Upregulation of microRNA-224 is associated with aggressive progression and poor prognosis in human cervical cancer

Understanding the role of miRNAs in cervical cancer pathogenesis and therapeutic responses

Cervical cancer (CC) is the most common cancer in women and poses a serious threat to health. Despite familiarity with the factors affecting its etiology, initiation, progression, treatment strategies, and even resistance to therapy, it is considered a significant problem for women. However, several factors have greatly affected the previous aspects of CC progression and treatment in recent decades. miRNAs are short non-coding RNA sequences that regulate gene expression by inhibiting translation of the target mRNA. miRNAs play a crucial role in CC pathogenesis by promoting cancer stem cell (CSC) proliferation, postponing apoptosis, continuing the cell cycle, and promoting invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Similarly, miRNAs influence important CC-related molecular pathways, such as the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, Wnt/β-catenin system, JAK/STAT signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, miRNAs affect the response of CC patients to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Consequently, this review aims to provide an acquainted summary of onco miRNAs and tumor suppressor (TS) miRNAs and their potential role in CC pathogenesis and therapy responses by focusing on the molecular pathways that drive them.

Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor inhibits cervical cancer progression via regulating macrophage phenotype

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is a common gynecologic malignant tumor, but the critical factors affecting cervical cancer progression are still not well demonstrated. Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) has been widely recognized as an anti-inflammatory factor to regulate macrophage polarization. In this study, the effect and mechanism of MANF on cervical cancer were preliminarily explored.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Kaplan-Meier curve was used to show the overall survival time of the involved cervical cancer patients with high and low MANF expression in cervical cancer tissues. MANF was highly expressed in peritumoral tissues of cervical carcinoma by using immunohistochemistry and western blot. MANF mRNA level was detected by using qRT-PCR. Dual-labeled immunofluorescence showed MANF was mainly expressed in macrophages of cervical peritumoral tissues. Moreover, MANF-silenced macrophages promoted HeLa and SiHa cells survival, migration, invasion and EMT via NF-κB signaling activation. The results of tumor formation in nude mice indicated MANF-silenced macrophages promoted cervical tumor formation in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Our study reveals an inhibitory role of MANF in cervical cancer progression, indicating MANF as a new and valuable therapeutic target for cervical cancer treatment.

Expression of Aberrant MicroRNAs and p16INK4a Associated with HPV (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 42, 43, 44, 45, 52, 53, and 56) in Oral Dysplasia and Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

A few studies indicate that human papillomavirus (HPV) induces aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and correlate this with p16INK4a in oral dysplasia (OD) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the expression of miRNA-21, miRNA-22, and miRNA-224 by q-PCR and the p16 < sup > INK4a < /sup > by immunohistochemical (IHC) as markers for HPV-positive OSCC and OD in comparison to controls as miRNA expression can be altered by the HPV oncogenes and hence can be used as a biomarker for HPV positive cases.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty-two specimens were collected from archived paraffin blocks for patients aged between 19 and 88 (31 males and 21 females) from various oral sites. They were examined by IHC using p16 < sup > INK4a < /sup > , by RT-PCR for the detection of HPV (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 42, 43, 44, 45, 52, 53, 56), and by q-PCR for the expression of miRNA-21, miRNA-22, and miRNA-224 in positive specimens.

RESULTS

Out of the 15 OD, three were positive by both techniques. Meanwhile, 17 out of all OSCC specimens showed intense nuclear and cytoplasmic staining by p16 < sup > INK4a < /sup > , and only 16 were also positive by RT-PCR. However, all control specimens were negative. MiRNA-21, miRNA-22, and miRNA-224 were overexpressed in 3 specimens of OD and 16 of OSCC.

CONCLUSION

MiRNA-21, miRNA-22, and miRNA-224, besides p16 < sup > INK4a < /sup > , could be used as indicators for HPV-associated OD and OSCC as their expression is attributed to the HPV oncoprotein. Further studies using follow-up data should be done to correlate it with miRNA overexpression.

Role of noncoding RNAs with emphasis on long noncoding RNAs as cervical cancer biomarkers

Cervical cancer is a significant public health problem in developing countries, as most cases present at an advanced stage. This review aimed to analyze the role of noncoding RNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cervical cancers. Published studies on specific microRNA signatures in body fluids and cervical cancer tissues are highly heterogeneous, and there are no validated assays. The precision of the various immune-associated long noncoding (lncRNA) signatures should be assessed in clinical samples. Even though lncRNAs are tissue and cancer-specific, safe and appropriate methods for delivery to tumor tissues, toxicities and side effects are to be explored. Few studies have evaluated deregulated lncRNA expression levels with clinicopathological factors in a limited number of clinical samples. Prospective studies assessing the diagnostic and prognostic roles of circulating lncRNAs and P-Element-induced wimpy testis interacting PIWI RNAs (Piwil RNAs) in cervical cancer cases are essential. For the clinical application of lnc-RNA-based biomarkers, comprehensive research is needed as the impact of noncoding transcripts on molecular pathways is complex. The standardization and validation of deregulated ncRNAs in noninvasive samples of cervical cancer cases are needed.

miR-22-3p and miR-30e-5p Are Associated with Prognosis in Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Alteration in expression of miRNAs can cause various malignant changes and the metastatic process. Our aim was to identify the miRNAs involved in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) and metastasis, and to test their utility as indicators of metastasis and survival. Using microarray technology, we performed miRNA expression profiling on primary cervical SqCC tissue (n = 6) compared with normal control (NC) tissue and compared SqCC that had (SqC-M; n = 3) and had not (SqC-NM; n = 3) metastasized. Four miRNAs were selected for validation by qRT-PCR on 29 SqC-NM and 27 SqC-M samples, and nine metastatic lesions (ML-SqC), from a total of 56 patients. Correlation of miRNA expression and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed to evaluate the clinical impact of candidate miRNAs. We found 40 miRNAs differentially altered in cervical SqCC tissue: 21 miRNAs were upregulated and 19 were downregulated (≥2-fold, p < 0.05). Eight were differentially altered in SqC-M compared with SqC-NM samples: four were upregulated (miR-494, miR-92a-3p, miR-205-5p, and miR-221-3p), and four were downregulated (miR-574-3p, miR-4769-3p, miR-1281, and miR-1825) (≥1.5-fold, p < 0.05). MiR-22-3p might be a metastamiR, which was gradually further downregulated in SqC-NM > SqC-M > ML-SqC. Downregulation of miR-30e-5p significantly correlated with high stage, lymph node metastasis, and low survival rate, suggesting an independent poor prognostic factor.

MiR-224 promotes lymphatic metastasis by targeting ANGPTL1 in non-small-cell lung carcinoma

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs can regulate tumor metastasis either as oncomiRs or suppressor miRNAs. Here, we investigated the role of microRNA 224 (miR-224) in lymphatic metastasis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

The expression of miR-224 was demonstrated by a validation cohort of 156 lung cancer patients (77 cases with lymphatic metastasis) by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to study the malignant phenotype after upregulation and inhibition of miR-224 expression. Furthermore, the direct target genes of miR-224 were determined by a luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

First, miR-224 was identified as a highly expressed miRNA in tumor tissues with lymphatic metastasis, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.57 as determined by qPCR analysis of a validation cohort of 156 lung cancer patients. Then, in vitro and in vivo experiments indicated that forced expression of miR-224 in H1299 cells promoted not only cell viability, plate colony formation, migration and invasion in vitro but also tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo. Consistently, inhibition of miR-224 suppressed malignant characteristics both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, molecular mechanistic research suggested that miR-224 enhanced NSCLC by directly targeting the tumor suppressor angiopoietin-like protein (ANGPTL).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the collective findings demonstrate that miR-224 is a potential biomarker for the prediction of lymphatic metastasis of NSCLC.

microRNA Profile Associated with Positive Lymph Node Metastasis in Early-Stage Cervical Cancer

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is an important prognostic factor in cervical cancer (CC). In early stages, the risk of LNM is approximately 3.7 to 21.7%, and the 5-year overall survival decreases from 80% to 53% when metastatic disease is identified in the lymph nodes. Few reports have analyzed the relationship between miRNA expression and the presence of LNM. The aim of this study was to identify a subset of miRNAs related to LNM in early-stage CC patients. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were collected from patients with early-stage CC treated by radical hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy. We analyzed samples from two groups of patients—one group with LNM and the other without LNM. Global miRNA expression was identified by microarray analysis, and cluster analysis was used to determine a subset of miRNAs associated with LNM. Microarray expression profiling identified a subset of 36 differentially expressed miRNAs in the two groups (fold change (FC) ≥ 1.5 and p < 0.01). We validated the expression of seven miRNAs; miR-487b, miR-29b-2-5p, and miR-195 were underexpressed, and miR-92b-5p, miR-483-5p, miR-4534, and miR-548ac were overexpressed according to the microarray experiments. This signature exhibited prognostic value for identifying early-stage CC patients with LNM. These findings may help detect LNM that cannot be observed in imaging studies.

Cervical Cancer Diagnosis: Insights into Biochemical Biomarkers and Imaging Techniques

Cervical malignancy is known as one of the important cancers which is originated from cervix. This malignancy has been observed in women infected with papillomavirus who had regular oral contraceptives, multiple pregnancies, and sexual relations. Early and fast cervical cancer diagnosis is known as two important aspects of cervical cancer therapy. Several investigations indicated that early and fast detection of cervical cancer could be associated with better treatment process and increasing survival rate of patients with this malignancy. Imaging techniques are very important diagnosis tools that could be employed for diagnosis and following responses to therapy in various cervical cancer stages. Multiple lines of evidence indicated that utilization of imaging techniques is related to some limitations (i.e. high cost, and invasive effects). Hence, it seems that along with using imaging techniques, finding and developing new biomarkers could be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of subjects with cervical cancer. Taken together, many studies showed that a variety of biomarkers including, several proteins, mRNAs, microRNAs, exosomes and polymorphisms might be introduced as prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers in cervical cancer therapy. In this review article, we highlighted imaging techniques as well as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of cervical cancer.

MicroRNAs in Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: A State of the Art Review of the Regulatory Mechanisms and Future Perspectives

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare malignant neoplasia with a variable clinical course, with complete remission often difficult to achieve. Genetic alterations lead to fundamental changes not only in hereditary MTC but also in the sporadic form, with close correlations between mutational status and prognosis. In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have become highly relevant as crucial players in MTC etiology. Current research has focused on their roles in disease carcinogenesis and development, but recent studies have expounded their potential as biomarkers and response predictors to novel biological drugs for advanced MTC. One such element which requires greater investigation is their mechanism of action and the molecular pathways involved in the regulation of gene expression. A more thorough understanding of these mechanisms will help realize the promising potential of miRNAs for MTC therapy and management.

miR-224 aggravates cancer-associated fibroblast-induced progression of non-small cell lung cancer by modulating a positive loop of the SIRT3/AMPK/mTOR/HIF-1α axis

OBJECTIVES

Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) is among the most important tumor-host microenvironment components by affecting tumor progression. This study explored the role of miR-224 in CAF-induced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A CAF-NSCLC cell co-culture model was established, and the miR-224 expression in CAF was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Gain- and loss- of experiments of miR-224 were implemented to verify the effects of CAF on NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and endothelial cell (EC) angiogenesis. Overexpressing genetic or pharmacological interventions were performed to explore the potential mechanisms of Sirtuins 3/AMP-activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (SIRT3/AMPK/mTOR/HIF-1α).

RESULTS

CAF enhanced the malignant phenotype of NSCLC cells and induced EC angiogenesis. miR-224 was significantly altered in CAFs. miR-224 up-regulation exacerbated NSCLC development mediated by CAFs, while miR-224 inhibition mostly reversed CAF-induced effects. Mechanistically, miR-224 targeted the 3'-untranslated regions (UTR) of SIRT3 mRNA, thereby inhibiting SIRT3/AMPK and activating mTOR/HIF-1α. Forced overexpression of SIRT3 up-regulated AMPK and inactivated mTOR/HIF-1α, while inhibiting HIF-1α markedly up-regulated SIRT3/AMPK and reduced mTOR phosphorylation. Interestingly, both Sirt1 overexpression and HIF-1α inhibition repressed miR-224 levels and miR-224-mediated promotive effects in NSCLC.

CONCLUSION

The miR-224-SIRT3/AMPK/mTOR/HIF-1α axis formed a positive feedback loop in modulating CAF-induced carcinogenic effects on NSCLC.

Role of microRNAs in Predicting the Prognosis of Cervical Cancer Cases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aim:

There is growing evidence for the possible use of microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancers as diagnostic as well as prognostic biomarkers in the present era of Personalized Medicine. The objective of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the prognostic role of microRNAs in uterine cervical cancers.

Methods:

A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out searching electronic databases for published articles between January 2009 and August 2020 based on standard systematic review guidelines. Meta-analysis was performed by pooling the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) to assess the prognostic value of deregulated miRNAs by the random-effects model.

Results:

In the present meta-analysis, the aberrant expression of 14 microRNAs in 1,526 uterine cervical cancer cases before definitive therapy from 14 case-control studies were assessed. The pooled HR of two miRNAs, miRNA-155 and miRNA-224 which were upregulated in cervical cancer tissues was 1.76 (95% CI 1.27-2.45) revealing significant association with overall poor survival. Meanwhile, the pooled HR was 1.53 (95% CI 0.94-2.94) when all the deregulated miRNAs in cervical cancer tissues were evaluated. The pooled HR of downregulated miRNAs was 1.46 (95% CI 0.81, 2.64). Meanwhile, the pooled HR of three upregulated miRNAs-425-5p, 196a, 205 in the serum sample was 1.37 (95% CI 0.45 -4.20).

Conclusion:

The downregulation of aberrant miRNAs was not associated with poor overall survival rates.

Raddeanin A inhibits proliferation, invasion, migration and promotes apoptosis of cervical cancer cells via regulating miR-224-3p/Slit2/Robo1 signaling pathway

Raddeanin A (RA), an active triterpenoid saponin extracted from the Anemone raddeana regel, plays an essential role in the suppression of many malignancies. We aimed to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of RA on cervical cancer (CC). RA was used to treat CC cell lines (Hela and c-33A) for 24 h and 48 h. Then, the invasion, migration and cell cycle distribution of these two cell lines with RA treatment were respectively detected by transwell, wound healing and flow cytometry. Results revealed that RA significantly inhibited the invasion, migration, promoted the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of Hela and c-33A cells. Moreover, RA was confirmed to activate the Slit2/Robo1 signaling, and bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay verified that miR-224-3p could target Slit2. Additionally, miR-224-3p overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of RA on invasion and migration of CC cells, and it also restored the promoting effects of RA on cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Lastly, miR-224-3p-upregulation inactivated the expression of Slit2 and Robo1 in RA-treated Hela and c-33A cells. These findings demonstrated that RA inhibits proliferation, invasion, migration and promotes apoptosis of CC cells through miR-224-3p/Slit2/Robo1 signaling pathway, which might guide the future studies or treatment of this disease.

Altered microRNA profiles of testicular biopsies from patients with nonobstructive azoospermia

Many studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles during the spermatogenesis. However, little is known about the altered miRNA profiles of testicular tissues in nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). Using microarray technology, the miRNA expression profiles of testicular biopsies from patients with NOA and of normal testicular tissues were determined. Bioinformatics analyses were conducted to predict the enriched biological processes and functions of identified miRNAs. The microarray data were validated by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), the results of which were then validated with a larger sample size. Correlations between the miRNA expression levels and clinical characteristics were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic ability of miRNAs for azoospermia. Hierarchical clustering showed that 129 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed between the NOA and control groups. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the differentially expressed miRNAs were involved in spermatogenesis, cell cycle, and mitotic prometaphase. In the subsequent qRT-PCR assays, the selected miRNA expression levels were consistent with the microarray results, and similar validated results were obtained with a larger sample size. Some clinical characteristics were significantly associated with the expression of certain miRNAs. In particular, we identified a combination of two miRNAs (miR-10b-3p and miR-34b-5p) that could serve as a predictive biomarker of azoospermia. This study provides altered miRNA profiles of testicular biopsies from NOA patients and examines the roles of miRNAs in spermatogenesis. These profiles may be useful for predicting and diagnosing the presence of testicular sperm in individuals with azoospermia.

Molecular landscape of recurrent cervical cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) is a major gynecological problem in developing and underdeveloped countries. Despite the significant advancement in early detection and treatment modalities, several patients recur. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms responsible for CC recurrence remains obscure. The patients with CC recurrence often show poor prognosis and significantly high mortality rates. The clinical management of recurrent CC depends on treatment history, site, and extent of the recurrence. Owing to poor prognosis and limited treatment options, recurrent CC often presents a challenge to the clinicians. Several in vitro, in vivo, and patient studies have led to the identification of the critical molecular changes responsible for CC recurrence. Both aberrant genetic and epigenetic modifications leading to altered cell signaling pathways have been reported to impact CC recurrence. Researchers are currently trying to dissect the molecular pathways in CC and translate these findings for better management of disease. This article attempts to review the existing knowledge of disease relapse, accompanying challenges, and associated molecular players in CC.

The roles of microRNA in human cervical cancer

Although a potentially preventable disease, cervical cancer (CC) is the second most commonly diagnosed gynaecological cancer with at least 530,000 new cases annually, and the prognosis with CC is still poor. Studies suggest that aberrant expression of microRNA (miRNA) contributes to the progression of CC. As a group of small non-coding RNA with 18-25 nucleotides, miRNA regulate about one-third of all human genes. They function by repressing translation or inducing mRNA cleavage or degradation, including genes involved in diverse and important cellular processes, including cell cycling, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Results showed that misexpression of miRNA is closely related to the onset and progression of CC. This review will provide an overview of the function of miRNA in CC and the mechanisms involved in cervical carcinogenesis.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3B is overexpressed and correlates with deteriorated tumor features and unfavorable survival profiles in cervical cancer patients

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to detect the expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3B (EIF3B) and investigate its correlation with tumor features and survival in cervical cancer patients.

METHODS

This study retrospectively reviewed 187 cervical cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) patients underwent tumor resection. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression of EIF3B in tissue samples. Besides, disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated. The median follow-up duration was 69 months, and the last follow-up date was 2017/12/31.

RESULTS

EIF3B expression was higher in tumor tissue compared to paired adjacent tissue (45.5% vs. 32.1%, P= 0.015). Besides, EIF3B high expression was associated with higher Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage (P= 0.001) and presence of lymph node metastasis (P= 0.002). As to survival profiles, Kaplan-Meier curves disclosed that DFS (P< 0.001) and OS (P< 0.001) were both shorter in EIF3B high expression group compared to EIF3B low expression group. Multivariate Cox's regression analysis disclosed that EIF3B high expression, pathological grade III (vs I/II) and FIGO Stage III/IV (vs I/II) were independent predictive factors for unfavorable DFS as well as OS in cervical cancer patients (all P value < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

EIF3B is overexpressed, and its high expression correlates with higher FIGO Stage, lymph node metastasis and unfavorable survival profiles in cervical cancer patients.

The clinical significance of serum miRNA-224 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma

Aim of the study

Micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNA) are small single stranded RNA molecules. They act as key regulators of several cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, tumor differentiation, invasion and metastasis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the most common primary liver cancer. miRNA-224 is an oncomiR that is highly upregulated in HCC tissues. The aim of the present study was to measure the relative expression of circulating miRNA-224 in the serum of patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis and HCC and to assess its usefulness in the diagnosis of HCC.

Material and methods

Forty-eight patients were classified into two groups: 24 HCV-related HCC patients (HCC group), and 24 HCV-related liver cirrhosis patients (LC group). A third group included 24 healthy volunteers (control group). Clinical examination, imaging studies and routine laboratory investigations, including serum α-fetoprotein (AFP), were done. Quantification of serum miRNA-224 expression was performed using real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results

The relative expression of serum miRNA-224 was significantly higher in HCC patients compared to LC patients and healthy control subjects. Its level correlated positively with the serum concentration of AFP and with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage of HCC. By combining miRNA-224 relative expression with AFP, their diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy increased significantly (95.0%, 92.1% and 93.2%, respectively) compared with either of the two markers alone in discriminating HCC from liver cirrhosis.

Conclusions

Serum miRNA-224 relative expression may aid in the diagnosis of HCC. Better diagnostic performance is obtained if miRNA-224 is combined with other tumor markers such as AFP.

miR-96 enhances the proliferation of cervical cancer cells by targeting FOXO1

MiRNAs affect various biological pathways associated with the development, progression, clinical outcome and treatment response improvement in cervical cancer. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of miRNA 96 on cervical cancer and to clarify the mechanism. Vivo and vitro experiments were conducted in our trial. MiR-96 is upregulated in cervical cancer cell lines and cervical cancer tissues and is correlated with clinical features in cervical cancer patients. Overexpression of miR-96 enhances proliferation of cervical cancer cells, while inhibiting miR-96 reduces the proliferation of cervical cancer cells. Inhibition of miR-96 significantly decreased the percentage of cells in the S phase and increased the percentage of cells in G1/G0 peak in both SiHa and CaSki cells compared with NC cells and decreased the expressions of p21, p27 and cyclin D1. FOXO1 3'-UTR was sub cloned into a luciferase reporter vector and the putative miR-96 binding site in the FOXO1 3'-UTR was mutated. Treated with miR-96 inhibitor consistently enhanced the luciferase activity of the FOXO1 3'-UTR luciferase reporter plasmids in both SiHa and CaSki cells, whereas mutations in the miR-96-binding site abolished the effect. Vivo experiment also support these results. Therefore, inhibition of miR-96 might suppress growth, proliferation of CC cells and promote apoptosis of CC cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Identification and performance evaluation of housekeeping genes for microRNA expression normalization by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR using liquid-based cervical cytology samples

Screening for cervical cancer by cytology has been effective in reducing the worldwide incidence and mortality rates of this disease. However, a number of studies have demonstrated that the sensitivity of conventional cervical cytology may be too low for detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN). Therefore, it is important to incorporate more sensitive molecular diagnostic tests that could substantially improve the detection rates and accuracy for identifying CIN lesions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs with the potential to provide robust non-invasive cancer biomarkers for detecting CIN lesions in liquid-based cervical cytology (LBC) samples. At present, there is no consensus on which are the best housekeeping genes for miRNA normalization in LBC. The present study aimed to identify housekeeping genes with consistent and reproducible performance for normalization of reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) expression analysis of miRNA using LBC samples. The present study firstly selected six potential candidate housekeeping genes based on a systematic literature evaluation. Subsequently, the expression levels of microRNAs U6, RNU-44, RNU-47, RNU-48, RNU-49 and hsa-miR-16 were measured in 40 LBC samples using RT-qPCR. The stability of each potential housekeeping gene was assessed using the NormFinder algorithm. The results revealed that U6 and RNU-49 were the most stable genes among all candidates requiring fewer amplification cycles and smaller variation across the sample set. However, RNU-44, RNU-47, RNU-48 and hsa-miR-16 stability exceeded the recommended housekeeping value suitable for normalization. The findings revealed that U6 may be a reliable housekeeping gene for normalization of miRNA RT-qPCR expression analysis using LBC samples.

MicroRNA-224, negatively regulated by c-jun, inhibits growth and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition phenotype via targeting ADAM17 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abnormal expression of miR-224 has been reported to promote cancer progression. However, the role of miR-224 is seldom reported in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We reported that miR-224 expression was significantly down-regulated in OSCC tissues and cell lines. Restoration of miR-224 decreased OSCC cell growth and invasion. In addition, luciferase and Western blot assays revealed that ADAM17 protein was a downstream target of miR-224. The overexpression of ADAM17 dismissed miR-224's effect on cell growth and invasion. We concluded that miR-224 inhibited OSCC cell growth and invasion through regulating ADAM17 expression. Subsequently, we revealed that c-jun directly bind to miR-224 promoter and decreased miR-224 expression. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that miR-224 may function as a tumour-suppressive microRNA in OSCC and suggested that miR-224 may be a potential therapeutic target for OSCC patients.

MiR-155-5p accelerates the metastasis of cervical cancer cell via targeting TP53INP1

Background: The dysregulation of microRNAs has been implicated in the progression of different malignancies. Herein, we sought to identify the precise roles of miR-155-5p in the progression of cervical cancer.

Materials and methods: The expressions of miR-155-5p in cervical carcinoma cells and clinical tissues were assessed using qRT-PCR analysis. The functions of miR-155-5p on the growth of cervical cancer cell were investigated using MTT and colony formation. The Transwell and wound closure assays were selected to explore the influence of miR-155-5p on the invasion and migration of cervical cancer cell. The effect of miR-155-5p on cervical carcinoma cell growth and metastasis in vivo was investigated using xenograft model and experimental lung metastasis model. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay were applied to identify that tumor protein p53-inducible nuclear protein 1 (TP53INP1) was the target of miR-155-5p.

Results: MiR-155-5p was significantly upregulated in cervical cancer tissue than that in control normal tissue. Downexpression of miR-155-5p decreased the growth, migration as well as invasiveness abilities of cervical cancer cell in vitro whereas overregulation of miR-155-5p caused the opposite outcomes. In addition, the in vivo mice xenograft model suggested that downexpression of miR-155-5p restrained the progression of cervical cancer cell whereas overexpression of miR-155-5p caused opposite outcomes. Furthermore, we revealed that TP53INP1 was the target of miR-155-5p and the level of TP53INP1 was inversely associated with miR-155-5p level in cervical carcinoma. Furthermore, TP53INP1 knockdown mimicked the influence of miR-155-5p on cervical cancer proliferation, migration and invasion phenotypes. Finally, overexpression of TP53INP1 impaired the promote effect of miR-155-5p on cervical cancer cell and downregulation of TP53INP1 counteracted the suppressive impact of miR-155-5p on the aggressiveness of cervical cancer cell.

Conclusion: Our study indicated that miR-155-5p regulated the development of cervical cancer cell by regulating the expression of TP53INP1.

microRNAs: New prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic biomarkers in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is as a kind of cancer beginning from the cervix. Given that cervical cancer could be observed in women who infected with papillomavirus, regular oral contraceptives, and multiple pregnancies. Early detection of cervical cancer is one of the most important aspects of the therapy of this malignancy. Despite several efforts, finding and developing new biomarkers for cervical cancer diagnosis are required. Among various prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic biomarkers, miRNA have been emerged as powerful biomarkers for detection, treatment, and monitoring of response to therapy in cervical cancer. Here, we summarized various miRNAs as an employable platform for prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic biomarkers in the treatment of cervical cancer.

miRNA-301b-3p accelerates migration and invasion of high-grade ovarian serous tumor via targeting CPEB3/EGFR axis

High-grade ovarian serous carcinoma (HGS-OvCa), a type of ovarian cancer with poor prognosis due to distant metastasis, is urgently in need of new therapeutic targets. microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small noncoding RNAs, perform significant roles in tumor progression. Mounting evidence has revealed the aberrant expression of miRNA in various cancers, one of which is HGS-OvCa. Present study planned to investigate that miRNA-301b-3p accelerates migration and invasion of high-grade ovarian serous tumor via targeting CPEB3/EGFR axis. Upregulation of miR-301b-3p was uncovered in HGS-OvCa tissues and cell lines, and was identified to be associated with metastasis. The Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed the association of miR-301b-3p with poor prognosis of HGS-OvCa patients. Transwell assay validated the oncogenic effect of miR-301b-3p on migration and invasion of HGS-OvCa cells. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 3 (CPEB3) was then identified as a target of miR-301b-3p. It was also discovered that CPEB3 was downregulated in HGS-OvCa tissues and cell lines. The Spearman correlation curve presented the negative correlation of CPEB3 expression with miR-301b-3p. Furthermore, rescue assays proved that miRNA-301b-3p regulated the invasion and migration through CPEB3. Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis showed that miRNA-301b-3p induced epidermal growth factor receptor and downstream metastasis-related proteins, p38, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), through CPEB3. To be concluded, these results indicated that miRNA-301b-3p accelerated migration and invasion of high-grade ovarian serous tumor via targeting CPEB3/EGFR axis.

Clinical Implication of MicroRNAs in Molecular Pathology: An Update for 2018

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are poised to provide diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets for several diseases including malignancies for precision medicine applications. The miRNAs have immense potential in the clinical arena because they can be detected in the blood, serum, tissues (fresh and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded), and fine-needle aspirate specimens. The most attractive feature of miRNA-based therapy is that a single miRNA could be useful for targeting multiple genes that are deregulated in cancers, which can be further investigated through systems biology and network analysis that may provide cancer-specific personalized therapy.

MicroRNA-224 Promotes Tumorigenesis through Downregulation of Caspase-9 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) harbors genetic heterogeneity and generally has more aggressive clinical outcomes. As such, there is urgency in identifying new prognostic targets and developing novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, miR-224 was overexpressed in breast cancer cell lines and TNBC primary cancer samples. Knockdown of miR-224 in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells reduced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Through integrating in silico prediction algorithms with KEGG pathway and Gene Ontology analyses, CASP9 was identified to be a potential target of miR-224. miR-224 knockdown significantly increased CASP9 transcript and protein levels. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assays confirmed a direct interaction of miR-224 with CASP9. Our findings have demonstrated that the miR-224/CASP9 axis plays an important role in TNBC progression, providing evidence in support of a promising therapeutic strategy for this disease.

Protective effect of microRNA-224 on acute lower extremity ischemia through activation of the mTOR signaling pathway via CHOP in mice

Acute lower extremity ischemia (ALEXI) is known worldwide as an urgent condition, occurring when there is an abrupt interruption in blood flow into an extremity. This study aims to investigate whether microRNA-224 (miR-224) affects the ALEXI mice and the underlying mechanism. The miR-224 expression and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), and phosphoprotein 70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) messenger RNA (mRNA), as well as protein expressions, were determined. The target gene of miR-224 was also verified by using a luciferase reporter gene assay. The vascular endothelial cells from the ALEXI mice were transfected with miR-224 mimics, miR-224 inhibitors, or small-interfering RNA against CHOP. Cell proliferation was assessed using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The cell cycle distribution along with the cell apoptosis were both evaluated by using a flow cytometry. The muscle fibers of the lower extremities found in the ALEXI mice were evidently swollen and rounded, presenting with a remarkably narrowed gap. The positive CHOP expression increased in ALEXI mice than normal mice, while the miR-224 expression and mTOR, 4E-BP1, and p70S6K mRNA, as well as the protein expression, decreased. Luciferase reporter gene assay validated that the miR-224 gene directly targeted CHOP. MiR-224 facilitated cell proliferation but inhibited cell apoptosis; by contrast, CHOP increased cell apoptosis. Moreover, the cells transfected along with miR-224 mimic exhibited a lower CHOP expression as well as increased mTOR, 4E-BP1, and p70S6K expression. Our study provided evidence that miR-224 could alleviate the occurrence and development of ALEXI in mice through activation of the mTOR signaling pathway by downregulating CHOP.

MicroRNA-224 inhibition prevents progression of cervical carcinoma by targeting PTX3

Cervical carcinoma is known as one of the most lethal and common conditions in women worldwide. Increasing evidence shows that microRNAs (miRs) may be involved in the pathogenesis of cervical carcinoma. This study investigates the correlation between expression of miR-224 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and both diagnosis and prognosis of cervical carcinoma to clarify the effect miR-224 has on the biological behaviors of the subjected cervical carcinoma cells. Initially, 132 patients diagnosed with cervical carcinoma and 120 healthy subjects were recruited. Peripheral blood expression of miR-224 and PTX3 was detected. A telephone follow-up was performed every 3 months after treatment. The diagnostic value of miR-224 in cervical carcinoma was analyzed using the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve. The effects of both miR-224 and PTX3 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated with an intervention of miR-224 ectopic expression or depletion and PTX3 silencing. The bioinformatics prediction website and dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed PTX3 to be a target gene for miR-224. Moreover, miR-224 was detected as over-expressed, but PTX3 was under-expressed in cervical carcinoma. Additionally, as a diagnostic biomarker, a high miR-224 expression was closely linked with the progression of cervical carcinoma. Both miR-224 overexpression and PTX3 silencing promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas, the aforementioned properties were depressed when miR-224 was inhibited. Altogether, the miR-224 overexpression may be a biological indicator in predicting the progression of cervical carcinoma. Thus, miR-224 inhibition may significantly prevent cervical carcinoma progression by targeting the PTX3 gene.

Correlation between miR-222 and uterine cancer and its prognostic value

Relationship between the expression of miR-222 and uterine cancer was investigated to explore its prognostic value. A total of 66 patients with uterine cancer diagnosed by pathological examination in Dongying People's Hospital were enrolled from March 2014 to October 2016. Uterine cancer and adjacent tissues were collected, and the expression of miR-222 in the tissues was detected by stem-loop RT-PCR. The relationship between miR-222 expression and various clinicopathological features of uterine cancer was analyzed. All the patients were followed up to record the survival conditions. The results revealed that stem-loop RT-PCR method could specifically amplify miR-222. The expression of miR-222 in uterine cancer tissues was significantly upregulated compared with that in adjacent tissues (p<0.05). The expression level of miR-222 was significantly increased with the increase of degree of tumor differentiation (p<0.05). The expression of miR-222 in uterine cancer tissue was not significantly correlated with patients age, tumor size, gross tumor type, pathological type and FIGO stage (p>0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between the expression of miR-222 and the survival of patients with uterine cancer. In conclusion, the expression of miR-222 in uterine cancer tissues was significantly upregulated in uterine cancer and negatively correlated with prognosis. miR-222 may play a pivotal role in the development and progression of uterine cancer. It is expected that miR-222 will be an indicator and target for the treatment and prognosis of uterine cancer.

Biomarkers could facilitate prediction of worse clinical outcome of cancer with special insight to cervical cancer

Cervical cancer incidence, globally, is second only to malignant breast cancer. The main causative factor is thought to be human papillomavirus (HPV) infection as a result of many sexual partners. Despite radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgical treatment, the survival rate of patients with advanced disease is low. Metastasis is one of the stages of cancerogenesis in which tumour cells acquire the ability to migrate and create tumour secondary foci. Tumour biomarkers, proteins produced by neoplastic cells, quantified in body fluids or in tissues, play a key role in treatment monitoring and in determining the prognosis for further years of life. In recent years, the search for cervical cancer biomarkers has been intensively sought. They can become a decisive factor in making radical treatment and, in the near future, a potential therapeutic goal. The article presents and briefly describes the biomarkers of metastasis in cervical cancer studied in recent years and highlights their potential therapeutic use.

Prognostic value of microRNAs in cervical carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review is written to investigate the outcome of cervical cancer. A comprehensive search of PubMed and EMBASE was performed to identify eligible studies. Nineteen studies from thirteen articles with a total of 1,310 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) as a prognosis for cervical cancer were extracted and calculated, if available. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using STATA (version 12.0), resulting in the pooled HRs 0.70 (95% CI: 0.51–0.97) for OS, 1.02 (95% CI: 0.53–1.98) for DFS, and 0.56 (95% CI: 0.40–0.77) for RFS. The results indicated that cervical cancer patients with decreased microRNA expression were associated with shorter OS and RFS. It suggested that microRNAs might be promising markers for predicting the survival rate of cervical cancer.

Prognostic Value of microRNA-224 in Various Cancers: A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

During previous studies, microRNA-224 (miR-224) was frequently investigated and discovered to be of vital significance to prognosis of patients with various cancers. However, its accurate prognostic value has not been estimated worldwide. Herein, we performed meta-analysis to assess its potential predictive value in a variety of human tumors.

METHODS

Qualified researches were identified up to March 1, 2017 through performing online searches in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) or progression-free survival (PFS) as a prognosis for various cancers were extracted and calculated, if available. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using Stata version 13.0 (StataCorp, College Station, Texas, USA).

RESULTS

22 eligible studies with 3000 patients were ultimately brought into the current meta-analysis. It suggested that high miR-224 expression was significantly associated with poor OS in tissue (HR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.00-2.03). During multivariate analysis, high miR-224 expression was more significantly associated with OS in tissue (HR = 2.81, 95% CI = 1.91-4.13). Likewise, there were significant associations between tissue miR-224 expression and colorectal cancer (CRC), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and gastric cancer (GC) patients (p <0.05). Nevertheless, there were not significant associations between high tissue miR-224 expression and DFS (HR = 2.15, 95% CI = 0.97-4.79) or PFS (HR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.53-1.59).

CONCLUSION

As far as the present researches are concerned, tissue miR-224 has a significantly prognostic value in various cancers, especially in CRC, DLBCL and GC. Due to the complicated pathogenesis of cancers, more large-scale and standard researches are requisite.

Down-regulation of microRNA-224 -inhibites growth and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition phenotype -via modulating SUFU expression in bladder cancer cells

Aberrant expression of miR-224 is usually found in cancer studies; however, the role of miR-224 has seldom been reported in bladder cancer (BC). We explored miR-224's function and the underlying mechanism in BC. It was found that miR-224 expression was significantly up-regulated in BC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of miR-224 decreased BC cell growth and invasion both in vitro and in vivo. We identified the SUFU protein as a downstream target of miR-224 by using luciferase and western blot assays. We proposed that miR-224 promoted BC cell growth and invasion via sustaining the activity of Hedgehog pathway, which was negatively regulated by SUFU. Taken together, our study demonstrated that miR-224 may function as an onco-miR in BC and suggested that miR-224 may be a potential therapeutic target for BC patients.

A three miRNAs signature predicts survival in cervical cancer using bioinformatics analysis

Growing evidences showed that a large number of miRNAs were abnormally expressed in cervical cancer tissues and played irreplaceable roles in tumorigenesis, progression and metastasis. The aim of the present study was to identify the differential miRNAs expression between cervical cancer and normal cervical tissues by analyzing the high-throughput miRNA data downloaded from TCGA database. Additionally, we evaluated the prognostic values of the differentially expressed miRNAs and constructed a three-miRNA signature that could effectively predict patient survival. According to the cut-off criteria (P < 0.05 and |log₂FC| > 2.0), a total of 78 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified between cervical cancer tissues and matched normal tissues, including 37 up-regulated miRNAs and 41 down-regulated miRNAs. The Kaplan-Meier survival method revealed the prognostic function of the three miRNAs (miRNA-145, miRNA-200c, and miRNA-218-1). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the three-miRNA signature was an independent prognostic factor in cervical cancer. The functional enrichment analysis suggested that the target genes of three miRNAs may be involved in various pathways related to cancer, including MAPK, AMPK, focal adhesion, cGMP-PKG, wnt, and mTOR signaling pathway. Taken together, the present study suggested that three-miRNA signature could be used as a prognostic marker in cervical cancer.

Regulation of Autophagy by MiRNAs and Their Emerging Roles in Tumorigenesis and Cancer Treatment

Autophagy is a conserved catabolic process for the degradation and recycling of cytosolic components or organelles through a lysosome-dependent pathway. Autophagy can be induced in response to multiple stress conditions, such as nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, energy depletion, etc. As a result, autophagy can regulate many biological processes, including cell survival, metabolism, differentiation, senescence, and cell death. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are small noncoding molecules that regulate gene expression by silencing mRNA targets. MiRNA dysregulation exhibits great regulatory potential during organismal development, hematopoiesis, immunity, cell proliferation and death, and autophagy. Recently, increasing studies have linked MiRNAs to autophagic regulation during cancer initiation and development. Although the relationship between MiRNAs and autophagy is quite complicated and has not been well elucidated, MiRNAs may underlie key aspects of autophagy and cancer biology. Increasing evidence shows that MiRNAs play important roles as both oncogenic MiRNAs and tumor suppressive MiRNAs in cancer initiation and development. Thus, understanding the novel relationship between MiRNAs and autophagy may allow us to develop promising cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Notch1 targeted regulation of mir-224/LRIG2 signaling for the proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells

In the present study, we explored the participation of Notch1 targeted regulation of mir-224/LRIG2 gene signal pathway in proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells. Forty-nine cases of cervical cancer lesion samples from cervical cancer patients treated in our hospital from February 2013 to February 2015 were chosen as subjects (the observation group), and cervical samples of healthy women (42 cases) during the same period were used as the control group. We determined the mRNA and protein expression of Notch1, mir-224, and LRIG2 genes. We also analyzed the mutual relationship between Notch1 gene expression and cervical cancer. The Notch1 genes in the cervical cancer cells (HeLa) were silenced and overexpressed to measure cancer apoptosis with flow cytometry. After obstruction of the Notch1 signal pathway, the mRNA and protein expression in the mir-224 and LRIG2 genes was also measured. It was found that in comparison to the control group, Notch1 gene expression in the observation group was significantly higher (p<0.05), cell growth was suppressed in Notch1 silent cell strains but accelerated in overexpressed Notch1 cells. The silencing of Notch1 genes can lead to the reduction of mir-224/LRIG gene and protein levels, while overexpression of the Notch1 genes increased the mir-224/LRIG gene and protein levels. In conclusion, the Notch1 gene is positively related to cervical cancer and can promote the occurrence of the disease. The potential mechanism shows that Notch1 gene can regulate cervical cancer cell proliferation by regulating the mir-224/LRIG2 signal pathway.

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen expression in tumor cells is associated with the chemosensitivity and survival of patients with cervical cancer receiving docetaxel-carboplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy

The present study examined the association between squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) expression and the response of patients with cervical cancer to docetaxel-carboplatin (DC) combination chemotherapy, in order to determine the prognostic potential of SCCA expression. A total of 21 patients were enrolled with stage IB2 or stage IIA2 SCC. Of these, 9 patients had chemotherapy-sensitive cancer (2 cases with a complete response and 7 cases with a partial response) and 12 patients had chemotherapy-resistant cancer (12 cases of stable disease and no cases of progressive disease). Patients were treated with two cycles of DC chemotherapy (docetaxel 75 mg/m² plus cisplatin 25 mg/m²) with 21-day intervals, followed by radical surgery. SCCA expression levels prior to and following chemotherapy were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Following DC chemotherapy, the SCCA expression levels decreased in the patients with chemotherapy-sensitive cancer, but not in those with chemotherapy-resistant cancer (P=0.042). Significant survival differences between the SCCA-positive and -negative patients following chemotherapy (P=0.009) was observed. However, no statistically significant difference in survival between patients with chemotherapy-sensitive and chemotherapy-resistant cancer, or between patients with SCCA-positive and -negative expression prior to chemotherapy was observed. Overall, the chemotherapy sensitivity of patients with cervical cancer was associated with decreased SCCA expression levels following DC chemotherapy. Therefore, SCCA expression levels following DC chemotherapy may potentially be used in the clinical prognosis for cervical cancer patients who receive DC chemotherapy and subsequent radical surgery.

Prognostic Impact of miR-224 and RAS Mutations in Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma

Little is known about the function of microRNA-224 (miR-224) in medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). This study investigated the role of miR-224 expression in MTC and correlated it with mutation status in sporadic MTCs. A consecutive series of 134 MTCs were considered. Patients had a sporadic form in 80% of cases (107/134). In this group, REarranged during transfection (RET) and rat sarcoma (RAS) mutation status were assessed by direct sequencing in the tumor tissues. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify mature hsa-miR-224 in tumor tissue. RAS (10/107 cases, 9%) and RET (39/107 cases, 36%) mutations were mutually exclusive in sporadic cases. miR-224 expression was significantly downregulated in patients with the following: high calcitonin levels at diagnosis (p = 0.03, r = -0.3); advanced stage (p = 0.001); persistent disease (p = 0.001); progressive disease (p = 0.002); and disease-related death (p = 0.0001). We found a significant positive correlation between miR-224 expression and somatic RAS mutations (p = 0.007). Patients whose MTCs had a low miR-224 expression tended to have a shorter overall survival (log-rank test p = 0.005). On multivariate analysis, miR-224 represented an independent prognostic marker. Our data indicate that miR-224 is upregulated in RAS-mutated MTCs and in patients with a better prognosis and could represent an independent prognostic marker in MTC patients.

Deregulated miRNAs in human cervical cancer: functional importance and potential clinical use

Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common malignancies affecting women worldwide. While the morbidity and mortality associated with CC are decreasing in western countries, they both remain high in developing countries. Unfortunately, many issues about molecular mechanisms of CC are not clear yet. miRNAs are a group of small noncoding RNAs that could post-transcriptionally modulate the expression of specific genes and participate in the initiation and progression of multiple diseases including CC. In the last decade, mounting evidences suggest an association between miRNAs and human papillomavirus infection, as well as variations in biologic behavior, treatment response and prognosis in CC. Herein, we highlight the latest findings in this area and the potential applications.

High-Level Expression of RIPK4 and EZH2 Contributes to Lymph Node Metastasis and Predicts Favorable Prognosis in Patients With Cervical Cancer

The investigation of specific genes will establish more useful biomarkers for accurate detection and management of gynecological cancers, especially patients with cervical cancer (CCP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression level of RIPK4 and EZH2 messenger RNA (RIPK4 and EZH2 mRNA) in CCP. Expression of RIPK4 and EZH2 in the tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR methods. Correlations of RIPK4 and EZH2 mRNA with clinical and pathological parameters were analyzed using the Fisher’s exact test. The mRNA level of RIPK4 was significantly upregulated in tumor tissues compared with matched adjacent normal tissues (4.10 ± 0.89 vs. 1.5 ± 0.82; p = 0.021). EZH2 mRNA was increased in cancer tissues compared to normal tissues (3.54 ± 0.71 vs. 1.2 ± 0.65; p = 0.003). High expression of RIPK4 was observed in 25 patients (64.1%), whereas weak expression was seen in 14 cases (35.9%). Furthermore, the expression of RIPK4 was overexpressed in matched adjacent normal tissues (p = 0.004). FIGO stage and lymph node metastasis were significantly linked to a higher expression of RIPK4 (p < 0.05). Overexpression of EZH2 was found in 30 patients (76.9%) and was associated with FIGO stage, histological type, and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our data suggest that RIPK4/EZH2 markers might be used as potential predictors of prognosis in cervical cancer.

Upregulated microRNA-224 promotes ovarian cancer cell proliferation by targeting KLLN

Human epithelial ovarian cancer is a complex disease, with low 5-yr survival rate largely due to the terminal stage at diagnosis in most patients. MicroRNAs play critical roles during epithelial ovarian cancer progression in vivo and have also been shown to regulate characteristic of ovarian cancer cell line in vitro. Alterative microRNA-224 (microRNA-224) expression affects human epithelial ovarian cancer cell survival, apoptosis, and metastasis. However, people know little about the effects of microRNA-224 on epithelial ovarian cancer cell proliferation. In the current study, we found that the microRNA-224 expression level of human syngeneic epithelial ovarian cancer cells HO8910 (low metastatic ability) was lower than that of HO8910PM (high metastatic ability). Furthermore, microRNA-224 was confirmed to target KLLN in HO8910 and HO8910PM. The known KLLN downstream target cyclin A was regulated by microRNA-224 in HO8910 and HO8910PM. In addition, overexpression of microRNA-224 enhanced the proliferation abilities of HO8910 and knockdown of microRNA-224 suppressed the proliferation abilities of HO8910PM by KLLN-cyclin A pathway. Our results provide new data about microRNAs and their targets involved in proliferation of epithelial ovarian cancer cells by modulating the downstream signaling.

Over-Expressed miR-224 Promotes the Progression of Cervical Cancer via Targeting RASSF8

Cervical cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in women from developing countries. Identification of novel prognostic predictors or therapeutic targets may improve patient prognosis. In the current study, we demonstrated by real-time PCR that miR-224 expression was significantly upregulated (1.82-fold, P = 0.0025) in cervical cancer tissues (n = 126) compared with in normal cervical tissues (n = 64). Higher expression of miR-224 was significantly associated with poorer prognostic factors, including advanced FIGO stage, nodal metastasis, larger tumor size, vascular involvement and deep stromal invasion (all P < 0.05). Enforced expression of miR-224 promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion in SiHa and CaSki cancer cell lines. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that RASSF8 (RAS-association domain family 8) was a potential target of miR-224. Western blot analysis and luciferase reporter assay showed that overexpressed miR-224 inhibited RASSF8 protein expression and decreased the activity of a luciferase reporter containing the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of RASSF8, respectively. Further, RASSF8 knockdown by specific RNAi showed similar effects in cervical cancer cells transfected with miR-224 mimic. Our findings suggest that miR-224 directly targets RASSF8 and thereby acts as a tumor promoter in cervical cancer progression.

miR-224-3p inhibits autophagy in cervical cancer cells by targeting FIP200

Cervical cancer (CC) is a malignant solid tumor, which is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in women. Persistent High-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection is closely related to cervical cancer and autophagy has been suggested to inhibit viral infections. miRNAs have been reported to regulate autophagy in many solid tumors with many studies implicating miR-224-3p in the regulation of autophagy. In this study, we performed a miRNA microarray analysis on CC tissues and found that a large number of miRNAs with differential expressions in hrHPV-infected tissues. We identified miR-224-3p as a candidate miRNA selectively up regulated in HPV-infected tissues and cell lines. Further analysis revealed that miR-224-3p regulates autophagy in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. While the overexpression of miR-224-3p inhibits autophagy in HPV-infected cells, knocking down endogenous miR-224-3p increases autophagy activity in the same cells. In addition, we found that miR-224-3p directly inhibits the expression of autophagy related gene, FAK family-interacting protein of 200 kDa (FIP200). In summary, we found that miR-224-3p regulates autophagy in hrHPV-induced cervical cancer cells through targeting FIP200 expression.

Base excision repair pathway: PARP1 genotypes as modulators of therapy response in cervical cancer patients

CONTEXT

Genetic polymorphisms in genes of the base excision repair (BER) pathway appear to modulate the therapy response of cancer patients. PARP1 protein recognizes the DNA strand damage and facilitates the subsequent recruitment of BER proteins. Few studies have reported an association between PARP1 Val762Ala polymorphism (rs1136410) and cancer therapy response.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of our study was to determine whether PARP1 Val762Ala polymorphism have prognostic value in patients with cervical cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred and sixty adult patients, with histologically confirmed cervical cancer, at FIGO-stages IB2-IVA, primarily treated with concurrent chemotherapy (cisplatin) and radiotherapy. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were the primary end points of the analysis. The PARP1 Val762Ala genetic variants were analyzed by allelic discrimination by real-time PCR.

RESULTS

We observed that peri- and postmenopausal women carrying the C-allele present a statistically significant lower OS and DFS (log-rank test, p = 0.008 and p = 0.006, respectively) among those with early stage cervical cancer. Cox regression analysis confirmed these results, after adjustment for other prognostic factors (for OS: HR, 3.70; 95%CI, 1.32-10.38; p = 0.013 and for DFS: HR, 3.97; 95%CI, 1.59-9.93; p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study evaluating the effect of PARP1 Val762Ala polymorphism in treatment response in cervical cancer patients. PARP1 genotypes may contribute as an independent prognostic factor in cervical cancer, being useful in predicting the clinical outcome.

Low expression of miRNA-224 predicts poor clinical outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression and prognostic value of miR-224 expression in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who underwent R-CHOP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RT-PCR was used to determine the relative expression of miR-224, in 258 DLBCL patients and 40 normal lymphoid tissue specimens.

RESULTS

MiR-224 expression in DLBCL patients was significantly down-regulated compared to that in negative controls (p < 0.05). The 5-year progression-free survival and overall survival rates were significantly higher in the high-expression level group compared to the low-expression level group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-224 expression level is implicated as a prognostic marker for DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP.

MicroRNAs are involved in cervical cancer development, progression, clinical outcome and improvement treatment response (Review)

Cervical cancer (CC) is the third most diagnosed cancer among females worldwide and the fourth cause of cancer-related mortality. Prophylactic HPV vaccines and traditional pap-smear screening are undoubtedly capable of decreasing the incidence and mortality of CC. However, a large number of females succumb to the disease each year due to late diagnosis and resistance to conventional treatments. Thus, it is necessary to identify new molecular markers to predict the clinical outcome and to design powerful treatments. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and are involved in the modulation of several cell pathways associated with progression from pre-malignant to invasive and metastatic disease, increasing tumor malignancy. The aim of this review was to summarize the recent data that describe the important role of miRNAS involved in CC in order to determine their potential as prognostic biomarkers and as therapy targets. Studies of >40 miRNAs with roles in cancer regulation were identified. We also identified 17 miRNAs associated with progression, 12 involved with clinical outcome and 7 that improved CC treatment response. The present review is expected to broaden understanding of the functional role and potential clinical uses of miRNAs in CC.

CDKN3 mRNA as a Biomarker for Survival and Therapeutic Target in Cervical Cancer

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 3 (CDKN3) gene, involved in mitosis, is upregulated in cervical cancer (CC). We investigated CDKN3 mRNA as a survival biomarker and potential therapeutic target for CC. CDKN3 mRNA was measured in 134 CC and 25 controls by quantitative PCR. A 5-year survival study was conducted in 121 of these CC patients. Furthermore, CDKN3-specific siRNAs were used to investigate whether CDKN3 is involved in proliferation, migration, and invasion in CC-derived cell lines (SiHa, CaSki, HeLa). CDKN3 mRNA was on average 6.4-fold higher in tumors than in controls (p = 8 x 10⁻⁶, Mann-Whitney). A total of 68.2% of CC patients over expressing CDKN3 gene (fold change ≥ 17) died within two years of diagnosis, independent of the clinical stage and HPV type (Hazard Ratio = 5.0, 95% CI: 2.5–10, p = 3.3 x 10⁻⁶, Cox proportional-hazards regression). In contrast, only 19.2% of the patients with lower CDKN3 expression died in the same period. In vitro inactivation of CDKN3 decreased cell proliferation on average 67%, although it had no effect on cell migration and invasion. CDKN3 mRNA may be a good survival biomarker and potential therapeutic target in CC.

MicroRNA-224: as a potential target for miR-based therapy of cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules which regulate the target gene expression posttranscriptionally. Increasing studies have shown that microRNAs play important roles in multiple biological pathways. For instance, aberrant expression of microRNA-224 (miR-224) plays a vital role in tumor biology in various types of human cancer. Here, we aim to summarize the molecular mechanisms that lead to the overexpression of miR-224 in cancers, analyze the effect of miR-224 on tumor biology, and reveal the clinical significance of miR-224. MiR-224 regulates its targets by modulating messenger RNA (mRNA) stability and/or protein translation, and it would provide new insight into molecular targeting cancer treatment.

Expression and role of oncogenic miRNA-224 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Aberrant expression of miR-224 is associated with tumor development and progression. This study investigated the role of miR-224 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) ex vivo and in vitro.

METHODS

A total of 103 esophageal intraepithelial neoplasia, ESCC tissue specimens, and their matched distant normal tissues were collected to test miR-224 expression using qRT-PCR analysis. Western blot was used to quantify the level of PH domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase 1 (PHLPP1) and PHLPP2 in ESCC tissues. Cell viability, apoptosis, invasion, and colony formation assays were used to assess the altered phenotypes of esophageal cancer cell lines after miR-224 expression or inhibition. A luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm miR-224 binding to PHLPP1 and PHLPP2 mRNA.

RESULTS

miR-224 was significantly overexpressed in esophageal intraepithelial neoplasia and ESCC tissues, while the expression of PHLPP1 and PHLPP2 proteins, the target genes of miR-224, was downregulated in ESCC tissues. miR-224 expression was associated with advanced clinical TNM stage, pathologic grade, and the level of PHLPP1 and PHLPP2 proteins in ESCC tissues. Ectopic overexpression of miR-224 promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion, but suppressed apoptosis of ESCC cells. miR-224 was able to bind to the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of PHLPP1 and PHLPP2 mRNA to suppress their expression.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study demonstrated that miR-224 acts as an oncogenic miRNA in ESCC, possibly by targeting PHLPP1 and PHLPP2.

Expression and clinical significance of microRNA-376a in colorectal cancer

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing in many Asian countries and microRNAs have already been proven to be associated with tumorigenesis. Currently, microRNA-376a (miR-376a) expression and association with clinical factors in CRC remains unclear. In this study, real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was carried out on 53 matched pairs of CRC and adjacent normal mucosa to investigate the expression levels of miR-376a. According to the high or low expression of miR-376a, patients were divided into two groups. The relationship between miR-376a expression and clinicopathological factors of 53 patients was evaluated. Survival analysis of 53 CRC patients was performed with clinical follow- up information and survival curves were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed on sections of paraffin-embedded tissue to investigate the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. MiR-376a showed low expression in cancer tissues compared to the adjacent normal tissues and altered high miR-376a expression tended to be positively correlated with advanced lymph node metastasis and shorter patient survival. VEGF IHC positivity was significantly more common in patients with high expression levels of miR-376a.Those results demonstrated that miR-376a may be a meaningful prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in colorectal cancer.