The miR-181 family promotes cell cycle by targeting CTDSPL, a phosphatase-like tumor suppressor in uveal melanoma

Exploring of miR-155-5p, miR-181b-5p, and miR-454-3p Expressions in Circulating Cell-Free RNA: Insights from Peripheral Blood of Uveal Malignant Melanoma Patients

The identification of novel non-invasive biomarkers is imperative for the early diagnosis and monitoring of malignant melanoma. The objective of this study is to examine the expression levels of miR-155-5p, miR-181b-5p, and miR-454-3p in circulating cell-free RNA obtained from plasma samples of the 72 uveal malignant melanoma patients and to compare these levels with those of 72 healthy controls. The analysis showed that the expression level of the miR-181b-5p has increased 9.25 fold, and expression level of miR-155-5p has increased 6.67 fold, and miR-454-3p expression level has increased 4.14 fold in the patient group compared with the levels in the healthy control group (p = 0.005). It was found that the high expression levels of the three miRNAs were statistically significant in patients compared with in the healthy control group. The statistical evaluations between miRNA expression levels and clinical data showed that miR-155-5p had significant association with radiation therapy (p = 0.040), and miR-454-3p showed a significant association with smoking and alcohol use respectively (p = 0.009, and p = 0.026). The significantly elevated expression levels of miR-181b-5p, miR-155-5p, and miR-454-3p in the circulating cell-free RNA of plasma from uveal melanoma patients, in comparison to those in the healthy control group, suggest the potential usefulness of these biomarkers for both early diagnosis and disease monitoring. However, more extensive and future studies are needed to use these molecules in early diagnosis and disease monitoring.

Circ_0053943 complexed with IGF2BP3 drives uveal melanoma progression via regulating N6-methyladenosine modification of Epidermal growth factor receptor

Numerous studies have characterized the critical role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) as regulatory factors in the progression of multiple cancers. However, the biological functions of circRNAs and their underlying molecular mechanisms in the progression of uveal melanoma (UM) remain enigmatic. In this study, we identified a novel circRNA, circ_0053943, through re-analysis of UM microarray data and quantitative RT-PCR. Circ_0053943 was found to be upregulated in UM and to promote the proliferation and metastatic ability of UM cells in both in vitro and in vivo settings. Mechanistically, circ_0053943 was observed to bind to the KH1 and KH2 domains of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3), thereby enhancing the function of IGF2BP3 by stabilizing its target mRNA. RNA sequencing assays identified epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a target gene of circ_0053943 and IGF2BP3 at the transcriptional level. Rescue assays demonstrated that circ_0053943 exerts its biological function by stabilizing EGFR mRNA and regulating the downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway. Collectively, circ_0053943 may promote UM progression by stabilizing EGFR mRNA and activating the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway through the formation of a circ_0053943/IGF2BP3/EGFR RNA-protein ternary complex, thus providing a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for UM.

MicroRNA-18a prevents senescence of mesenchymal stem cells by targeting CTDSPL

Stem cell therapy requires massive-scale homogeneous stem cells under strict qualification control. However, Prolonged ex vivo expansion impairs the biological functions and results in senescence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). We investigated the function of CTDSPL in the premature senescence process of MSCs and clarified that miR-18a-5p played a prominent role in preventing senescence of long-term cultured MSCs and promoting the self-renewal ability of MSCs. Over-expression of CTDSPL resulted in an enlarged morphology, up-regulation of p16 and accumulation of SA-β-gal of MSCs. The reduced phosphorylated RB suggested cell cycle arrest of MSCs. All these results implied that CTDSPL induced premature senescence of MSCs. We further demonstrated that miR-18a-5p was a putative regulator of CTDSPL by luciferase reporter assay. Inhibition of miR-18a-5p promoted the expression of CTDSPL and induced premature senescence of MSCs. Continuous overexpression of miR-18a-5p improved self-renewal of MSCs by reducing ROS level, increased expression of Oct4 and Nanog, and promoted growth rate and differentiation capability. We reported for the first time that the dynamic interaction of miR-18a-5p and CTDSPL is crucial for stem cell senescence.

Hsa-miR-503-5p regulates CTDSPL to accelerate cisplatin resistance and angiogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma cells

The study aimed to assess the role of hsa-miR-503-5p in cisplatin resistance and angiogenesis in LUAD and its underlying mechanisms. Hsa-miR-503-5p expression in LUAD and the target gene downstream of hsa-miR-503-5p was predicted by bioinformatics analysis. Binding relationship between the two genes was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. qRT-PCR was conducted for detecting gene expression in cells, CCK-8 for IC50 value, angiogenesis assay for human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) angiogenic ability, flow cytometry for apoptosis ability, transwell assay for migration ability, and western blot for detecting the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1), VEGFR2, and CTD small phosphatase like (CTDSPL). The results showed that hsa-miR-503-5p showed high expression, while its target gene CTDSPL presented decreased expression in LUAD. Hsa-miR-503-5p also had high expression in cisplatin-resistant LUAD cells. Knockdown of hsa-miR-503-5p resensitized LUAD cells to cisplatin, inhibited angiogenesis of drug-resistant cells, and reduced the protein expression of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and EMT-related targets in cisplatin-resistant LUAD cells, but promoted the apoptosis ability. Hsa-miR-503-5p bound to CTDSPL gene and promoted cisplatin resistance and malignant progression of LUAD cells by negatively regulating CTDSPL. Our results revealed that hsa-miR-503-5p and CTDSPL may be novel targets for overcoming cisplatin resistance in LUAD.

Tumor Suppressor Properties of Small C-Terminal Domain Phosphatases in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) accounts for 80-90% of kidney cancers worldwide. Small C-terminal domain phosphatases CTDSP1, CTDSP2, and CTDSPL (also known as SCP1, 2, 3) are involved in the regulation of several important pathways associated with carcinogenesis. In various cancer types, these phosphatases may demonstrate either antitumor or oncogenic activity. Tumor-suppressive activity of these phosphatases in kidney cancer has been shown previously, but in general case, the antitumor activity may be dependent on the choice of cell line. In the present work, transfection of the Caki-1 cell line (ccRCC morphologic phenotype) with expression constructs containing the coding regions of these genes resulted in inhibition of cell growth in vitro in the case of CTDSP1 (p < 0.001) and CTDSPL (p < 0.05) but not CTDSP2. The analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data showed differential expression of some of CTDSP genes and of their target, RB1. These results were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR using an independent sample of primary ccRCC tumors (n = 52). We observed CTDSPL downregulation and found a positive correlation of expression for two gene pairs: CTDSP1 and CTDSP2 (rs = 0.76; p < 0.001) and CTDSPL and RB1 (rs = 0.38; p < 0.05). Survival analysis based on TCGA data demonstrated a strong association of lower expression of CTDSP1, CTDSP2, CTDSPL, and RB1 with poor survival of ccRCC patients (p < 0.001). In addition, according to TCGA, CTDSP1, CTDSP2, and RB1 were differently expressed in two subtypes of ccRCC-ccA and ccB, characterized by different survival rates. These results confirm that CTDSP1 and CTDSPL have tumor suppressor properties in ccRCC and reflect their association with the more aggressive ccRCC phenotype.

Genetic and Epigenetic Features of Uveal Melanoma-An Overview and Clinical Implications

Uveal melanoma (UM) is rare, but it is the most common primary intraocular malignancy among adults. This review represents the molecular, genetic, and immunobiological mechanisms involved in UM carcinogenesis and progression, as well as data about the association of chromosomal changes, genetic mutations, selective proteins, and biochemical biomarkers with the clinical implications of UM. Genetic analysis has the potential to identify patients with a high risk of UM metastasis, enabling management that is more effective and allowing for the follow-up of patients. Advancements in molecular characterization of UM offer opportunities to develop targeted therapeutic strategies by focusing on relevant signaling pathways. Changes in miRNA expression could be useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of UM, due to unique miRNA profiles in melanoma cells or tissue and its association with metastasis. Although liver function tests do not provide enough data on the prognosis of UM, due to the high frequency of liver metastasis, liver function tests (LFTs) might be useful indicators; however, the absence of rising LFT values cannot lead to the exclusion of liver metastases. Molecular analysis of tumor tissue will allow us to identify patients with the added benefit of new therapeutic agents and provide a better insight into melanoma pathogenesis and its biological behavior.

Research Trends in C-Terminal Domain Nuclear Envelope Phosphatase 1

C-terminal domain nuclear envelope phosphatase 1 (CTDNEP1, formerly Dullard) is a member of the newly emerging protein phosphatases and has been recognized in neuronal cell tissues in amphibians. It contains the phosphatase domain in the C-terminal, and the sequences are conserved in various taxa of organisms. CTDNEP1 has several roles in novel biological activities such as neural tube development in embryos, nuclear membrane biogenesis, regulation of bone morphogenetic protein signaling, and suppression of aggressive medulloblastoma. The three-dimensional structure of CTDNEP1 and the detailed action mechanisms of CTDNEP1's functions have yet to be determined for several reasons. Therefore, CTDNEP1 is a protein phosphatase of interest due to recent exciting and essential works. In this short review, we summarize the presented biological roles, possible substrates, interacting proteins, and research prospects of CTDNEP1.

Genetics and RNA Regulation of Uveal Melanoma

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular malignant tumor and the most frequent melanoma not affecting the skin. While the rate of UM occurrence is relatively low, about 50% of patients develop metastasis, primarily to the liver, with lethal outcome despite medical treatment. Notwithstanding that UM etiopathogenesis is still under investigation, a set of known mutations and chromosomal aberrations are associated with its pathogenesis and have a relevant prognostic value. The most frequently mutated genes are BAP1, EIF1AX, GNA11, GNAQ, and SF3B1, with mutually exclusive mutations occurring in GNAQ and GNA11, and almost mutually exclusive ones in BAP1 and SF3B1, and BAP1 and EIF1AX. Among chromosomal aberrations, monosomy of chromosome 3 is the most frequent, followed by gain of chromosome 8q, and full or partial loss of chromosomes 1 and 6. In addition, epigenetic mechanisms regulated by non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), namely microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, have also been investigated. Several papers investigating the role of ncRNAs in UM have reported that their dysregulated expression affects cancer-related processes in both in vitro and in vivo models. This review will summarize current findings about genetic mutations, chromosomal aberrations, and ncRNA dysregulation establishing UM biology.

MiR-181a-5p inhibits uveal melanoma development by targeting GNAQ and AKT3

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignant tumor type in adults. Even after the treatment of the ocular tumor, the prognosis of patients with metastasis remains poor. Hence, an urgent unmet need exists to identify novel approaches to treat advanced UM. Previous studies have revealed G subunit alpha Q and alpha 11 (GNAQ/11) mutations in more than 85% of patients with UM, thus indicating the importance of GNAQ and downstream signaling pathways in UM occurrence. Here, we demonstrate that microRNA (miR)-181a-5p, a small non-coding RNA, effectively inhibited the viability, proliferation, and colony formation but induced apoptosis of UM cells. Furthermore, silencing GNAQ or AKT3 mimicked the anti-UM effects of miR-181a-5p, whereas overexpression of GNAQ or AKT3 rescued the anti-UM effects induced by miR-181a-5p. In addition, miR-181a-5p had a stronger effect in decreasing the viability of GNAQ mutant than GNAQ wild-type cells. Moreover, miR-181a-5p suppressed the total expression and phosphorylation of members of the ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. Importantly, miR-181a-5p potently inhibited the growth of UM xenografts in nude mice. MiR-181a-5p also decreased the expression of Ki67, GNAQ, and AKT3, and induced the expression of cleaved-caspase3 in UM tumors. These results suggest that miR-181a-5p inhibits UM development by targeting GNAQ and AKT3.

A miRNA-based gene therapy nanodrug synergistically enhances pro-inflammatory antitumor immunity against melanoma

MicroRNA (miRNA)-based gene therapy is a robust approach to treating human cancers. However, the low target specificity and safety issues associated with viral vectors have limited the clinical use of miRNA therapeutics. In the present study, we aimed to develop a biocompatible nanocarrier to deliver the tumor suppressor miR-30a-5p for gene therapy of ocular melanoma. The quasi-mesoporous magnetic nanospheres (MMNs) were prepared by polyelectrolytes-mediated self-assembling Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals; the cationic polymer capped quasi-mesoporous inner tunnels of the MMNs facilitate high miRNA loading and protect from nuclease degradation. Then, the outer layer of the MMNs was modified with a disulfide bond bridged very low molecular weight polyethyleneimine (PEI) network to form redox-responsive nanospheres (rMMNs) that enhance the miRNA payload and enable miRNA release under glutathione-dominant tumor microenvironment. The miR-30a-5p loaded rMMNs nanodrug (miR-30a-5p@rMMNs) upregulated miR-30a-5p level and inhibited malignant phenotypes of ocular melanoma by targeting the transcription factor E2F7 both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, rMMNs act as an enhancer to increase cancer cell apoptosis by modulating M1-like macrophage polarization and activating Fenton reaction. Thus, the rMMNs is a promising miRNA carrier for gene therapy and could enhance pro-inflammatory immunity in melanoma and other cancers. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: • miR-30a-5p@rMMNs inhibited malignant phenotypes of ocular melanoma both in vitro and in vivo. • The rMMNs promoted M1 macrophage polarization thus synergistically enhancing pro-inflammatory anti-tumor immunity against melanoma. • The rMMNs showed no obvious toxicity under the injection dose.

MiR-520a-5p/PPP5C regulation pattern is identified as the key to gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer

Objective

To explore the effects of the expression level of miR-520-5p/PPP5C in pancreatic cancer cells and exosomes on cell viability, angiogenesis, autophagy, which involved in the mechanism of gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer.

Methods

APSC-1 cell line was treated with gemcitabine, after which its exosomes were extracted for NTA assay. Subsequently, the drug resistance of APSC-1 cells was assayed using CCK8, as well as the activity of HUVEC cells treated with exosomes from each group of APSC-1 cells after drug resistance treatment as well as overexpression treatment. Five groups of HUVEC cells treated with exosomes were subjected to in vitro tubule formation assay. levels of PPP5C in each group of ASPC-1 cells and their exosomes, levels of overexpressed PPP5C, and related exosomal proteins were examined by WB. mRNA expression levels of PPP5C and levels of miR-520a were examined by qPCR The relationship between miR-520a-5p and PPP5C was investigated. After that, the autophagy of PPP5C was detected. Finally, it was analyzed by TCGA database for survival prognosis analysis.

Results

APSC-1 cells had an IC50 value of 227.1 μM for gemcitabine, elevated PPP5C expression, drug resistance, and enhanced HUVEC cell activity; exosomes CD9, CD63, and CD81 were significantly expressed in all groups; meanwhile, enhanced PPP5C expression not only promoted in vitro tubule formation but also increased autophagy levels; meanwhile, its relationship with miR-520-5p and There was a targeted inhibitory relationship between its level and miR-520-5p and PPP5C, and its elevated level also led to a decrease in the survival level of patients over 3-5 years.

Conclusion

PPP5C has a prognostic role in pancreatic cancer by promoting the value-added and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, and a targeted inhibitory relationship between miR-520-5p and PPP5C was found.

Is Tissue Still the Issue? The Promise of Liquid Biopsy in Uveal Melanoma

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the second most frequent type of melanoma. Therapeutic options for UM favor minimally invasive techniques such as irradiation for vision preservation. As a consequence, no tumor material is obtained. Without available tissue, molecular analyses for gene expression, mutation or copy number analysis cannot be performed. Thus, proper patient stratification is impossible and patients’ uncertainty about their prognosis rises. Minimally invasive techniques have been studied for prognostication in UM. Blood-based biomarker analysis has become more common in recent years; however, no clinically standardized protocol exists. This review summarizes insights in biomarker analysis, addressing new insights in circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, extracellular vesicles, proteomics, and metabolomics. Additionally, medical imaging can play a significant role in staging, surveillance, and prognostication of UM and is addressed in this review. We propose that combining multiple minimally invasive modalities using tumor biomarkers should be the way forward and warrant more attention in the coming years.

Regulation of epigenetic homeostasis in uveal melanoma and retinoblastoma

Uveal melanoma (UM) and retinoblastoma (RB), which cause blindness and even death, are the most frequently observed primary intraocular malignancies in adults and children, respectively. Epigenetic studies have shown that changes in the epigenome contribute to the rapid progression of both UM and RB following classic genetic changes. The loss of epigenetic homeostasis plays an important role in oncogenesis by disrupting the normal patterns of gene expression. The targetable nature of epigenetic modifications provides a unique opportunity to optimize treatment paradigms and establish new therapeutic options for both UM and RB with these aberrant epigenetic modifications. We aimed to review the research findings regarding relevant epigenetic changes in UM and RB. Herein, we 1) summarize the literature, with an emphasis on epigenetic alterations, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, RNA modifications, noncoding RNAs and an abnormal chromosomal architecture; 2) elaborate on the regulatory role of epigenetic modifications in biological processes during tumorigenesis; and 3) propose promising therapeutic candidates for epigenetic targets and update the list of epigenetic drugs for the treatment of UM and RB. In summary, we endeavour to depict the epigenetic landscape of primary intraocular malignancy tumorigenesis and provide potential epigenetic targets in the treatment of these tumours.

Extracellular Vesicles Derived From Regeneration Associated Cells Preserve Heart Function After Ischemia-Induced Injury

Under vasculogenic conditioning, pro-inflammatory cell subsets of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) shift their phenotype to pro-regenerative cells such as vasculogenic endothelial progenitor cells, M2 macrophages, and regulatory T cells, collectively designated as regeneration-associated cells (RACs). In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of RAC-derived extracellular vesicles (RACev) compared to mesenchymal stem cell-derived EVs (MSCev) in the context of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (M-IRI). Human PBMCs were cultured with defined growth factors for seven days to harvest RACs. RACev and MSCev were isolated via serial centrifugation and ultracentrifugation. EV quantity and size were characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis. In vitro, RACev markedly enhanced the viability, and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner compared to MSCev. Notably, systemic injection of RACev improved cardiac functions at 4 weeks, such as fractional shortening, and protection from mitral regurgitation than the MSCev-treated group. Histologically, the RACev-transplanted group showed less interstitial fibrosis and enhanced capillary densities compared to the MSCev group. These beneficial effects were coupled with significant expression of angiogenesis, anti-fibrosis, anti-inflammatory, and cardiomyogenesis-related miRs in RACev, while modestly in MSCev. In vivo bioluminescence analysis showed preferential accumulation of RACev in the IR-injured myocardium, while MSCev accumulation was limited. Immune phenotyping analysis confirmed the immunomodulatory effect of MSCev and RACev. Overall, repetitive systemic transplantation of RACev is superior to MSCev in terms of cardiac function enhancements via crucial angiogenesis, anti-fibrosis, anti-inflammation miR delivery to the ischemic tissue.

SLC25A21 Suppresses Cell Growth in Bladder Cancer via an Oxidative Stress-Mediated Mechanism

Background

Bladder cancer (BCa) is a commonly diagnosed malignancy worldwide that has poor survival depending on its intrinsic biologic aggressiveness and a peculiar radio- and chemoresistance features. Gaining a better understanding of tumorigenesis and developing new diagnosis and treatment strategies for BCa is important for improving BCa clinical outcome. SLC25 family member 21 (SLC25A21), a carrier transporting C5-C7 oxodicarboxylates, has been reported to contribute to oxoadipate acidemia. However, the potential role of SLC25A21 in cancer remains absolutely unknown.

Methods

The expression levels of SLC25A21 in BCa and normal tissues were examined by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Gain-of- and loss-of-function experiments were performed to detect the biological functions of SLC25A21 in vitro and in vivo by CCK-8 assay, plate colony formation assay, cell migration, invasion assay and experimental animal models. The subcellular distribution of substrate mediated by SLC25A21, mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS production were assessed to explore the potential mechanism of SLC25A21 in BCa.

Results

We found that the expression of SLC25A21 was downregulated in BCa tissues compared to normal tissues. A significant positive correlation between decreased SLC25A21 expression and poor prognosis was observed in BCa patients. Overexpression of SLC25A21 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion and induced apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, the enhanced SLC25A21 expression significantly suppressed tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. Furthermore, we revealed that SLC25A21 suppressed BCa growth by inducing the efflux of mitochondrial α-KG to the cytosol, decreasing to against oxidative stress, and activating the ROS-mediated mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis pathway.

Conclusions

Our findings provide the first link between SLC25A21 expression and BCa and demonstrate that SLC25A21 acts as a crucial suppressor in BCa progression, which may help to provide new targets for BCa intervention.

The role of noncoding RNAs in pituitary adenoma

Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are common cranial tumors that affect the quality of life in patients. Early detection of PA is beneficial for avoiding clinical complications of this disease and increasing the quality of life. Noncoding RNAs, including long noncoding RNA, miRNA and circRNA, regulate protein expression, mostly by inhibiting the translation process. Studies have shown that dysregulation of noncoding RNAs is associated with PA. Hence understanding the expression pattern of noncoding RNAs can be considered a promising method for developing biomarkers. This article reviews data on the expression pattern of dysregulated noncoding RNAs involved in PA. Possible molecular mechanisms by which the dysregulated noncoding RNA could possibly induce PA are also described.

Effect of Tumor Red Blood Cell Immunity and Tumor Cell Cycle in Mice Bearing Solid Liver Cancer with Intelligent Cancer Zhongning Therapeutic Apparatus

People's unhealthy lifestyles, especially the number of smoking and passive smoking populations, are increasing year by year and the population is aging. With the development and progress of lung cancer cell and molecular biology, the incidence rate and mortality rate of lung cancer are increasing year by year. The existing tumor biochemotherapy has rapidly developed from preliminary research and animal research to clinical research. The smart cancer Zhongning therapeutic device can induce necrosis and apoptosis of tumor cells. The effect of treating tumors is getting more and more attention. Therefore, this article focuses on the effect of the smart cancer Zhongning therapeutic device on the tumor red blood cells and tumor cell cycle of mice with solid liver cancer. The immunological effects of the drug were discussed. Forty mice were randomly divided into high-dose group, low-dose group, 5-FU group, and model group. The effects of different treatment stages on tumor red blood cell immune function and cell cycle were recorded and evaluated, and the survival rate by multiplying the positive limit method was calculated. The model group is controlled by the exact probability method, and the Pss18.0 system is used to test the hypothesis of survival rate comparison. The experimental results showed that the tumor inhibition rate in this group was 65.8%. Compared with the 5-FU group and model group, the dose group has shown an antitumor effect and had significantly improved the tumor-bearing body's antitumor red blood cell immune function and tumor cell cycle.

MicroRNA Signature in Melanoma: Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets

Melanoma is the utmost fatal kind of skin neoplasms. Molecular changes occurring during the pathogenic processes of initiation and progression of melanoma are diverse and include activating mutations in BRAF and NRAS genes, hyper-activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, inactivation of p53 and alterations in CDK4/CDKN2A axis. Moreover, several miRNAs have been identified to be implicated in the biology of melanoma through modulation of expression of genes being involved in these pathways. In the current review, we provide a summary of the bulk of information about the role of miRNAs in the pathobiology of melanoma, their possible application as biomarkers and their emerging role as therapeutic targets for this kind of skin cancer.

Current molecular and clinical insights into uveal melanoma (Review)

Uveal melanoma (UM) represents the most prominent primary eye cancer in adults. With an incidence of approximately 5 cases per million individuals annually in the United States, UM could be considered a relatively rare cancer. The 90-95% of UM cases arise from the choroid. Diagnosis is based mainly on a clinical examination and ancillary tests, with ocular ultrasonography being of greatest value. Differential diagnosis can prove challenging in the case of indeterminate choroidal lesions and, sometimes, monitoring for documented growth may be the proper approach. Fine needle aspiration biopsy tends to be performed with a prognostic purpose, often in combination with radiotherapy. Gene expression profiling has allowed for the grading of UMs into two classes, which feature different metastatic risks. Patients with UM require a specialized multidisciplinary management. Primary tumor treatment can be either enucleation or globe preserving. Usually, enucleation is reserved for larger tumors, while radiotherapy is preferred for small/medium melanomas. The prognosis is unfavorable due to the high mortality rate and high tendency to metastasize. Following the development of metastatic disease, the mortality rate increases to 80% within one year, due to both the absence of an effective treatment and the aggressiveness of the condition. Novel molecular studies have allowed for a better understanding of the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms involved in UM biological activity, which differs compared to skin melanomas. The most commonly mutated genes are GNAQ, GNA11 and BAP1. Research in this field could help to identify effective diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as novel therapeutic targets.

Emerging roles of microRNAs and their implications in uveal melanoma

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular malignant tumor in adults with an extremely high mortality rate. Genetic and epigenetic dysregulation contribute to the development of UM. Recent discoveries have revealed dysregulation of the expression levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) as one of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying UM tumorigenesis. Based on their roles, miRNAs are characterized as either oncogenic or tumor suppressive. This review focuses on the roles of miRNAs in UM tumorigenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis, as well as their therapeutic potentials. Particularly, the actions of collective miRNAs are summarized with respect to their involvement in major, aberrant signaling pathways that are implicated in the development and progression of UM. Elucidation of the underlying functional mechanisms and biological aspects of miRNA dysregulation in UM is invaluable in the development of miRNA-based therapeutics, which may be used in combination with conventional treatments to improve therapeutic outcomes. In addition, the expression levels of some miRNAs are correlated with UM initiation and progression and, therefore, may be used as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis.

Deciphering the role of microRNAs in mustard gas-induced toxicity

Mustard gas (sulfur mustard, SM), a highly vesicating chemical warfare agent, was first deployed in warfare in 1917 and recently during the Iraq-Iran war (1980s) and Syrian conflicts (2000s); however, the threat of exposure from stockpiles and old artillery shells still looms large. Whereas research has been long ongoing on SM-induced toxicity, delineating the precise molecular pathways is still an ongoing area of investigation; thus, it is important to attempt novel approaches to decipher these mechanisms and develop a detailed network of pathways associated with SM-induced toxicity. One such avenue is exploring the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in SM-induced toxicity. Recent research on the regulatory role of miRNAs provides important results to fill in the gaps in SM toxicity-associated mechanisms. In addition, differentially expressed miRNAs can also be used as diagnostic markers to determine the extent of toxicity in exposed individuals. Thus, in our review, we have summarized the studies conducted so far in cellular and animal models, including human subjects, on the expression profiles and roles of miRNAs in SM- and/or SM analog-induced toxicity. Further detailed research in this area will guide us in devising preventive strategies, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic interventions against SM-induced toxicity.

The Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Controlling Cell Cycle Related Proteins in Cancer Cells

Cell cycle is regulated by a number of proteins namely cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and their associated cyclins which bind with and activate CDKs in a phase specific manner. Additionally, several transcription factors (TFs) such as E2F and p53 and numerous signaling pathways regulate cell cycle progression. Recent studies have accentuated the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of cell cycle. Both lncRNAs and miRNAs interact with TFs participating in the regulation of cell cycle transition. Dysregulation of cell cycle regulatory miRNAs and lncRNAs results in human disorders particularly cancers. Understanding the role of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and TFs in the regulation of cell cycle would pave the way for design of anticancer therapies which intervene with the cell cycle progression. In the current review, we describe the role of lncRNAs and miRNAs in the regulation of cell cycle and their association with human malignancies.

Overexpression of miRNA-3613-3p Enhances the Sensitivity of Triple Negative Breast Cancer to CDK4/6 Inhibitor Palbociclib

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by lack of expression of the estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER2, which are common therapeutic targets. CDK4/6 inhibitor Palbociclib has been approved as an anti-cancer agent for breast cancer. However, identifying biomarkers that predict the response to Palbociclib has always been a challenge for molecular targeted therapy. In this study, we identify microRNA as a hallmark in TNBC patients and explore if miR-3613-3p might serve as a tumor suppressor biomarker for triple negative breast cancer patients and if overexpression of miR-3613-3p could enhance the sensitivity of TNBC cells to Palbociclib. We show that the expression of miR3613-3p was down-regulated in TNBC tumors and cells, and the overexpression of miR-3613-3p in patients’ tumor tissues was clinically and pathologically correlated with favorable prognosis, such as smaller tumor size and the lower Ki-67. In vitro, overexpression of miR-3613-3p inhibited cell proliferation, induced G1 cell-cycle arrest, and enhanced the sensitivity of TNBC cells to Palbociclib treatment. In vivo study revealed that overexpression of miR-3613-3p inhibited TNBC tumorigenesis and exerted a significant inhibitory effect of Palbociclib on MDA-MB-231 cells. Mechanically, SMAD2 and EZH2 were found to be two direct targets of miR-3613-3p and mediate the proliferation of TNBC cells and the sensitivity of the cells to Palbociclib through inducing cellular senescence. Our findings suggested that miR-3613-3p acts as a cancer-suppressor miRNA in TNBC. Moreover, our study showed that miR-3613-3p might be used as a predictive biomarker for the response of TNBC to Palbociclib.

Publication trends of research on uveal melanoma during 2000-2020: a 20-year bibliometric study

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most prevalent primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Despite a high rate of success in controlling it as a local disease, it is prone to distant metastasis, and its mechanism of metastasis has not been elucidated. This study analyzes trends in UM research and compares contributions from different countries, regions, institutions and authors. We collected all publications related to UM published from 2000 to 2020 from the Web of Science database. GraphPad Prism 6 was used to collect publication data and analyze publication trends. VOSviewer was used for data visualization. A total of 1,710 publications were considered. The United States contributed the most publications [668] and citations (19,605 times) as of 2020 with the highest H-index value [67]. Keywords were classified into three clusters, namely, clinical study, tumor-related study and gene mutation-related study. Average appearing years (AAY) of keywords were calculated. BAP1 (AAY of 2016.3), SF3B1 (AAY of 2015.8) and GNA11 (AAY of 2015.5) were identified as major focuses of this field. We conclude that the United States, Germany, England and the Netherlands have been the most productive regions in terms of UM research over the past two decades. Gene mutations such as GNAQ, GNA11 and BAP1 mutations are identified as potential research focuses.

The Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Uveal Melanoma

Simple Summary

The development of uveal melanoma is a multifactorial and multi-step process, in which abnormal gene expression plays a key role. Recently, several studies have highlighted the role of non-coding RNAs in the progression of uveal melanoma by affecting different signaling pathways. As important agents in the regulation of genes, non-coding RNAs have enormous potential to open up therapeutic pathways, predict response to treatment, and anticipate patient outcome for uveal melanoma. This review aims to provide a comprehensive view of what we know about ncRNAs in uveal melanoma currently.

Abstract

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adulthood. Approximately 50% of patients develop metastatic disease, which typically affects the liver and is usually fatal within one year. This type of cancer is heterogeneous in nature and is divided into two broad groups of tumors according to their susceptibility to develop metastasis. In the last decade, chromosomal abnormalities and the aberrant expression of several signaling pathways and oncogenes in uveal melanomas have been described. Recently, importance has been given to the association of the mentioned deregulation with the expression of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Here, we review the different classes of ncRNAs—such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs)—and their contribution to the development of UM. Special attention is given to miRNAs and their regulatory role in physiopathology and their potential as biomarkers. As important agents in gene regulation, ncRNAs have a huge potential for opening up therapeutic pathways, predicting response to treatment, and anticipating patient outcome for UM.

Tumor suppressor properties of the small C-terminal domain phosphatases in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is responsible for the majority of deaths caused by cancer. Small C-terminal domain (CTD) phosphatases (SCP), CTDSP1, CTDSP2 and CTDSPL (CTDSPs) belong to SCP/CTDSP subfamily and are involved in many vital cellular processes and tumorigenesis. High similarity of their structures suggests similar functions. However their role in NSCLC remains insufficiently understood. For the first time we revealed the suppressor function of CTDSPs leading to a significant growth slowdown and senescence of A549 lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) cells in vitro. Their tumor-suppressive activity can be realized through increasing the proportion of the active form of Rb protein dephosphorylated at Ser807/811, Ser780, and Ser795 (P<0.05) thereby negatively regulating cancer cell proliferation. Moreover, we observed that a frequent (84%, 39/46) and highly concordant (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rs) = 0.53-0.62, P≤0.01) down-regulation of CTDSPs and RB1 is characteristic of primary NSCLC samples (n=46). A clear difference in their mRNA levels was found between lung ADCs with and without lymph node metastases, but not in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) (P≤0.05). Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data and the results obtained using the CrossHub tool, we suggest that the well-known oncogenic cluster miR-96/182/183 could be a common expression regulator of CTDSPs. Indeed, according to our qPCR, the expression of CTDSPs negatively correlates with these miRs, but positively correlates with their intronic miR-26a/b. Our results reflect functional association of CTDSP1, CTDSP2, and CTDSPL, expand knowledge about their suppressor properties through Rb dephosphorylation and provide new insights into the regulation of NSCLC growth.

miR‑181d promotes cell proliferation via the IGF1/PI3K/AKT axis in glioma

Glioma is a malignant brain cancer that exhibits high invasive ability and poor prognosis. MicroRNA (miR)-181d has been reported to be involved in the development of glioma. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether miR-181d affected cellular progression by influencing the insulin like growth factor (IGF1)/PI3K/AKT axis. Western blot analysis was performed to analyze the expression levels of specific proteins, and a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to assess the proliferative ability of cells. Cell cycle progression and cellular apoptosis were both measured using flow cytometry. The results indicated that miR-181d promoted cellular proliferation and cell cycle progression, while suppressing cellular apoptosis via the IGF1/PI3K/AKT axis. It was demonstrated that the IGF1 and PI3K/AKT inhibitors reversed these observed functions of miR-181d. Furthermore, miR-181d enhanced the growth of glioma xenografts in vivo, promoted cell cycle progression and suppressed cellular apoptosis within glioma xenograft tissues. Therefore, this newly identified miR-181d/IGF1/PI3K/AKT axis may provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of glioma.

MicroRNAs and Uveal Melanoma: Understanding the Diverse Role of These Small Molecular Regulators

Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare tumour of the eye, characterised by a high propensity to metastasise in half of all patients, most frequently to the liver. Although there are effective treatment options for the primary tumour, once metastasis has occurred prognosis is poor, with overall survival limited to months. Currently, there are no effective treatments for metastatic UM, despite the tumour having a well-defined signalling pathway to which many therapies have been directed. In an effort to develop novel treatment approaches, understanding the role of other signalling molecules, such as microRNAs, is fundamental. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules involved in posttranscriptional gene regulation, resulting in reduced target gene expression and subsequent protein translation. In UM, several dysregulated miRNAs have been proposed to play a functional role in disease progression, whereas others have been put forward as clinical biomarkers of high-risk disease following isolation from blood, plasma and exosomes. Most recently, analyses of large datasets have identified promising prognostic miRNA signatures and panels. This review navigates the plethora of aberrant miRNAs disclosed so far in UM, and maps these to signalling pathways, which could be targeted in future therapies for the disseminated disease.

A Review of MicroRNA in Uveal Melanoma

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common and aggressive primary intraocular tumor in adults. UM is classified as a malignant tumor with a strong tendency of metastasis, which always leads to poor outcomes. At present, the pathogenesis of UM remains unclear and lacks effective therapies. Recent studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs), defined as a group of 21-23 nucleotides single-stranded noncoding RNAs, play a significant role in UM. By binding to the complementary sites within the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of message RNAs (mRNAs), miRNAs regulate genes by decaying mRNAs or inhibiting their translation. Thus, miRNAs can modulate various biological behaviors of tumors, including cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, miRNAs have shown clinical applications by serving as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, regulating immune response, and functioning as epigenetic regulators. It is reasonable to believe that miRNAs have wide application prospects in the early diagnosis and therapy of UM.

Potential Onco-Suppressive Role of miR122 and miR144 in Uveal Melanoma through ADAM10 and C-Met Inhibition

Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare tumor of the eye that leads to deadly metastases in about half of the patients. ADAM10 correlates with c-Met expression in UM and high levels of both molecules are related to the development of metastases. MiR122 and miR144 modulate ADAM10 and c-Met expression in different settings. We hypothesized a potential onco-suppressive role for miR122 and miR144 through modulation of ADAM10 and c-Met in UM. We analyzed the UM Cancer Genome Atlas data portal (TCGA) dataset, two other cohorts of primary tumors and five human UM cell lines for miR122 and miR144 expression by miR microarray, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, miR transfection and luciferase reporter assay. Our results indicate that miR122 and miR144 are expressed at low levels in the UM cell lines and in the TCGA UM dataset and were down-modulated in a cohort of seven UM samples, compared to normal choroid. Both miR122 and miR144 directly targeted ADAM10 and c-Met. Overexpression of miR122 and miR144 led to reduced expression of ADAM10 and c-Met in the UM cell lines and impaired cell proliferation, migration, cell cycle and shedding of c-Met ecto-domain. Our results show that miR122 and miR144 display an onco-suppressive role in UM through ADAM10 and c-Met modulation.

microRNA-181 serves as a dual-role regulator in the development of human cancers

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as the regulatory short noncoding RNAs are involved in a wide array of cellular and molecular processes. They negatively regulate gene expression and their dysfunction is correlated with cancer development through modulation of multiple signaling pathways. Therefore, these molecules could be considered as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for more effective management of human cancers. Recent studies have demonstrated that the miR-181 family is dysregulated in various tumor tissues and plays a pivotal role in carcinogenesis. They have been shown to act as oncomirs or tumor suppressors considering their mRNA targets and to be involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, angiogenesis and drug resistance. Additionally, these miRNAs have been demonstrated to exert their regulatory effects through modulating multiple signaling pathways including PI3K/AKT, MAPK, TGF-b, Wnt, NF-κB, Notch pathways. Given that, in this review, we briefly summarise the recent studies that have focused on the roles of miRNA-181 family as the multifunctional miRNAs in tumorigenesis and cancer development. These miRNAs may serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets in human cancer gene therapy.

Suppression of long noncoding RNA MALAT1 inhibits the development of uveal melanoma via microRNA-608-mediated inhibition of HOXC4

This study explored the effects of the metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) on the development of uveal melanoma. Moreover, the role of the MALAT1/microRNA-608 (miR-608)/homeobox C4 (HOXC4) axis was assessed by evaluating the proliferation, invasion, and migration, as well as the cell cycle distribution of uveal melanoma in vitro after knocking down MALAT1 or HOXC4 and/or overexpression of miR-608 in uveal melanoma cells (MUM-2B and C918). Moreover, the effects of the MALAT1/miR-608/HOXC4 axis in uveal melanoma in vivo were further evaluated by injecting the C918 cells into the NOD/SCID mice. HOXC4 was found to be a gene upregulated in uveal melanoma, while knockdown of its expression resulted in suppression of uveal melanoma cell migration, proliferation, and invasion, as well as cell cycle progression. In addition, the upregulation of miR-608 reduced the expression of HOXC4 in the uveal melanoma cells, which was rescued by overexpression of MALAT1. Hence, MALAT1 could upregulate the HOXC4 by binding to miR-608. The suppressed progression of uveal melanoma in vitro by miR-608 was rescued by overexpression of MALAT1. Additionally, in vivo assays demonstrated that downregulation of MALAT1 could suppress tumor growth through downregulation of HOXC4 expression via increasing miR-608 in uveal melanoma. In summary, MALAT1 downregulation functions to restrain the development of uveal melanoma via miR-608-mediated inhibition of HOXC4.

LncRNA nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 regulates hypoxia-evoked apoptosis and autophagy via mediation of microRNA-181b

Nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1), a vital long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), exhibits the functions in disparate cancers. Nevertheless, the influences of NEAT1 in congenital heart disease (CHD) remain unreported. The research delves into whether NEAT1 affects H9c2 cells apoptosis and autophagy under the hypoxia condition. Overexpressed NEAT1 vector was transfected into H9c2 cells; then, functions of NEAT1 in cell viability, apoptosis, autophagy, PI3K/AKT/mTOR and JAK1/STAT3 pathways were detected in H9c2 cells under hypoxia condition. Expression of NEAT1 and miR-181b in hypoxia and blood samples from CHD was evaluated. After miR-181b inhibitor transfection, functions of miR-181b repression in the above-mentioned cell behavior and PI3K/AKT/mTOR and JAK1/STAT3 pathways were reassessed. Overexpressed NEAT1 clearly allayed hypoxia-triggered H9c2 cells apoptosis and autophagy. The decreased NEAT1 and miR-181b were showcased in hypoxia and blood samples from CHD; meanwhile, elevated miR-181b evoked by overexpressed NEAT1 was observed in hypoxia-managed H9c2 cells. More importantly, miR-181b inhibition obviously overturned the influences of NEAT1 in hypoxia-affected H9c2 cells apoptosis and autophagy. Besides, overexpressed NEAT1 facilitated PI3K/AKT/mTOR and JAK1/STAT3 activations via enhancing miR-181b. The research exposed that NEAT1 eased hypoxia-triggered H9c2 cells apoptosis and autophagy by expediting PI3K/AKT/mTOR and JAK1/STAT3 pathways via elevating miR-181b.

microRNA-mediated GAS1 downregulation promotes the proliferation of synovial fibroblasts by PI3K-Akt signaling in osteoarthritis

Hyperplastic synovial fibroblasts (SFs) serve a critical role in the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis (OA); however, the molecular mechanism involved in OA during synovial tissue hyperproliferation remains unclear. Growth arrest-specific gene 1 (GAS1), a cell growth repressor gene, was found to be downregulated in OASFs according to previous preliminary experiments. It was therefore hypothesized that reduced GAS1 expression may participate in the hyperproliferation of SFs in OA development, downstream of possible microRNA (miR) regulation, in hyperplastic OASFs. In the present study, GAS1 expression was indeed decreased in OASFs and interleukin-1β-induced SFs by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot analysis. Further cell viability assays, cell cycle and apoptosis analyses revealed that the overexpression of GAS1 can inhibited proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest and promoted apoptosis in SFs. In contrast, GAS1 knockdown in SFs accelerated cell proliferation, enhanced cell cycle progression and suppressed apoptosis. Notably, the suppressive effects of GAS1 were mediated through the inactivation of the PI3K-Akt pathway. Finally, miR-34a-5p and miR-181a-5p were predicted and subsequently verified to directly target the 3′-untranslated region of the GAS1 gene, downregulating GAS1 levels in OASFs and IL-1β-induced SFs. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that downregulation of GAS1 can lead to the hyperproliferation of SFs in OA pathogenesis through the PI3K-Akt pathway, and miR-34a-5p and miR-181a-5p are potential regulators of GAS1 expression in OA. Therefore, it may be promising to investigate the potential of GAS1 as a novel therapeutic target for preventing SF hyperplasia in OA.

miR-224-5p inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion by targeting PIK3R3/AKT3 in uveal melanoma

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Accumulating investigations have identified the aberrant expression of miRNAs (microRNAs) in UM, such as miR-181, miR-20a, miR-144, miR-146a. The purpose of this study is to investigate the biological function of miR-224-5p in UM. The expression of miR-224-5p, PIK3R3, and AKT3 in 30 tumor tissues and paired adjacent noncancerous tissues were analyzed using Western blot analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays. Cell proliferation assay, transwell assay, and wound healing assay were used to measure the effects of miR-224-5p on the motility of UM in vitro. Western blot analysis and luciferase assays were used to detect the expression of PIK3R3 and AKT3 as miR-224-5p downstream targets. The results of Western blot analysis and qRT-PCR assays indicated that the expression of miR-224-5p was lower in UM tissues compared to normal tissue, while the expression of PIK3R3 and AKT3 were simultaneously increased. Upregulation of miR-224-5p significantly inhibited capacities of proliferation, invasion, and migration of OCM-1A cells and decreased expression of PIK3R3 and AKT3. Luciferase assay demonstrated PIK3R3 and AKT3 as downstream targets of miR-224-5p. Moreover, upregulating PIK3R3 and AKT3 restrained miR-224-5p-induced inhibition of the motility of OCM-1A cells. Thus, our study proved that miR-224-5p was involved in proliferation, invasion, and migration of UM cells via regulation the expression of PIK3R3 and AKT3. And the results also established a miR-224-5p/PIK3R3/PI3K/AKT axis in the regulation of UM progression, providing an experimental basis for further exploring the miR-224-5p as a therapeutic and diagnosis target for patients with UM.

Reprogramming Cells for Synergistic Combination Therapy with Nanotherapeutics against Uveal Melanoma

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignant tumor in adults and around half of the patients develop metastasis and die shortly after because of the lack of effective therapies for metastatic UM. Consequently, new therapeutic approaches to this disease are welcome. In this regard, microRNAs have been shown to have a key role in neoplasia progression and have the potential to be used as therapeutic tools. In addition, in different cancers including UM, a particular microRNA signature appears that is different from healthy cells. Thus, restoring the regular levels of microRNAs could restore the normal behavior of cells. In this study, four microRNAs downregulated in UM have been chosen to reprogram cancer cells, to promote cell death or increase their sensitivity to the chemotherapeutic SN38. Furthermore, to improve the internalization, stability and/or solubility of the therapeutic molecules employed in this approach, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were used as carriers. Remarkably, this study found a synergistic effect when the four oligonucleotides were employed and when the chemotherapeutic drug was added.

Differential transmission of the molecular signature of RBSP3, LIMD1 and CDC25A in basal/ parabasal versus spinous of normal epithelium during head and neck tumorigenesis: A mechanistic study

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a global disease and mortality burden, necessitating the elucidation of its molecular progression for effective disease management. The study aims to understand the molecular profile of three candidate cell cycle regulatory genes, RBSP3, LIMD1 and CDC25A in the basal/ parabasal versus spinous layer of normal oral epithelium and during head and neck tumorigenesis. Immunohistochemical expression and promoter methylation was used to determine the molecular signature in normal oral epithelium. The mechanism of alteration transmission of this profile during tumorigenesis was then explored through additional deletion and mutation in HPV/ tobacco etiological groups, followed byclinico-pathological correlation. In basal/parabasal layer, the molecular signature of the genes was low protein expression/ high promoter methylation of RBSP3, high expression/ low methylation of LIMD1 and high expression of CDC25A. Dysplastic epithelium maintained the signature of RBSP3 through high methylation/ additional deletion with loss of the signatures of LIMD1 and CDC25A via deletion/ additional methylation. Similarly, maintenance and / or loss of signature in invasive tumors was by recurrent deletion/ methylation. Thus, differential patterns of alteration of the genes might be pre-requisite for the development of dysplastic and invasive lesions. Etiological factors played a key role in promoting genetic alterations and determining prognosis. Tobacco negative HNSCC patients had significantly lower alterations of LIMD1 and CDC25A, along with better survival among tobacco negative/ HPV positive patients. Our data suggests the necessity for perturbation of normal molecular profile of RBSP3, LIMD1 and CDC25A in conjunction with etiological factors for head and neck tumorigenesis, implying their diagnostic and prognostic significance.