MicroRNA-466 (miR-466) functions as a tumor suppressor and prognostic factor in colorectal cancer (CRC)

Sex differences in the tumor promoting effects of tobacco smoke in a cRaf transgenic lung cancer disease model

Tobacco smoke (TS) is the leading cause for lung cancer (LC), and female smokers are at a greater risk for LC. Yet, the underlying causes are unknown. We performed whole genome scans in TS exposed wild type and histologically characterized tumor lesions of cRaf transgenic mice. We constructed miRNA-gene and transcription factor-miRNA/gene regulatory networks and determined sex-specific gene regulations by evaluating hormone receptor activities. We validated the findings from TS exposed cRaf mice in a large cohort of smoking and never-smoking LC patients. When compared to males, TS prompted a sevenfold increase in tumor multiplicity in cRaf females. Genome-wide scans of tumor lesions identified 161 and 53 genes and miRNAs, which code for EGFR/MAPK signaling, cell proliferation, oncomirs and oncogenes, and 50% of DEGs code for immune response and tumor evasion. Outstandingly, in transgenic males, TS elicited upregulation of 20 tumor suppressors, some of which are the targets of the androgen and estrogen receptor. Conversely, in females, 18 tumor suppressors were downregulated, and five were specifically repressed by the estrogen receptor. We found TS to perturb the circadian clock in a sex-specific manner and identified a female-specific regulatory loop that consisted of the estrogen receptor, miR-22-3p and circadian genes to support LC growth. Finally, we confirmed sex-dependent tumor promoting effects of TS in a large cohort of LC patients. Our study highlights the sex-dependent genomic responses to TS and the interplay of circadian clock genes and hormone receptors in the regulation of oncogenes and oncomirs in LC growth.

From strings to signals: Unraveling the impact of miRNAs on diagnosis, and progression of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) stands as the third most prevalent ailment globally and represents the primary cause of mortality associated with cancer. Significant advancements have been made in the clinical management of patients with CRC, encompassing the development of more streamlined methodologies and a diverse array of biomarkers utilized for prognostic, diagnostic, and predictive objectives. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) play a key role in the development of CRC by modulating the expression of their target genes, which govern a number of metabolic and cellular processes. They are related to malignant traits such as enhanced invasive and proliferative capacity, evasion of apoptosis, cell cycle aberration, and promotion of angiogenesis through dysregulation in their function. This review's objectives were to examine miRNA biogenesis, provide an updated list of oncogenic and tumor suppressor miRNAs, and discuss the likely causes of miRNA dysregulation in CRC. Additionally, we discuss the diagnostic and predictive functions of miRNAs in CRC and summarize their biological significance and clinical potential.

Sex disparities in non-small cell lung cancer: mechanistic insights from a cRaf transgenic disease model

BACKGROUND

Women are at greater risk of developing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), yet the underlying causes remain unclear.

METHODS

We performed whole genome scans in lung tumours of cRaf transgenic mice and identified miRNA, transcription factor and hormone receptor dependent gene regulations. We confirmed hormone receptors by immunohistochemistry and constructed regulatory gene networks by considering experimentally validated miRNA-gene and transcription factor-miRNA/gene targets. Bioinformatics, genomic foot-printing and gene enrichment analysis established sex-specific circuits of lung tumour growth. Translational research involved a large cohort of NSCLC patients. We evaluated commonalities in sex-specific NSCLC gene regulations between mice and humans and determined their prognostic value in Kaplan-Meier survival statistics and COX proportional hazard regression analysis.

FINDINGS

Overexpression of the cRaf kinase elicited an extraordinary 8-fold increase in tumour growth among females, and nearly 70% of the 112 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were female specific. We identified oncogenes, oncomirs, tumour suppressors, cell cycle regulators and MAPK/EGFR signalling molecules, which prompted sex-based differences in NSCLC, and we deciphered a regulatory gene-network, which protected males from accelerated tumour growth. Strikingly, 41% of DEGs are targets of hormone receptors, and the majority (85%) are oestrogen receptor (ER) dependent. We confirmed the role of ER in a large cohort of NSCLC patients and validated 40% of DEGs induced by cRaf in clinical tumour samples.

INTERPRETATION

We report the molecular wiring that prompted sex disparities in tumour growth. This allowed us to propose the development of molecular targeted therapies by jointly blocking ER, CDK1 and arginase 2 in NSCLC.

FUNDING

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Culture and Sciences and Volkswagen Foundation, Germany to JB (25A.5-7251-99-3/00) and of the Chinese Scholarship Council to SZ (202008080022). This publication is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) as part of the "Open Access Publikationskosten" program.

Dynamic Role of Exosome microRNAs in Cancer Cell Signaling and Their Emerging Role as Noninvasive Biomarkers

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that originate from endosomes and are released by all cells irrespective of their origin or type. They play an important role in cell communication and can act in an autocrine, endocrine, or paracrine fashion. They are 40-150 nm in diameter and have a similar composition to the cell of origin. An exosome released by a particular cell is unique since it carries information about the state of the cell in pathological conditions such as cancer. miRNAs carried by cancer-derived exosomes play a multifaceted role by taking part in cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and immune evasion. Depending on the type of miRNA that it carries as its cargo, it can render cells chemo- or radiosensitive or resistant and can also act as a tumor suppressor. Since the composition of exosomes is affected by the cellular state, stress, and changes in the environment, they can be used as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers. Their unique ability to cross biological barriers makes them an excellent choice as vehicles for drug delivery. Because of their easy availability and stability, they can be used to replace cancer biopsies, which are invasive and expensive. Exosomes can also be used to follow the progression of diseases and monitor treatment strategies. A better understanding of the roles and functions of exosomal miRNA can be used to develop noninvasive, innovative, and novel treatments for cancer.

Circ_0000467 modulates malignant characteristics of colorectal cancer via sponging miR-651-5p and up-regulating DNMT3B

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are widely expressed in cancer tissues and participate in modulating the progression of malignant tumors, playing a pro- or anti-cancer role. This work is conducted to probe the precise role of circ_0000467 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its regulatory mechanism. The differentially expressed circRNAs in CRC tissues and paracancerous tissues were screened by bioinformatics analysis. The expression levels of circ_0000467, miR-651-5p and DNA methyltransferases 3B (DNMT3B) mRNA in CRC tissues and cells were detected by qRT-PCR. circ_0000467 knockdown cell model was constructed to investigate the effects of circ_0000467 on CRC cell growth, migration and invasion by CCK-8 and Transwell experiments. Western blot was performed to examine DNMT3B protein expression in CRC cells. Dual-luciferase reporter gene experiment was executed to validate the targeting relationship between circ_0000467 and miR-651-5p, miR-651-5p and DNMT3B. Circ_0000467 expression and DNMT3B mRNA expression were increased and miR-651-5p expression was down-regulated in CRC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of circ_0000467 repressed CRC cell growth, migration and invasion. Dual-luciferase reporter gene experiments validated that miR-651-5p was a direct target of circ_0000467 and miR-651-5p could specifically bind with DNMT3B 3'UTR. Functional compensation experiments showed that the regulatory effect of circ_0000467 on CRC cells' behaviors could be partially counteracted by miR-651-5p. Circ_0000467 may enhance the growth and metastasis of CRC cells by targeting miR-651-5p and up-regulating DNMT3B expression. Circ_0000467 may be a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for CRC.

miRNAs as cornerstones in colorectal cancer pathogenesis and resistance to therapy: A spotlight on signaling pathways interplay - A review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the world's third most prevalent cancer and the main cause of cancer-related mortality. A lot of work has been put into improving CRC patients' clinical care, including the development of more effective methods and wide biomarkers variety for prognostic, and diagnostic purposes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate a variety of cellular processes and play a significant role in the CRC progression and spread via controlling their target gene expression by translation inhibition or mRNA degradation. Consequently, dysregulation and disruption in their function, miRNAs are linked to CRC malignant pathogenesis by controlling several cellular processes involved in the CRC. These cellular processes include increased proliferative and invasive capacity, cell cycle aberration, evasion of apoptosis, enhanced EMT, promotion of angiogenesis and metastasis, and decreased sensitivity to major treatments. The miRNAs control cellular processes in CRC via regulation of pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin signaling, PTEN/AKT/mTOR axis, KRAS, TGFb signaling, VEGFR, EGFR, and P53. Hence, the goal of this review was to review miRNA biogenesis and present an updated summary of oncogenic and tumor suppressor (TS) miRNAs and their potential implication in CRC pathogenesis and responses to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We also summarise the biological importance and clinical applications of miRNAs in the CRC.

Clinical progress of nanomedicine-based RNA therapies

The clinical application of nanoparticles (NPs) to deliver RNA for therapy has progressed rapidly since the FDA approval of Onpattro® in 2018 for the treatment of polyneuropathy associated with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. The emergency use authorization or approval and widespread global use of two mRNA-NP based vaccines developed by Moderna Therapeutics Inc. and Pfizer-BioNTech in 2021 has highlighted the translatability of NP technology for RNA delivery. Furthermore, in clinical trials, a wide variety of NP formulations have been found to extend the half-life of RNA molecules such as microRNA, small interfering RNA, and messenger RNA, with limited safety issues. In this review, we discuss the NP formulations that are already used in the clinic to deliver therapeutic RNA and highlight examples of RNA-NPs which are currently under evaluation for human use. We also detail NP formulations that failed to progress through clinical trials, in hopes of guiding future successful translation of nanomedicine-based RNA therapeutics into the clinic.

LINC 01436 is overexpressed in colorectal cancer and promotes cancer cell proliferation by suppressing tumor-suppressive miR-466 maturation

LINC 01436 (lncRNA) promotes lung and gastric cancers. However, it is unclear whether it participates in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. Therefore, the study was carried out to analyze the role of LINC 01436 in CRC. LINC 01436 expressions in CRC tissues were analyzed by RT-qPCR, and its prognostic value was investigated in a follow-up study. Correlation between LINC 01436 and mature miR-466 or miR-466 precursor was analyzed by linear regression. Mature miR-466 and miR-466 precursor levels in CRC cells with LINC 01436 overexpression were studied using RT-qPCR. CRC cell proliferation was evaluated using CCK-8 assay. LINC 01436 was upregulated in CRC and predicted poor survival. LINC 01436 was inversely correlated with mature miR-466, but not miR-466 precursor. LINC 01436 was predicted to bind with miR-466 precursor. Their interaction was further verified by dual-luciferase activity assay. In CRC cells, LINC 01436 overexpression downregulated mature miR-466 but not miR-466 precursor. Cell proliferation analysis showed that LINC 01436 overexpression rescued cell proliferation reduced by miR-466. LINC 01436 is overexpressed in CRC and promotes cancer cell proliferation by suppressing miR-466 maturation.

MicroRNA Alterations Induced in Human Skin by Diesel Fumes, Ozone, and UV Radiation

Epigenetic alterations are a driving force of the carcinogenesis process. MicroRNAs play a role in silencing mutated oncogenes, thus defending the cell against the adverse consequences of genotoxic damages induced by environmental pollutants. These processes have been well investigated in lungs; however, although skin is directly exposed to a great variety of environmental pollutants, more research is needed to better understand the effect on cutaneous tissue. Therefore, we investigated microRNA alteration in human skin biopsies exposed to diesel fumes, ozone, and UV light for over 24 h of exposure. UV and ozone-induced microRNA alteration right after exposure, while the peak of their deregulations induced by diesel fumes was reached only at the end of the 24 h. Diesel fumes mainly altered microRNAs involved in the carcinogenesis process, ozone in apoptosis, and UV in DNA repair. Accordingly, each tested pollutant induced a specific pattern of microRNA alteration in skin related to the intrinsic mechanisms activated by the specific pollutant. These alterations, over a short time basis, reflect adaptive events aimed at defending the tissue against damages. Conversely, whenever environmental exposure lasts for a long time, the irreversible alteration of the microRNA machinery results in epigenetic damage contributing to the pathogenesis of inflammation, dysplasia, and cancer induced by environmental pollutants.

miR-466 Contributes to the Enhanced Antitumor Effect of Bortezomib on Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer by Inhibiting CCND1

INTRODUCTION

Changes in microRNAs (miRs) contribute to the alternative chemo-resistance of cancers. Bortezomib (BTZ) is a well-characterized anticancer agent that inhibits proteasome, and its effect is associated with the function of miRs. Based on the data of microarray assay and comprehensive bioinformatics analyses, in the current study, we explored the role of miR-466 and its downstream effector CCND1 in the BTZ-resistance of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells.

METHODS

miR expression profiles in NSCLC tissues and paratumor tissues were determined with microarray assay. The potential miR involved in the chemo-resistance of NSCLC cells was explored via a series of bioinformatics analyses, and miR-466 was selected. Afterward, levels of miR-466 and CCND1 were investigated in NSCLC samples and analyzed by clinicopathologic parameters, including age, sex, stage of NSCLC, tumor size, tumor differentiation status, and lymphocytic infiltration status. The expression of CCND1 and miR-466 was then modulated in vitro to explore the influence on cell phenotypes, which was then verified with mouse models.

RESULTS

Based on microarray detection, 287 miRs were dysexpressed between NSCLC tissues and paratumor tissues, including 90 upregulated members and 197 downregulated members. After bioinformatics analyses and reverse transcription quantitative PCR validation, miR-466 and CCND1 were selected. Following clinical investigations, miR-466 was downregulated, while CCND1 was upregulated in NSCLC samples, contributing to the advanced cancer progression. The overexpression of CCND1 increased cell viability, suppressed cell apoptosis, decreased p21 and induced N-cadherin, CCND2, and CDK4 under BTZ treatment. The induced expression of miR-466 re-sensitized NSCLC cells to BTZ treatment. In the animal model, the overexpression of CCND1 impaired the inhibitory effect of BTZ on the growth and metastasis of solid tumor, which was restored by miR-466 induction.

CONCLUSION

The findings showed that the interaction between BTZ, miR-466, and CCND1 determined the antitumor effect of BTZ on NSCLC.

The Clinical Significance and Functional Role of miR-466 in Gastric Cancer Peritoneal Metastasis

The prognosis of metastasis gastric cancer patients remains poor and the identification of novel molecular markers will improve the management of gastric cancer patients. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical significance and functional role of miR-466 in gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis. miR-466 expression was confirmed by RT-qPCR. The biological functions were examined by MTT assay, Transwell migration, and invasion assays. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to investigate the clinical role of miR-466. The logistic regression analysis was performed to reveal the risk factors associated with peritoneal metastasis. miR-466 expression was downregulated in gastric cancer cell lines, tumor tissues, and peritoneal metastasis tissues compared with respective controls. Increased miR-466 expression inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells. Besides, the lower expression of miR-466 in gastric cancer patients was associated with peritoneal dissemination. Furthermore, multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses demonstrated miR-466 expression level as an independent predictor of prognosis of gastric cancer. The present study provides novel evidence for the clinical and biological significance of miR-466 expression as a possible biomarker for the prognosis and identifying patients with peritoneal metastasis, as well as a potential therapeutic target in patients with gastric cancer.

Circ_0084615 is an oncogenic circular RNA in colorectal cancer and promotes DNMT3A expression via repressing miR-599

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are implicated in modulating cancer progression, exerting a pro- or anti-cancer effect. This work is aimed to probe the biological function of circ_0084615 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Circ_0084615 was selected from two circRNA microarray datasets (GSE138589 and GSE142837). Circ_0084615, microRNA (miR)-599 and DNA methyltransferases 3A (DNMT3A) mRNA expression in CRC tissues and cell lines were examined by qRT-PCR. The relationship between circ_0084615 expression level and clinical features were analyzed with chi-square test. Circ_0084615 knockdown model was constructed by siRNA in two CRC cell lines. The biological functions of circ_0084615 in CRC cells were evaluated by CCK-8 and Transwell experiments. The effect of circ_0084615 on CRC cell metastasis in vivo was examined with lung metastasis model of nude mice. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay was used to determine whether circ_0084615 and miR-599, and miR-599 and DNMT3A interacted with each other. Western blot was employed to examine the regulatory effects of circ_0084615 and miR-599 on DNMT3A protein expression in CRC cells.

RESULTS

Circ_0084615 was up-regulated in CRC and was correlated with poor overall survival rate and advanced clinical stage of CRC patients. Functional assays validated that depletion of circ_0084615 impeded CRC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Circ_0084615 acted as a molecular sponge for miR-599 to repress its expression. DNMT3A was a downstream target of miR-599. Functional compensation experiments showed that miR-599 inhibitors partially counteracted the the biological effects of silencing circ_0084615 on CRC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Circ_0084615 is a tumor-promoting circRNA in CRC that functions as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate DNMT3A expression via sponging miR-599. Our research provides a potential therapeutic target for CRC patients.

MiR-466 Inhibits the Progression of Severe Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Regulating FMNL2-Mediated Activation of NF-κB and Wnt/β-Catenin Pathways

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has threatened the health of humans, and some evidence has indicated that miR-466 involves the progressions of some cancers. This study focused on the role of miR-466 in the formation and development of HCC. The expression levels of miR-466 in the tissues of patients and HCC cell lines were measured by qRT-PCR, and CCK-8, transwell assay, and flow cytometry assay were used to observe the functions of miR-466 on the HCC cells. Moreover, the miRNA databases, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and Western blot were used for the investigation of the regulation mechanism of miR-466 on HCC cells. The results showed that miR-466 was significantly downregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, and inhibited proliferation, invasion, and high apoptosis were found in HCC cells when miR-466 was overexpressed. The results confirmed that FMNL2 was a target of miR-466, and increased FMNL2 could reverse the effects of miR-466 on the phenotype of HCC cells. Besides, it was also found that miR-466 was involved in the regulation of NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in HCC cells via targeting FMNL2. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that miR-466 regulates the activities of NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin pathways to inhibit the progression of HCC cells via targeting FMNL2.

Circulating miR-320a Acts as a Tumor Suppressor and Prognostic Factor in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Dysregulated expression profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been observed in several types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, the diagnostic and prognostic potential of circulating miRNAs in NSCLC remains largely undefined. Here we found that circulating miR-320a was significantly down-regulated (~5.87-fold; p < 0.0001) in NSCLC patients (n = 80) compared to matched control plasma samples from healthy subjects (n = 80). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that NSCLC patients with lower levels of circulating miR-320a had overall poorer prognosis and survival rates compared to patients with higher levels (p < 0.0001). Moreover, the diagnostic and prognostic potential of miR-320a correlated with clinicopathological characteristics such as tumor size, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, and lymph node metastasis. Functionally, depletion of miR-320a in human A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells induced their metastatic potential and reduced apoptosis, which was reversed by exogenous re-expression of miR-320a mimics, indicating that miR-320a has a tumor-suppressive role in NSCLC. These results were further supported by high levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker proteins (e.g., Beta-catenin, MMP9, and E-cadherin) in lung cancer cells and tissues via immunoblot and immunohistochemistry experiments. Moreover, through bioinformatics and dual-luciferase reporter assays, we demonstrated that AKT3 was a direct target of miR-320a. In addition, AKT3-associated PI3K/AKT/mTOR protein-signaling pathways were elevated with down-regulated miR-320a levels in NSCLC. These composite data indicate that circulating miR-320a may function as a tumor-suppressor miRNA with potential as a prognostic marker for NSCLC patients.

MicroRNA-552 expression in colorectal cancer and its clinicopathological significance

Background

MicroRNA-552 (miR-552) has been reported to correlate with the development and progression of various cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to investigate miR-552 expression in cancer tissue samples compared to normal mucosal tissue and its role as a diagnostic or prognostic marker in CRC patients.

Methods

Normal mucosal tissues and primary cancer tissues from 80 surgically resected CRC specimens were used. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for miR-552 and U6 small nuclear RNA to analyze miR-552 expression and its clinicopathological significance. Immunohistochemistry for p53 and phosphatase and tension homolog (PTEN) was performed to evaluate their association with miR-552 expression.

Results

miR-552 expression was significantly higher in primary cancer tissues compared to normal mucosal tissues (p<.001). The expression level of miR552 was inversely correlated with that of PTEN (p=.068) and p53 (p=.004). Survival analysis showed that high miR-552 expression was associated with worse prognosis but this was not statistically significant (p=.255). However, patients with CRC having high miR-552 expression and loss of PTEN expression had significantly worse prognosis than others (p=.029).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that high miR-552 expression might be a potential diagnostic biomarker for CRC, and its combined analysis with PTEN expression can possibly be used as a prognostic marker.

Tissue micro-RNAs associated with colorectal cancer prognosis: a systematic review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multifactorial disease commonly diagnosed worldwide, with high mortality rates. Several studies demonstrate important associations between differential expression of micro-RNAs (miRs) and the prognosis of CRC. The present study aimed to identify differentially expressed tissue miRs associated with prognostic factors in CRC patients, through a systematic review of the Literature. Using the PubMed database, Cochrane Library and Web of Science, studies published in English evaluating miRs differentially expressed in tumor tissue and significantly associated with the prognostic aspects of CRC were selected. All the included studies used RT-PCR (Taqman or SYBR Green) for miR expression analysis and the period of publication was from 2009 to 2018. A total of 115 articles accomplished the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The studies investigated the expression of 100 different miRs associated with prognostic aspects in colorectal cancer patients. The most frequent oncogenic miRs investigated were miR-21, miR-181a, miR-182, miR-183, miR-210 and miR-224 and the hyperexpression of these miRs was associated with distant metastasis, lymph node metastasis and worse survival in patients with CRC. The most frequent tumor suppressor miRs were miR-126, miR-199b and miR-22 and the hypoexpression of these miRs was associated with distant metastasis, worse prognosis and a higher risk of disease relapse (worse disease-free survival). Specific tissue miRs are shown to be promising prognostic biomarkers in patients with CRC, given their strong association with the prognostic aspects of these tumors, however, new studies are necessary to establish the sensibility and specificity of the individual miRs in order to use them in clinical practice.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the prognostic significance of microRNAs related to metastatic and EMT process among prostate cancer patients

The ability of tumor cells to spread from their origin place and form secondary tumor foci is determined by the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. In epithelial tumors such as prostate cancer (PCa), the loss of intercellular interactions can be observed as a change in expression of polarity proteins. Epithelial cells acquire ability to migrate, what leads to the formation of distal metastases. In recent years, the interest in miRNA molecules as potential future treatment options has increased. In tumor microenvironment, miRNAs have the ability to regulate signal transduction pathways, where they can act as suppressors or oncogenes. MiRNAs are secreted by cancer cells, and the changes in their expression levels are closely related to a cancer progression, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition. These molecules offer new diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities. Therapeutics which make use of synthesized RNA fragments and mimic or block miRNAs affected in PCa, may lead to inhibition of tumor progression and even disease re-emission. Based on appropriate qualification criteria, we conducted a selection process to identify scientific articles describing miRNAs and their relation to epithelial-mesenchymal transition in PCa patients. The studies were published in English on Pubmed, Scopus and the Web of Science before August 08, 2019. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) as well as total Gleason score were used to assess the concordance between miRNAs and presence of metastases. A total of 13 studies were included in our meta-analysis, representing 1608 PCa patients and 15 miRNA molecules. Our study clarifies a relationship between the clinicopathological features of PCa and the aberrant expression of several miRNA as well as the complex mechanism of miRNA molecules involvement in the induction and promotion of the metastatic mechanism in PCa.

miR-590-5p may regulate colorectal cancer cell viability and migration by targeting PDCD4

Recent studies have revealed that microRNAs (miRs) are involved in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the roles of miR-590-5p in CRC are not completely understood. Therefore, the present study investigated the expression of miR-590-5p and programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) in CRC tissues and healthy adjacent tissues via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Furthermore, human CRC cells were cultured in vitro and transfected with miR-590-5p inhibitor. CRC cell viability, migration and invasion were evaluated by conducting MTT, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. Additionally, the relative expression of PDCD4 and phosphorylated-Smad2/3 was analyzed via western blotting. miR-590-5p was significantly upregulated and PDCD4 was significantly downregulated in CRC tissues compared with healthy adjacent tissues. Moreover, the results indicated that miR-590-5p knockdown inhibited cell viability and migration by altering the expression of PDCD4, transforming growth factor-β and phosphorylated-Smad2/3. PDCD4 was identified as a direct target of miR-590-5p. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that miR-590-5p may regulate CRC cell viability and migration, indicating that miR-590-5p may serve as a potential therapeutic target for CRC.

LINC00355 promoted the progression of lung squamous cell carcinoma through regulating the miR-466/LYAR axis

LINC00355 has been reported aberrantly over-expressed and associated with poor prognosis in various types of cancer. However, reports regarding the effect of LINC00355 on lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are rare. This study aimed to explore the function of LINC00355 in the development and progression of lung SCC and reveal the underlying mechanism. The expression and subcellular location of LINC00355 were determined by qRT-PCR and RNA-FISH, respectively. The lung SCC cell growth was analyzed by CCK-8 assay, transwell invasion, wound healing, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays. Reactive oxygen species level was evaluated by DCFH-DA probes. Bioinformatics online websites, luciferase reporter assay, RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP), and RNA pull-down assays were utilized to investigate the interaction among LINC00355, miR-466, and Ly-1 antibody reactive clone (LYAR). The results showed that LINC00355 was upregulated in lung SCC and was positively associated with poor overall survival in lung SCC patients. LINC00355 was mainly located in the cytoplasm of SCC cells. Additionally, LINC0035 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to target miR-466, and LYAR was identified as a direct target of miR-466. LINC00355 expression negatively correlated with miR-466 level, and positively correlated with LYAR level. Mechanistically, knockdown of LINC00355 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, promoted cell apoptosis in vitro, and suppressed tumor growth in vivo through targeting miR-466, and thus down-regulated LYAR expression. These findings provide a new sight for understanding the molecular mechanism of lung SCC and indicate that LINC00355 may serve as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of lung SCC.

Long non-coding RNA Hsp4 alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis of lung epithelial cells via miRNA-466m-3p/DNAjb6 axis

Acute lung injury (ALI), as a life-threatening syndrome, is mainly characterized with diffuse alveolar injury, excessive pulmonary inflammation, edema and apoptosis of lung epithelial cells. This study investigated the effects of LncRNA Hsp4 (Hsp4, ENSMUST00000175718) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced apoptosis of MLE-12 cells. In our research, we found that LPS treatment remarkably induced apoptosis of MLE-12 cells and decreased the expression of Hsp4. Overexpression of Hsp4 significantly reversed LPS-induced cell apoptosis through inhibiting mTOR signaling, while suppression of Hsp4 presented opposite effects. Further results showed that Hsp4 positively regulated the expression of miR-466m-3p. Knockdown of miR-466m-3p reversed LPS-induced cell apoptosis via increasing the levels of DNAjb6 which was confirmed to be the target gene of miR-466m-3p. This finding will be helpful for further understanding the critical roles of Hsp4 in ALI and may provide potential targets for ALI diagnosis and treatment.

Circular RNA NOX4 promotes the development of colorectal cancer via the microRNA‑485‑5p/CKS1B axis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy globally. The aim of the present study was to explore the role and the working mechanism of circular RNA NADPH oxidase 4 (circNOX4; circBase ID, hsa_circ_0023990) in CRC. Reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q)PCR was used to examine the expression of circNOX4, NOX4 mRNA and microRNA (miR)-485-5p in CRC tissues and cell lines. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and Transwell assays were performed to analyze CRC cell viability and motility. The glycolytic ability of CRC cells was assessed by measuring glucose consumption, lactate production, extracellular acidification and O₂ consumption rates using commercial kits. The starBase database was used to predict the targets of circNOX4 and miR-485-5p, and the interaction was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. A murine xenograft model was established to verify the role of circNOX4 in CRC in vivo. The results demonstrated that the expression of circNOX4 was upregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines compared with that in adjacent normal tissues and a normal colon epithelial cell line, respectively. The expression of circNOX4 was negatively associated with the prognosis of patients with CRC. CircNOX4 silencing suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis of CRC cells. miR-485-5p was identified as a target of circNOX4. CircNOX4 promoted CRC progression by sponging miR-485-5p. miR-485-5p was demonstrated to bind to the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of CDC28 protein kinase regulatory subunit 1B (CKS1B). miR-485-5p overexpression-mediated malignant properties of CRC cells were partly reversed by the transfection with the CKS1B overexpression plasmid. CircNOX4 silencing restrained the CRC xenograft growth in vivo. Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrated that circNOX4 may serve an oncogenic role in CRC by promoting the proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis of CRC cells via the miR-485-5p/CKS1B axis.

Study on miRNAs in Pan-Cancer of the Digestive Tract Based on the Illumina HiSeq System Data Sequencing

Objective

miRNA has gained attention as a therapeutic target in various malignancies. The proposal of this study was to investigate the biological functions of key miRNAs and target genes in cancers of the digestive tract which include esophageal carcinoma (ESCA), gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC), colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), and rectal adenocarcinoma (READ).

Materials and Methods

After screening differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMIs) and differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs) in four digestive cancers from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, the diagnostic value of above DEMIs was evaluated by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Then, corresponding DEMIs' target genes were predicted by miRWalk 2.0. Intersection of predicted target genes and DEMs was taken as the target genes of DEMIs, and miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks between DEMIs and target genes were constructed. Meanwhile, the univariate Cox risk regression model was used to screen miRNAs with distinct prognostic value, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine their significance of prognosis. Furthermore, we performed bioinformatics methods including protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, gene ontology (GO) annotation, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and gene group RIDA analysis by Gene-Cloud of Biotechnology Information (GCBI) to explore the function and molecular mechanisms of DEMIs and predicted target genes in tumor development.

Results

Eventually, 3 DEMIs (miR-7-3, miR-328, and miR-323a) with significant prognostic value were obtained. In addition, 3 DEMIs (miR-490-3p, miR-133a-3p, and miR-552-3p) and 281 target genes were identified, and the 3 DEMIs showed high diagnostic value in READ and moderate diagnostic value in ESCA, GAC, and COAD. Also, the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network with 3 DEMIs and 281 overlapping genes was successfully established. Functional enrichment analysis showed that 281 overlapping genes were mainly related to regulation of cell proliferation, cell migration, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Conclusion

The diagnostic value and prognostic value of significant DEMIs in cancers of the digestive tract were identified, which may provide a novel direction for treatment and prognosis improvement of cancers of the digestive tract.

Integrated Analysis of miRNA and mRNA Endorses a Twenty miRNAs Signature for Colorectal Carcinoma

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the most frequent carcinoma worldwide. CRC patients show strong prognostic differences and responses to treatment, and 20% have incurable metastatic disease at diagnosis. We considered it essential to investigate mechanisms that control cellular regulatory networks, such as the miRNA-mRNA interaction, known to be involved in cancer pathogenesis. We conducted a human miRNome analysis by TaqMan low density array, comparing CRC to normal colon tissue (NCT, and experimentally identified gene targets of miRNAs deregulated, by anti-correlation analysis, with the CRC whole-transcriptome profile obtained from RNASeq experiments. We identified an integrated signature of 20 deregulated miRNAs in CRC. Enrichment analyses of the gene targets controlled by these miRNAs brought to light 25 genes, members of pathways known to lead to cell growth and death (CCND1, NKD1, FZD3, MAD2L1, etc.), such as cell metabolism (ACSL6, PRPS1-2). A screening of prognosis-mediated miRNAs underlined that the overexpression of miR-224 promotes CRC metastasis, and is associated with high stage and poor survival. These findings suggest that the biology and progression of CRC depend on deregulation of multiple miRNAs that cause a complex dysfunction of cellular molecular networks. Our results have further established miRNA-mRNA interactions and defined multiple pathways involved in CRC pathogenesis.

Increased extracellular vesicle miRNA-466 family in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as a precipitating factor of ARDS

Background

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening disease; however, its treatment has not yet been fully established. The progression of ARDS is considered to be mediated by altered intercellular communication between immune and structural cells in the lung. One of several factors involved in intercellular communication is the extracellular vesicle (EV). They act as carriers of functional content such as RNA molecules, proteins, and lipids and deliver cargo from donor to recipient cells. EVs have been reported to regulate the nucleotide-binding oligomerization like receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. This has been identified as the cellular machinery responsible for activating inflammatory processes, a key component responsible for the pathogenesis of ARDS.

Methods

Here, we provide comprehensive genetic analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs) in EVs, demonstrating increased expression of the miRNA-466 family in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of a mouse ARDS model.

Results

Transfection of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) with miRNA-466 g and 466 m-5p resulted in increased interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) release after LPS and ATP treatment, which is an established in vitro model of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Moreover, LPS-induced pro-IL-1β expression was accelerated by miRNA-466 g and 466 m-5p in BMDMs.

Conclusions

These findings imply that miRNA-466 family molecules are secreted via EVs into the airways in an ARDS model, and this exacerbates inflammation through the NLRP3 inflammasome. Our results suggest that the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, regulated by extracellular vesicle miRNA, could act as a therapeutic target for ARDS.

p53-induced long non-coding RNA PGM5-AS1 inhibits the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through regulating miR-466/PTEN axis

A growing body of evidence suggests that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is aberrantly expressed in human cancer and linked to cancer initiation and development. We previously identified Homo sapiens PGM5 antisense RNA 1 (PGM5-AS1) as a novel esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)-related lncRNA by performing high-throughput RNA sequencing. However, its clinical implication and biological function in ESCC are still uncharacterized. In the present study, we found that PGM5-AS1 was frequently downregulated in ESCC tissues, plasma, and cell lines, and low PGM5-AS1 expression was positively correlated with poor differentiation, advanced tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, and lymph node metastasis. Importantly, PGM5-AS1 was identified to be an effective diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for ESCC patients. Functional experiments revealed that exogenous expression of PGM5-AS1 significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC cells in vitro as well as tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, PGM5-AS1 was transcriptionally activated by p53 and it could directly interact with and sequester miR-466 to elevate PTEN expression, thereby inhibiting ESCC progression. Overall, our data indicate that PGM5-AS1 is a novel tumor suppressor in ESCC and restoration of PGM5-AS1 may be a promising avenue for treatment of ESCC patient.

miR-466 and NUS1 Regulate the AKT/Nuclear Factor kappa B (NFκB) Signaling Pathway in Intrauterine Adhesions in a Rat Model

BACKGROUND Intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) are one of the most common reproductive system diseases in women worldwide. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that the upregulation or downregulation of genes plays an important role in IUAs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of NUS1 in IUAs in a rat model. MATERIAL AND METHODS The expression of miR-466 in intrauterine adhesions tissues was detected by using RT-qPCR assay. RT-qPCR, IHC, and Western blot were used to investigate mRNA and proteins expression, respectively, of NUS1. MTT and colony-formation assays were used to evaluate cell growth. Transwell assays were used to detect cell migration and invasion. To investigate miR-466 and NUS1 functions in vivo, we established a rat model. The level of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers was analyzed by Western blot assay. RESULTS NUS1 was upregulated in IUAs tissues, and the high expression level of NUS1 was positively correlated with the severity of IUAs. NUS1 promoted cell proliferation in vitro. NUS1 overexpression on cell migration and invasion promoted the EMT process in vitro and in vivo. NUS1 acted as a target of miR-466 and played the stimulative role by regulating AKT/NFkappaB pathway. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that miR-466 and NUS1 regulate proliferation and the EMT process through the AKT/NFkappaB pathway in IUAs in a rat model.

LncRNA TUC338 is overexpressed in prostate carcinoma and downregulates miR-466

LncRNA TUC338 has recently been characterized as an oncogene in several types of cancer. Our study aimed to characterize the functionality of TUC338 in prostate carcinoma. It was observed that TUC338 was upregulated in tumor tissues comparing to adjacent healthy tissues of prostate carcinoma patients. Plasma levels of TUC338 were also higher in prostate carcinoma patients than in healthy controls. A 5-year follow-up study showed that high plasma level of TUC338 was correlated with poor survival. miR-466 was downregulated in tumor tissues compared with adjacent healthy tissues of prostate carcinoma patients. TUC338 and miR-466 were inversely correlated in tumor tissues. miR-466 overexpression failed to affect TUC338 expression, while TUC338 overexpression led to downregulated miR-466 expression. TUC338 overexpression failed to significantly affect cancer cell proliferation, but promoted cancer cell migration and invasion. MiR-466 overexpression resulted in reduced rates of cancer cell migration and invasion, and also attenuated the effect of TUC338 overexpression. Therefore, TUC338 may serve as an oncogenic lncRNA in prostate carcinoma by downregulating miR-466.

CREB1 induced lncRNA HAS2-AS1 promotes epithelial ovarian cancer proliferation and invasion via the miR-466/RUNX2 axis

Accumulating evidence has indicated the vital roles of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in the epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). However, the function of lncRNA HAS2-AS1 in EOC is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the expression and role of HAS2-AS1 in EOC. In the cells and tissue of EOC, HAS2-AS1 expression was markedly up-regulated. Besides, the overexpression of HAS2-AS1 indicated the poor clinical outcome of EOC patients. Transcription factor CREB1 could bind with the promoter of HAS2-AS1 and activate its transcriptional expression. Functionally, HAS2-AS1 knockdown suppressed the proliferation, invasion and tumor growth of EOC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanical investigation found that HAS2-AS1 could relive the RUNX2 protein expression via sponging the miR-466, acting as miRNA sponge. In conclusion, this finding suggests the CREB1/HAS2-AS1/miR-466/RUNX2 axis in the in the EOC tumorigenesis, providing the novel insight for the molecular mechanism of EOC.

MicroRNAs in the cornea: Role and implications for treatment of corneal neovascularization

With no safe and efficient approved therapy available for treating corneal neovascularization, the search for alternative and effective treatments is of great importance. Since the discovery of miRNAs as key regulators of gene expression, knowledge of their function in the eye has expanded continuously, facilitated by high throughput genomic tools such as microarrays and RNA sequencing. Recently, reports have emerged implicating miRNAs in pathological and developmental angiogenesis. This has led to the idea of targeting these regulatory molecules as a therapeutic approach for treating corneal neovascularization. With the growing volume of data generated from high throughput tools applied to study corneal neovascularization, we provide here a focused review of the known miRNAs related to corneal neovascularization, while presenting new experimental data and insights for future research and therapy development.

Overexpression of microRNA-98 inhibits cell proliferation and promotes cell apoptosis via claudin-1 in human colorectal carcinoma

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and investigations on novel targets are imperative. MiR-98 has been reported to act as a tumor suppressor in several cancers. To evaluate miR-98 as a novel anticancer molecule for CRC, examinations to validate whether miR-98 conferred an inhibiting effect on proliferation, migration, and invasion were performed. The microarray-based gene expression profiling involving CRC was used to identify the differentially expressed genes. The potential relationship between miR-98 and CLDN1 was analyzed by cell experimentation. Then, the CRC cells were transfected with miR-98 mimic or miR-98 inhibitor to investigate the potential effect of miR-98 overexpression and depletion on CRC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. The expressions of CLDN1, Bcl-2 associated protein x (Bax), runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), C-myc, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were determined. The downregulated miR-98 along with an upregulated CLDN1 was observed in CRC, in which miR-98 could target to regulate CLDN1. The overexpression of miR-98 or silencing of CLDN1 was shown to increase the expression of Bax and RUNX3 along with promoted cell apoptosis and arrested cells in G1 phase, while decreasing the expression of CLDN1, Bcl-2, C-myc, and PCNA with suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion. Collectively, the current study supports the notion that miR-98 plays an inhibitory role in human CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and act as a contributor for cell apoptosis by downregulating CLDN1. The current study highlights a potential future strategy to help prevent the development of CRC.

MicroRNA‑466 inhibits cell proliferation and invasion in osteosarcoma by directly targeting insulin receptor substrate 1

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are frequently dysregulated in osteosarcoma (OS), and the aberrant expression of miRNAs is associated with OS initiation and progression. Previous studies demonstrated that miRNA‑466 (miR‑466) is dysregulated, and serves important roles in various types of human cancer. However, the role of miR‑466 in the formation and progression of OS remains unclear. In the present study, the expression level of miR‑466 was identified to be markedly downregulated in OS tissues and cell lines. Additionally, miR‑466 overexpression inhibited the proliferative and invasive abilities of OS cells. In the present study, bioinformatics analyses and luciferase assays were employed to show that miR‑466 was able to directly target the 3'‑untranslated region of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) gene, negatively regulating the mRNA and the protein expression levels of IRS1 in OS cells. Furthermore, IRS1 was upregulated in OS tissues, and the increased expression level of IRS1 exhibited an inverse correlation with the expression level of miR‑466. Furthermore, IRS1 overexpression was able to partially reverse the suppressive effects of miR‑466 overexpression in OS cells. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the present study is the first to suggest that miR‑466 is downregulated in OS and inhibits the progression of OS by directly targeting IRS1. The present results suggested that miR‑466 may represent a novel potential therapeutic target for the treatment of patients with OS.

lncRNA FEZF1‑AS1 contributes to cell proliferation, migration and invasion by sponging miR‑4443 in hepatocellular carcinoma

As one of the most common and aggressive cancer types, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) leads to a large number of fatalities every year. However, the pathogenesis of HCC remains largely unknown. In the present study, it was identified that FEZF1-AS1 was significantly upregulated in HCC cell lines and tissues, as determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Additionally, it was observed that higher expression of FEZF1-AS1 in patients with HCC indicated poorer prognosis. Furthermore, it was identified that knockdown of FEZF1-AS1 markedly inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion of Hep3B and Huh7 cells, as determined by Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation and Transwell assays. In terms of mechanism, it was observed that FEZF1-AS1 acted as a sponge for microRNA (miR)-4443. The results of a luciferase reporter assay revealed that overexpression of miR-4443 significantly inhibited the luciferase activity in Hep3B and Huh7 cells. Additionally, miR-4443 overexpression markedly inhibited the expression of FEZF1-AS1, and vice versa. It was additionally identified that miR-4443 was downregulated in HCC tissues. There was an inverse correlation between the expression of miR-4443 and FEZF1-AS1 in HCC tissues. Furthermore, through functional experiments, it was identified that knockdown of FEZF1-AS1 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells, whereas inhibition of miR-4443 reversed these effects. Collectively, the present results demonstrated that FEZF1-AS1 acts as an oncogene by acting as a sponge for miR-4443.

MicroRNA-466 inhibits osteosarcoma cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by targeting CCND1

Emerging pieces of evidence indicate that microRNA-466 (miR-466) serves as a tumor suppressor in several human tumors, including colorectal cancer and prostate cancer. However, whether miR-466 is involved in osteosarcoma (OS) progression remains largely unknown. The present study demonstrated that miR-466 was significantly downregulated in OS tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, it was revealed that the expression of miR-466 was negatively correlated with OS severity. Moreover, low miR-466 expression in patients with OS predicted poor prognosis. Through functional experiments, miR-466 overexpression significantly inhibited the proliferation and cell cycle of OS cells while inducing cellular apoptosis. In terms of mechanism, it was revealed that CCND1 was a target of miR-466 in OS cells. miR-466 overexpression suppressed CCND1 expression in OS cells. A reverse association was observed between the expression levels of miR-466 and CCND1 in OS tissues. Furthermore, CCND1 restoration in OS cells significantly rescued the effects of miR-466 on cellular proliferation and apoptosis. Overall, the results of the present study demonstrated that miR-466 suppressed OS progression by targeting CCND1, suggesting that miR-466 may be a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for OS prognosis and treatment.

Genome-wide identification of a novel miRNA-based signature to predict recurrence in patients with gastric cancer

The current tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging system is inadequate for identifying high-risk gastric cancer (GC) patients. Using a systematic and comprehensive-biomarker discovery and validation approach, we attempted to build a microRNA (miRNA)-recurrence classifier (MRC) to improve the prognostic prediction of GC. We identified 312 differentially expressed miRNAs in 446 GC tissues compared to 45 normal controls by analyzing high-throughput data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Using a Cox regression model, we developed an 11-miRNA signature that could successfully discriminate high-risk patients in the training set (n = 372; P < 0.0001). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction-based validation in an independent clinical cohort (n = 88) of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded clinical GC samples showed that MRC-derived high-risk patients succumb to significantly poor recurrence-free survival in GC patients (P < 0.0001). Cox and stratification analysis indicated that the prognostic value of this signature was independent of clinicopathological risk factors. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that the area under the curve of this signature was significantly larger than that of TNM stage in the TCGA (0.733 vs. 0.589 at 3 years, P = 0.004; 0.802 vs. 0.635 at 5 years, P = 0.005) and validation cohort (0.835 vs. 0.689 at 3 years, P = 0.003). A nomogram was constructed for clinical use, which integrated both MRC and clinical-related variables (depth of invasion, lymph node status and distance metastasis) and did well in the calibration plots. In conclusion, this novel miRNA-based signature is superior to currently used clinicopathological features for identifying high-risk GC patients. It can be readily translated into clinical practice with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens for specific decision-making applications.

Long non‑coding RNA 00152 functions as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate NRP1 expression by sponging with miRNA‑206 in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying colorectal tumor metastasis and growth remain elusive. Recently, accumulating evidence has indicated that long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in CRC progression and metastasis; however, the biological role and clinical significance of lncRNA 00152 (lnc00152) in CRC remains largely unknown. Thus, in this study, lnc00152 expression was measured in 80 human CRC tissue samples, 40 non‑cancerous tissue samples, and 3 CRC cell lines (SW480, SW620 and LoVo) using RT‑qPCR. We examined the effects of lnc00152 on CRC cells following transfection with lnc00152 overexpression plasmid or respective siRNA in vitro and in vivo. Luciferase assays revealed the mechanism driving competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA). We identified that lnc00152 was aberrantly overexpressed in colorectal tumors and cancer cells and that lnc00152 was modulated by miRNA‑206. lnc00152 overexpression enhanced the proliferative and invasive ability of CRC cells in vitro, promoted tumor growth in vivo, and was associated with the shorter overall survival of patients with CRC. In addition, lnc00152 overexpression promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and increased neuropilin‑1 (NRP1) expression in the CRC cells. By contrast, lnc00152 silencing exerted a counteractive effect. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the critical role of lnc00152 in tumor growth and progression in CRC, and identify a novel therapeutic target associated with CRC development and progression.