that m6A-LPS was as a valuable independent prognostic factor. Interestingly, the m6A-LPS risk score was positively correlated with the immune score, PD-L1 expression, and the infiltration of immune cell subtypes in BC. SNHG16, a member of the high-risk group based on m6A-LPS, was highly expressed in BC tissues and cell lines and interfered with siRNA resulted in suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Our study illustrates the role of m6A-related lncRNAs in BC. The m6A-LPS may be an important regulatory target of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in BC.

Co-expression of cancer-testis antigens of MAGE-A6 and MAGE-A11 is associated with tumor aggressiveness in patients with bladder cancer

Melanoma antigen gene (MAGE)-A6 and MAGE-A11 are two of the most cancer-testis antigens overexpressed in various types of cancers. However, the clinical and prognosis value of MAGE-A6 and MAGE-A11 co-expression in the pathophysiology of the bladder is unknown. Three studies were selected from GEO databases in order to introduce the common genes that are involved in bladder cancer. Then immunohistochemical analysis for staining pattern and clinicopathological significance of suggested markers, MAGE-A6 and MAGE-A11, were performed in 199 and 213 paraffin-embedded bladder cancer with long adjacent normal tissues, respectively. A significant and positive correlation was found between both nuclear and cytoplasmic expressions of MAGE-A6 as well as expression of cytoplasmic MAGE-A11 with histological grade, PT stage, lamina propria invasion, and LP/ muscularis (L/M) involvement (all of the p-values in terms of H-score were < 0.0001). Additionally, significant differences were found between both nuclear and cytoplasmic MAGE-A6/MAGE-A11 phenotypes with tumor size (P = 0.007, P = 0.043, respectively), different histological grades, PT stage, LP involvement, and L/M involvement (all of the p-values for both phenotypes were < 0.0001). The current study added the value of these novel markers to the bladder cancer clinical settlement that might be considered as an admirable target for immunotherapy.

Lnc00892 competes with c-Jun to block NCL transcription, reducing the stability of RhoA/RhoC mRNA and impairing bladder cancer invasion

Metastasis of bladder cancer is a complex process and has been associated with poor clinical outcomes. However, the mechanisms of bladder cancer metastasis remain largely unknown. The present study found that the long noncoding RNA lnc00892 was significantly downregulated in bladder cancer tissues, with low lnc00892 expression associated with poor prognosis of bladder cancer patients. Lnc00892 significantly inhibited the migration, invasion, and metastasis of bladder cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. In-depth analysis showed that RhoA/C acted downstream of lnc00892 to inhibit bladder cancer metastasis. Mechanistically, lnc00892 reduces nucleolin gene transcription by competitively binding the promoter of nucleolin with c-Jun, thereby inhibiting nucleolin-mediated stabilization of RhoA/RhoC mRNA. Taken together, these findings provide novel insights into understanding the mechanisms of bladder cancer metastasis and suggest that lnc00892 can serve as a potential therapeutic target in patients with invasive bladder cancer.

Long Non-Coding RNAs in Oral Submucous Fibrosis: Their Functional Mechanisms and Recent Research Progress

Many studies have shown that most genomes are transcribed into non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which can affect different cell characteristics. LncRNAs are long heterologous RNAs that regulate gene expression and various signaling pathways during homeostasis and development. Studies have shown that a lncRNA is an important regulatory molecule that can be targeted to change the physiology and function of cells. Expression or dysfunction of lncRNAs is closely related to various genetic, autoimmune, and metabolic diseases. The importance of ncRNAs in oral submucosal fibrosis (OSF) has garnered much attention in recent years. However, most research has focused on miRs. The role of these molecules in OSF is incompletely understood. This review focuses on the emerging role and function of lncRNAs in OSF as novel regulators. Finally, the potential functional role of lncRNAs as biomarkers for OSF diagnosis is also described. LncRNAs are expected to become a new therapeutic target, but more research is needed to understand their biological functions more deeply.

Multi-Omics analysis identifies a lncRNA-related prognostic signature to predict bladder cancer recurrence

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is one of the most common cancers worldwide with high recurrence rate. Hence, we intended to establish a recurrence-related long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) model of BLCA as a potential biomarker based on multi-omics analysis. Multi-omics data including copy number variation (CNV) data, mutation annotation files, RNA expression profiles and clinical data of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) BLCA cohort (303 cases) and GSE31684 (93 cases) were downloaded from public database. With multi-omics analysis, twenty lncRNAs were identified as the candidates related with BLCA recurrence, CNVs and mutations in training set. Ten-lncRNA signature were established using least absolute shrinkage and selection operation (LASSO) and Cox regression. Then, various survival analysis was used to assess the power of lncRNA model in predicting BLCA recurrence. The results showed that the recurrence-free survival time of high-risk group was significantly shorter than that of low-risk group in training and testing sets, and the predictive value of ten-lncRNA signature was robust and independent of other clinical variables. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed this signature were associated with immune disorders, indicating this signature may be involved in tumor immunology. After compared with the other reported lncRNA signatures, ten-lncRNA signature was validated as a superior prognostic model in predicting the recurrence of BLCA. The effectiveness of the model was also evaluated in bladder cancer samples via qRT-PCR. Thus, the novel ten-lncRNA signature, constructed based on multi-omics data, had robust prognostic power in predicting the recurrence of BLCA and potential clinical implications as biomarkers.

Biological Roles and Clinical Significance of Exosome-Derived Noncoding RNAs in Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer (BCa) is a common heterogeneous urinary system tumor with high malignancy and limited advancement in treatment. Limited understanding of BCa has not contributed to any significant progress in diagnosis or treatment, exploring the mechanisms underlying BCa has become an urgent research focus. Exosomes, a type of extracellular vesicle (EV), have drawn substantial interest for their important roles in mediating intracellular communication. Exosomes shuttle numerous bioactive molecules, and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are among the most numerous. ncRNAs including microRNA, long noncoding RNA, and circular RNA are sorted and packaged into exosomes selectively and transferred into recipient cells to regulate their function. Exosomal ncRNAs are associated with hallmarks of BCa, such as proliferation, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell cycle arrest, lymphangiogenesis, and chemotherapy resistance. Exosomal ncRNAs can also be detected in urine and serum, making them encouraging biomarkers for BCa diagnosis and prognosis. More importantly, exosomes exhibit excellent biocompatibility and potential for diversified applications. The delivery of bioactive substances and drugs into specific cells has become a promising approach for precision therapy for BCa patients. In addition, cancer vaccines have also received increasing attention. In this review, we summarize the current research on the regulatory roles of exosomal ncRNAs in BCa tumorigenesis and progression, as well as their potential clinical value in accelerating the diagnosis and therapy of BCa.

LINC00958 promotes bladder cancer carcinogenesis by targeting miR-490-3p and AURKA

Background

Bladder cancer is a prevalent malignancy of the urinary system, in which long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are highly associated. We aimed to elucidate the role of LINC00958 in bladder cancer.

Methods

LINC00958 expression levels were measured using qRT-PCR. The interaction of LINC00958-miR-490-3p-AURKA was analyzed by luciferase, RIP, and RNA pull-down assays. The biological roles of LINC00958, miR-490-3p, and AURKA in bladder cancer cells were analyzed using CCK8, BrdU, and transwell assays.

Results

Increased expression of LINC00958 and AURKA was observed in bladder cancer tissues and cell lines. Decreased LINC00958 expression repressed bladder cancer progression and downregulation of miR-490-3p accelerated bladder cancer cell progression. Moreover, LINC00958 sponges miR-490-3p to upregulate AURKA expression, thereby promoting carcinogenesis in bladder cancer cells.

Conclusions

Our study revealed that LINC00958 facilitated cell proliferation and invasion, and suppressed cell apoptosis by sponging miR-490-3p and upregulating AURKA, thus inspiring a new treatment method for bladder cancer.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08882-6.

Interactions between long non‑coding RNAs and RNA‑binding proteins in cancer (Review)

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) fulfill important roles in the majority of cellular processes. Previous studies have demonstrated that lncRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including cancer. However, to date, the functions of only a small number of the known lncRNAs have been well-documented. lncRNAs comprise a class of multifunctional non-coding transcripts that are able to interact with different types of biomolecules. Interactions between lncRNAs and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) provide an important mechanism through which lncRNAs exert their regulatory functions, mainly through findings on ‘generalized RBPs’. Regulatory effects on lncRNAs mediated by RBPs have also been explored. Taking account of the research that has been completed to date, the continued and in-depth study of the bidirectional interactions between lncRNAs and RBPs will prove to be of major importance for understanding the pathogenesis of cancer and for developing effective therapies. The present review aims to explore the interactions between lncRNAs and RBPs that have been investigated in cancer, taking into consideration several different aspects, including the regulation of expression, subcellular localization and the mediation of diverse functions.