Potential therapeutic implications of miRNAs in osteosarcoma chemotherapy

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Physicians Regarding Targeted Drug Therapy for Lung Cancer

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the KAP of physicians regarding targeted drug therapy for lung cancer in China.

Methods

This cross-sectional study enrolled physicians working in hospitals in Nanyang. A self-administered questionnaire was developed (Cronbach's α=0.912) to collect the demographic information and KAP.

Results

This study included 191 valid questionnaires. Most participants were male (70.2%) and aged 36-50 (55.5%). The median knowledge score was 29 (24-31) (/36, 80.6%), the mean attitude score was 42 (39-44) (/50, 84.0%), and the mean practice score was 28 (26-29) (/30, 93.3%), indicating sufficient knowledge, positive attitudes, and proactive practice. The female gender (OR=5.291, 95% CI: 1.426-19.634, P=0.013), working in non-public tertiary hospitals (OR=0.053, 95% CI: 0.008-0.360, P=0.003), and working in medical oncology (OR=10.764, 95% CI: 2.638-43.922, P=0.001) were independently associated with adequate knowledge. Only the knowledge scores (OR=1.121, 95% CI: 1.036-1.212, P=0.004) were independently associated with a positive attitude. Only the attitude scores (OR=1.895, 95% CI: 1.333-2.694, P<0.001) were independently associated with proactive practice.

Conclusion

Physicians working in thoracic surgery, respiratory medicine, or medical oncology displayed sufficient knowledge, positive attitude, and proactive practice toward targeted therapy for lung cancer.

The expression of miR-181b, CYLD, CBX-7, BCL2, and p53 in osteosarcoma patients and correlation with clinicopathological factors

Osteosarcoma is a common human malignancy with a high mortality rate worldwide. Recent studies have been focused on understanding the involvement of microRNA (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma. Therefore, the present study aimed to measure the expression levels of miR-181a, cylindromatosis (CYLD), chromo box homolog 7 (CBX7), B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2), and tumor protein p53 in tumor tissue and adjacent normal tissues in patients with osteosarcoma and its relationship with clinicopathological factors. The expression levels of miR-181a, CYLD, CBX7, BCL2, and p53 were measured in 60 patients with osteosarcoma using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Finally, we compared the relationship between these gene levels and clinicopathological factors in tumor and healthy tissues. Our results showed that the expression levels of miR-181a, BCL2, and p53 were significantly higher in osteosarcoma tissue in comparison with normal tissues (p < .05). On the contrary, CYLD and CBX7 were downregulated in osteosarcoma tumor tissues compared to adjacent healthy tissues (p < .05). In addition, the expression levels of miR-181a in tumor tissues were strongly correlated with patients' age, tumor size, clinical stage, cancer grade, and lymph node metastasis (p < .05). Our findings highlight new insights into understanding the role of miR-181a in the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma. However, further studies are needed to elucidate miRNA as therapeutic targets for osteosarcoma.

miRNA-23b-5p affects the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma by targeting TMEM127

BACKGROUND

Osteosarcoma (OS) has become one of the highest mortality cancers in the world due to its late diagnosis, rapid metastasis and rapid recurrence. MicroRNAs can regulate a variety of signaling pathwas involved in cancer development, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we studied the biological effects and molecular regulation of mir-23b-5p on human osteosarcoma cells.

METHODS

The proliferation of mir-23b-5p in osteosarcoma was measured by CCK8 method and EDU method. In addition, the target population was screened through the database, and the luciferase reporter gene was used to determine the association between miRNA and target gene TMEM127. We verified this result by Western blot.

RESULTS

We found that mir-23b-5p promotes the progression of osteosarcoma by regulating TMEM127.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study show that mir-23b-5p affects the proliferation, metastasis and invasion of OS by targeting TMEM127.

The Biological Function of MicroRNAs in Bone Tumors

Micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) are small endogenous noncoding RNAs molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. A single miRNA is able to target hundreds of specific messenger RNA (mRNAs) by binding to the 3′-untranslated regions. miRNAs regulate different biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Altered miRNA expression is certainly related to the development of the most common human diseases, including tumors. Osteosarcoma (OS), Ewing’s Sarcoma (ES), and Chondrosarcoma (CS) are the most common primary bone tumors which affect mainly children and adolescents. A significant dysregulation of miRNA expression, in particular of mir-34, mir-21, mir-106, mir-143, and miR-100, has been revealed in OS, ES and CS. In this context, miRNAs can act as either tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes, contributing to the initiation and progression of bone tumors. The in-depth study of these small molecules can thus help to better understand their biological functions in bone tumors. Therefore, this review aims to examine the potential role of miRNAs in bone tumors, especially OS, ES and CS, and to suggest their possible use as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of bone tumors and as biomarkers for early diagnosis.

Thiostrepton and miR-216b synergistically promote osteosarcoma cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis by targeting FoxM1

Osteosarcoma is a common primary bone cancer that there are currently no effective treatment strategies for. Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) is key in the development of osteosarcoma, and microRNA (miR)-216b serves an antitumor role by targeting FoxM1. Moreover, thiostrepton (TST), a natural thiazole antibiotic, induces antitumor effects and specifically targets FoxM1. Therefore, the present study investigated whether thiostrepton and miR-216b synergistically inhibited osteosarcoma cells by targeting FoxM1. The MTT assay, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, a dual-luciferase reporter assay and flow cytometry were performed. Compared with the human osteoblast cell line hFOB1.19, miR-216b expression was significantly downregulated in the osteosarcoma cell lines U2OS, MG63 and Saos-2. By contrast, FoxM1 expression was significantly upregulated in osteosarcoma cell lines compared with the hFOB1.19 cell line. The results indicated that miR-216b targeted the 3′-untranslated region of FoxM1. Moreover, the results suggested that miR-216b cooperated with TST to decrease cell cytotoxicity and increase cell apoptosis. In addition, miR-216b cooperated with TST to increase Bax expression and decrease Bcl-2 expression. In conclusion, the combination of TST and miR-216b synergistically promoted osteosarcoma cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis by targeting FoxM1. Therefore, the present study suggested that the combination of TST and miR-216b may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for osteosarcoma.

miR-1301/TRIAP1 Axis Participates in Epirubicin-Mediated Anti-Proliferation and Pro-Apoptosis in Osteosarcoma

PURPOSE

Epirubicin is one of the most effective drugs against osteosarcoma. miR-1301 is involved in the occurrence and development of osteosarcoma. Whether miR-1301 is responsible for the chemosensitivity of osteosarcoma cells to epirubicin remains largely unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

U2OS and SAOS-2 cells were treated with various concentrations of epirubicin. Flow cytometry was employed to evaluate cell apoptotic rate. Cell proliferation was measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were utilized to detect the expressions of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 assaciated X protein (Bax), cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARP1), TP53-regulated inhibitor of apoptosis 1 (TRIAP1), and microRNA-1301 (miR-1301). The relationship between miR-1301 and TRIAP1 was determined by luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

Epirubicin inhibited proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, induced apoptosis, decreased the expression of Bcl-2, and increased the expressions of Bax, cleaved-caspase-3, and cleaved-PARP1 in osteosarcoma cells. miR-1301 was downregulated in U2OS and SAOS-2 cells. Importantly, epirubicin significantly increased the levels of miR-1301. Overexpression of miR-1301 suppressed proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Interestingly, those effects were enhanced by epirubicin. In contrast, miR-1301 depletion attenuated the epirubicin-mediated anti-osteosarcoma effect. miR-1301 negatively regulated the expression of TRIAP1 in U2OS and SAOS-2 cells. Furthermore, epirubicin inhibited the mRNA and protein levels of TRIAP1 by upregulating miR-1301 levels. Epirubicin suppressed cell proliferation by downregulating TRIAP1.

CONCLUSION

miR-1301 was implicated in the chemosensitivity of osteosarcoma to epirubicin by modulating TRIAP1.