Impact of microRNA-34a and polymorphism of its target gene CA9 on susceptibility to uterine cervical cancer

Impact of carbonic anhydrase 9 gene polymorphism on the progression of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a commonly occurring tumor type worldwide, and its development is governed by a connection between genetic variations and acquired factors. Carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9) is a cell-surface pH modulator that has been demonstrated to contribute to key steps of cancer progression. Here, we attempted to interrogate the effect of CA9 gene polymorphisms on the development of CRC in 470 cases and 470 gender- and age-matched non-cancer controls. We found that none of three CA9 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) tested, including rs2071676, rs3829078, and rs1048638, was significantly associated with the occurrence of CRC. Yet, while evaluating the clinicopathological variables, cases carrying at least one reference allele (G allele) of rs2071676 tended to develop poorly differentiated tumors less frequently than those who are homozygous for the alternative allele (A allele) of rs2071676 (GA+GG vs AA; OR, 0.483; 95% CI, 0.242-0.963; p=0.036). Further stratification revealed that as compared to homozygous carriers of the alternative allele (AA), cases of colon cancer bearing at least one reference allele of rs2071676 (GA+GG) less frequently developed poorly differentiated tumors (OR, 0.449; 95% CI, 0.221-0.911; p=0.024) and lymphovascular invasion (OR, 0.570; 95% CI, 0.361-0.900; p=0.015). Such genetic effect was exclusively observed in colon cancer but not in rectal cancer. Our results indicate an anatomical site-specific impact of CA9 gene polymorphisms on modulating the progression of colorectal malignancies.

A prognostic model for cervical cancer based on ferroptosis-related genes

BACKGROUND

Ferroptosis is widely involved in the occurrence and development of various cancers, but a specific mechanism involving ferroptosis in cervical cancer is still unclear.

METHODS

Based on the expressions of ferroptosis-related genes, a prognostic model was constructed using lasso regression, and the overall predictive performance of this model was verified. An in-depth analysis of the prognostic model was then conducted.

RESULTS

The prognostic model showed good predictive performance in both the validation and test sets. Mechanism analysis indicated that differences in the tumor microenvironment were the basis of the predictive ability of the model. Notably, CA9 mRNA was significantly overexpressed in cervical carcinoma, tissues but not in normal cervix tissues. A pair of ceRNAs (CA9/ULBP2) could be involved in the carcinogenesis and development of cervical cancer, and the potential target might be hsa-miR-34a. In addition, predicted miRNAs and drugs for these DEGs were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

We constructed a prognostic model with good predictive performance, based on the expression of ferroptosis-related genes. Further research found that the ceRNA pairs of ULBP2/CA9 could regulate cervical cancer through hsa-miR-34a. These results identified the mechanism of ferroptosis in cervical cancer, and might provide novel therapeutics for cervical cancer patients.

Investigation of metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 genetic variants in the development and clinicopathologcial characteristics of uterine cervical cancer in Taiwanese women

The objectives of this study were to define the associations among single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1) gene, development and clinicopathological characteristics of uterine cervical cancer, and patient survival in Taiwan. Genotypic frequencies of 5 MACC1 SNPs rs975263, rs3095007, rs4721888, rs3735615 and rs1990172 were identified for 132 patients with invasive cancer, 99 with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and 338 normal controls using real-time polymerase chain reaction. It revealed that there were no associations of these MACC1 SNPs with cervical carcinogenesis. In the meantime, cervical cancer patients with genotype GG in MACC1 SNP rs975263 tended to display more risk to have vaginal invasion than those with AA/AG (p=0.042, OR: 8.70, 95% CI: 0.81-433.22). In multivariate analysis, positive pelvic lymph node metastasis could significantly predict worse 5 years survival rate (p=0.001; HR=9.98, 95% CI=2.64-37.77) for cervical cancer patients. In conclusion, pelvic lymph node status rather than MACC1 SNPs was the only independent parameter that could significantly predict 5 years survival rate in Taiwanese women with cervical cancer.

Competing endogenous RNA networks in cervical cancer: function, mechanism and perspective

In the past several years, competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) have emerged as a potential class of post-transcriptional regulators that alter gene expression through a microRNA (miRNA)-mediated mechanism. An increasing number of studies have found that ceRNAs play important roles in tumorigenesis. Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in female malignancies. Despite advances in our understanding of this neoplasm, patients with advanced cervical cancer still have poor prognosis. There is an urgent need to provide a new insight on the mechanism of cervical cancer development and may be acted as new anticancer therapeutic strategies. Here, we review the ceRNA studies and coherent researches in cervical cancer, especially in long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and miRNAs in order to broaden horizons into mechanisms, selection biomarkers for diagnosis as well as predicting prognosis, and targeting treatment for cervical cancer in the future.

MicroRNA-21 and its impact on signaling pathways in cervical cancer

Oncogenic microRNA-21 (miR-21/miRNA-21) is a stable inhibitor of gene expression that is often upregulated in cervical cancer, a disease that affects the health of women and tends to transform and spread. Previous studies investigating miR-21 in biopsies and cells from cervical cancer patients have identified that miR-21 binds target mRNAs in signaling pathways or long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA). Furthermore, studies have elucidated the molecular mechanisms of two tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) signaling pathways that promote cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis. miR-21 inhibits the TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) signaling pathway and activates the TNFR2 signaling pathway. Moreover, miR-21 enhances cervical cancer cell proliferation by influencing the protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin and RAS p21 protein activator 1 signaling pathways. The present review discusses the evidence that miR-21 may impact cervical cancer through inhibiting apoptosis and enhancing proliferation, and may therefore be a target for clinical intervention.

Evaluation of pre-mir-34a rs72631823 single nucleotide polymorphism in triple negative breast cancer: A case-control study

Aim

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of pre-miR34a rs72631823 as potential risk factor and/or prognostic marker in patients with triple negative breast cancer.

Methods

114 samples of DNA from paraffin embedded breast normal tissues of patients with triple negative breast cancer and 124 samples of healthy controls were collected and analyzed for pre-miR34a rs72631823 polymorphism.

Results

Pre-miR34a rs72631823 A allele was associated with increased TNBC risk both in univariate and multivariate analysis. The number of pre-miR34a rs72631823 AA subjects was very small and the association did not reach significance (p = 0.176, Fisher’s exact test). The examined polymorphism was not associated with overall survival at the univariate or multivariate Cox regression analysis (adjusted HR = 1.60, 95%CI: 0.64–3.96 for miR34 rs72631823 GA/AA vs. GG).

Conclusion

Our case-control study suggests that pre-miR34a rs72631823 A allele is associated with increased triple negative breast cancer risk.

Impact of the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products Genetic Polymorphisms on the Progression in Uterine Cervical Cancer

To date, few studies have explored the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in uterine cervical cancer. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate the involvement of RAGE SNPs in cervical cancer. In total, 117 patients with cervical invasive cancer, 84 with precancerous lesions, and 320 normal women were recruited consecutively. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to examine the genotypic frequencies of RAGE SNPs. The results indicated that among the four RAGE SNPs, only the GT/TT genotype of rs184003 was distributed differently between patients with cervical neoplasias and the normal controls, with GG as a reference. Moreover, cervical cancer patients with genotypes TA/AA in rs1800624 exhibited a lower risk of parametrium invasion, moderate-to-poor cell differentiation, and pelvic lymph node metastasis. In conclusion, RAGE SNPs rs1800624 was associated with some clinicopathological variables in cervical cancer.

Association Between Genetic Polymorphisms of WNT1 Inducible Signaling Pathway Protein 1 and Uterine Cervical Cancer

To date, no study has investigated the involvement of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) in uterine cervical cancer. Therefore, we conducted this study to explore the clinical implications of WISP1 SNPs in cervical cancer. One hundred and fifteen patients with invasive cervical cancer, 95 patients with preinvasive lesions, and 316 normal controls were enrolled. The WISP1 SNPs rs62514004, rs2929973, rs2977530, and rs2977537 were selected, and their genotypic distributions were determined through real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our findings showed that genotypes AG/GG in WISP1 SNP rs2977530 reduced the risk of invasive cervical cancer with AA as a reference; however, these genotypes did not reduce the risk of preinvasive lesions. By contrast, genotype AA in WISP1 SNP rs2977537 elevated the risk of invasive cervical cancer with GG/GA as a reference, but it did not elevate the risk of preinvasive lesions. Moreover, an additional integrated in silico analysis indicated that WISP1 rs2977537 altered the WISP1 expression recorded in the Genotype-Tissue Expression database. In conclusion, genotypes AG/GG in WISP1 SNP rs2977530 reduce the susceptibility of Taiwanese women to invasive cervical cancer, whereas genotype AA in rs2977537 increases the said risk.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes of carbonic anhydrase 9 can predict invasive squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix

This study aimed to explore the involvement of carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the development of invasive cancer of uterine cervix for Taiwanese women. Ninety-seven patients with cervical invasive squamous cell carcinoma and 88 with preinvasive squamous cell lesions as well as 324 control women were recruited. Two CA9 SNPs in exons, including rs2071676 (+201, G/A) in exon 1 and rs3829078 (+1081, A/G) in exon 7, rs1048638 (+1584, C/A) in 3'-untranslated region of exon 11, as well as an 18-base pair deletion/insertion (376deltion393) in exon 1 were selected and their genotypic distributions were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Haplotype was then constructed with rs2071676, 376del393, rs3829078 and rs1048638 in order. The results revealed that Taiwanese women with genotypes CA or CA/AA in CA9 SNP rs1048638 displayed a more risk in developing cervical invasive cancer, assigning wild genotype CC as a reference. AA in SNP rs2071676 tended to increase the risk of developing cervical invasive cancer, using GG/GA as a reference. When women had the diplotypes, carrying at least one haplotype A1AA (one mutant allele A in rs2071676, no deletion in 376del393, no mutant allele A in rs3829078 and one mutant allele A in rs1048638), they were significantly susceptible to cervical invasive cancer. In conclusion, CA9 SNP rs1048638 and haplotype A1AA are associated with the susceptibility of cervical invasive squamous cell carcinoma for Taiwanese women.

WISP1 genetic variants as predictors of tumor development with urothelial cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) of the urinary bladder is a major malignancy of the genitourinary tract. Etiological factors, such as the environment, ethnicity, genetics, and diet, contribute to UCC carcinogenesis. WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1), also known as CCN4, a cysteine-rich protein belonging to the Cyr61, CTGF, Nov (CCN) family of matricellular proteins, has many developmental functions and might be involved in carcinogenesis. This study investigated WISP1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms to evaluate UCC susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze 4 single-nucleotide polymorphisms of WISP1 in 369 patients with UCC and 738 controls without cancer.

RESULTS

The results showed that in 128 women with UCC who carried WISP1 rs2929973 (AG + GG) variants had a higher risk of developing an advanced muscle-invasive tumor stage (pT2-pT4, P = 0.007) and a large tumor (T1-T4, P = 0.030). Further analyses revealed that a correlation between the expressions of WISP1 and invasive tumor and large tumor size in urothelial carcinoma was observed in the TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) dataset.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that patients with UCC carrying rs2977530 genetic variants (AG + GG) have a higher risk of developing a more invasive tumor stage and a large tumor. WISP1 polymorphisms may serve as a marker or a therapeutic target in UCC.