Silencing SIX1 by miR-7160 inhibits non-small cell lung cancer cell growth

Targeting sine oculis homeoprotein 1 (SIX1): A review of oncogenic roles and potential natural product therapeutics

Sine oculis homeoprotein 1 (SIX1), a prominent representative of the homeodomain transcription factors within the SIX family, has attracted significant interest owing to its role in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and prognostic assessments. Initially recognized for its pivotal role in embryonic development, SIX1 has emerged as a resurgent factor across a diverse set of mammalian cancers. Over the past two decades, numerous investigations have emphasized SIX1's dual significance as a developmental regulator and central player in oncogenic processes. A mounting body of evidence links SIX1 to the initiation of diverse cancers, encompassing enhanced cellular metabolism and advancement. This review provides an overview of the multifaceted roles of SIX1 in both normal development and oncogenic processes, emphasizing its importance as a possible therapeutic target and prognostic marker. Additionally, this review discusses the natural product agents that inhibit various pro-oncogenic mechanisms associated with SIX1.

Establishment of glioma prognosis nomogram based on the function of meox1 in promoting the progression of cancer

Background

Gliomas stand out as highly predominant malignant nervous tumors and are linked to adverse treatment outcomes and short survival periods. Current treatment options are limited, emphasizing the need to identify effective therapeutic targets. The heterogeneity of tumors necessitates a personalized treatment approach with an effective grouping system. Meox1 has been implicated in promoting tumor progression in diverse cancers; nonetheless, its role in gliomas remains unelucidated.

Material/methods

Utilized immunohistochemistry to assess the expression of Meox1 protein in glioma tissues. Proliferation and invasion assays were conducted on wild-type and meox1-overexpressed glioma cells using the CCK8 and Transwell assays, respectively. The expression levels of meox1 and its related genes in gliomas were obtained from Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), along with the corresponding patient survival periods. LASSO regression modeling was employed to construct a scoring system for patients with gliomas, categorizing them into high-/low-risk groups. Additionally, a nomogram for predicting the survival period of patients with glioma was developed using multivariate logistic analysis.

Results

We attempted, for the first time, to demonstrate heightened expression of Meox1 in glioma tumor tissues, correlating with significantly increased invasion and proliferation abilities of glioma cells following meox1 overexpression. The scoring system effectively stratified patients with glioma into high-/low-risk groups, revealing differences in the survival period and immunotherapy efficacy between the two groups. The integration of this scoring system with other clinical indicators yielded a nomogram capable of effectively predicting the survival period of individuals with gliomas.

Conclusions

Our study established a stratified investigation system based on the levels of meox1 and its related genes, providing a novel, cost-effective model for facilitating the prognosis prediction of individuals with glioma.

The Role of miRNA in Tumor Immune Escape and miRNA-Based Therapeutic Strategies

Tumor immune escape is a critical step in the malignant progression of tumors and one of the major barriers to immunotherapy, making immunotherapy the most promising therapeutic approach against tumors today. Tumor cells evade immune surveillance by altering the structure of their own, or by causing abnormal gene and protein expression, allowing for unrestricted development and invasion. These genetic or epigenetic changes have been linked to microRNAs (miRNAs), which are important determinants of post-transcriptional regulation. Tumor cells perform tumor immune escape by abnormally expressing related miRNAs, which reduce the killing effect of immune cells, disrupt the immune response, and disrupt apoptotic pathways. Consequently, there is a strong trend toward thoroughly investigating the role of miRNAs in tumor immune escape and utilizing them in tumor treatment. However, because of the properties of miRNAs, there is an urgent need for a safe, targeted and easily crossed biofilm vehicle to protect and deliver them in vivo, and exosomes, with their excellent biological properties, have successfully beaten traditional vehicles to provide strong support for miRNA therapy. This review summarizes the multiple roles of miRNAs in tumor immune escape and discusses their potential applications as an anti-tumor therapy. Also, this work proposes exosomes as a new opportunity for miRNA therapy, to provide novel ideas for the development of more effective tumor-fighting therapeutic approaches based on miRNAs.