Genetic variants of lncRNA HOTAIR and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer among Chinese women

Comprehensive investigation of long non-coding RNA HOTAIR polymorphisms and cancer risk: a current meta-analysis encompassing 96,458 participants

Cancer ranks as the second leading cause of mortality worldwide, prompting extensive investigations into factors contributing to its development. Among these factors, genetic variations, known as genotypic polymorphisms, have been identified as significant influencers in the susceptibility to various types of cancer. Recent research has focused on exploring the connection between polymorphisms in the Long Non-coding RNA HOTAIR and cancer risk. However, the results from these studies have been inconsistent, leading to ambiguity and controversy. To address this uncertainty, we conducted a systematic analysis by gathering relevant studies from PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. Specifically, we focused on three well-studied polymorphisms within the HOTAIR lncRNA (HOTAIR rs920778 C > T, HOTAIR rs1899663 G > T, HOTAIR rs4759314 A > G) and their association with cancer risk. Our meta-analysis included data from 48 case-control studies involving 42,321 cases and 54,137 controls. The results of our updated meta-analysis revealed a significant correlation between HOTAIR rs1899663 G > T and HOTAIR rs4759314 A > G polymorphisms and overall cancer risk, particularly in the homozygous and recessive genetic models. Subgroup analysis further revealed that these associations were notably pronounced in the Asian population but not observed in the Iranian population. Furthermore, our findings underscore the potential of HOTAIR polymorphisms as diagnostic markers for overall cancer risk, particularly in gynecological cancers, precisely, HOTAIR rs1899663 G > T polymorphism in breast cancer. In conclusion, our systematic analysis provides compelling evidence that Long Non-coding RNA HOTAIR polymorphisms are linked to cancer risk, particularly in certain populations and cancer types, suggesting their potential clinical relevance as diagnostic indicators.

Angio-Long Noncoding RNA MALAT1 (rs3200401) and MIAT (rs1061540) Gene Variants in Ovarian Cancer

The genotyping of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could be associated with cancer risk and/or progression. This study aimed to analyze the angiogenesis-related lncRNAs MALAT1 (rs3200401) and MIAT (rs1061540) variants in patients with ovarian cancer (OC) using "Real-Time allelic discrimination polymerase chain reaction" in 182 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples of benign, borderline, and primary malignant ovarian tissues. Differences in the genotype frequencies between low-grade ovarian epithelial tumors (benign/borderline) and malignant tumors and between high-grade malignant epithelial tumors and malignant epithelial tumors other than high-grade serous carcinomas were compared. Odds ratios (ORs)/95% confidence intervals were calculated as measures of the association strength. Additionally, associations of the genotypes with the available pathological data were analyzed. The heterozygosity of MALAT1 rs3200401 was the most common genotype (47.8%), followed by C/C (36.3%). Comparing the study groups, no significant differences were observed regarding this variant. In contrast, the malignant epithelial tumors had a higher frequency of the MIAT rs1061540 C/C genotype compared to the low-grade epithelial tumor cohorts (56.7% vs. 37.6, p = 0.031). The same genotype was significantly higher in high-grade serous carcinoma than its counterparts (69.4% vs. 43.8%, p = 0.038). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the age at diagnosis was significantly associated with the risk of OC development. In contrast, the MIAT T/T genotype was associated with a low risk of malignant epithelial tumors under the homozygote comparison model (OR = 0.37 (0.16-0.83), p = 0.017). Also, MIAT T allele carriers were less likely to develop high-grade serous carcinoma under heterozygote (CT vs. CC; OR = 0.33 (0.12-0.88), p = 0.027) and homozygote (TT vs. CC; OR = 0.26 (0.07-0.90), p = 0.034) comparison models. In conclusion, our data provide novel evidence for a potential association between the lncRNA MIAT rs1061540 and the malignant condition of ovarian cancer, suggesting the involvement of such lncRNAs in OC development.

Long noncoding RNA polymorphisms in gynecological cancers

Gynecological malignancies are one of the main causes of cancer-induced mortality. Despite remarkable recent therapeutic advances, current therapeutic options are not sufficient. Regarding the effect of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) on cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis, variations in their expression cause different anomalies, such as tumorigenesis. SNPs influence lncRNA function and expression. LncRNA polymorphisms can predict cancer risk and are effective for early diagnosis and customized therapy. In this literature review, we comprehensively investigate the effect of lncRNA polymorphisms on gynecological cancers. LncRNA-related variants are proposed to evaluate cancer incidence, early detection and management of personalized therapy. Nonetheless, more studies are required to validate the consistency of current findings in numerous samples and across various ethnic groups.

Associations between non-coding RNAs genetic polymorphisms with ovarian cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis update with trial sequential analysis

BACKGROUND

This systemic review and meta-analysis seeks to systematically analyze and summarize the association between non-coding RNA polymorphisms and ovarian cancer risk.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Web of Science and CNKI for available articles on non-coding RNA polymorphisms in patients with ovarian cancer from inception to March 1, 2023. The quality of each study included in the meta-analysis was rated according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.Odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to assess associations. Chi-square Q-test combined with inconsistency index (I2) was used to test for heterogeneity among studies. Lastly, trial sequential analysis (TSA) software was used to verify the reliability of meta-analysis results, and in-silico miRNA expression were also performed. The meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO (No. CRD42023422091).

RESULTS

A total of 17 case-control studies with 18 SNPs were selected, including 2 studies with H19 rs2107425 and HOTAIR rs4759314, and 5 studies with miR-146a rs2910164 and miR-196a rs11614913. Significant associations were found between H19 rs2107425, miR-146a rs2910164, and miR-196a rs11614913 and ovarian cancer risk. Three genetic models of H19 rs2107425 (CT vs TT (heterozygote model): OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.22-1.52, P < .00001; CC + CT vs TT (dominant model): OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.02-1.24, P = .02; and CC vs CT + TT (recessive model): OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.16-1.31, P < .00001), 2 genetic models of miR-146a rs2910164 (allele model: OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.05-2.91, P = .03; and heterozygote model: OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.11-0.98, P = .05), 3 genetic models of miR-196a rs11614913 (allele model: OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.59-0.82, P < .0001; dominant model: OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.18-2.24, P = .0001; and recessive model: OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.57-0.87, P = .03) were statistically linked to ovarian cancer risk. Subgroup analysis for miR-146a rs2910164 was performed according to ethnicity. No association was found in any genetic model. The outcomes of TSA also validated the findings of this meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION

This study summarizes that H19 rs2107425, miR-146a rs2910164, and miR-196a rs11614913 polymorphisms are significantly linked with the risk of ovarian cancer, and moreover, large-scale and well-designed studies are needed to validate our result.

The association between single nucleotide polymorphisms and ovarian cancer risk: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and ovarian cancer (OC) risk remains controversial. This systematic review and network meta-analysis was aimed to determine the association between SNPs and OC risk.

METHODS

Several databases (PubMed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang databases, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and China Biology Medicine disc) were searched to summarize the association between SNPs and OC published throughout April 2021. Direct meta-analysis was used to identify SNPs that could predict the incidence of OC. Ranking probability resulting from network meta-analysis and the Thakkinstian's algorithm was used to select the most appropriate gene model. The false positive report probability (FPRP) and Venice criteria were further tested for credible relationships. Subgroup analysis was also carried out to explore whether there are racial differences.

RESULTS

A total of 63 genes and 92 SNPs were included in our study after careful consideration. Fok1 rs2228570 is likely a dominant risk factor for the development of OC compared to other selected genes. The dominant gene model of Fok1 rs2228570 (pooled OR = 1.158, 95% CI: 1.068-1.256) was determined to be the most suitable model with a FPRP <0.2 and moderate credibility.

CONCLUSIONS

Fok1 rs2228570 is closely linked to OC risk, and the dominant gene model is likely the most appropriate model for estimating OC susceptibility.

Insight into RNA-based Therapies for Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common malignancies in women and is associated with poor outcomes. The treatment for OC is often associated with resistance to therapies and hence this has stimulated the search for alternative therapeutic approaches, including RNA-based therapeutics. However, this approach has some challenges that include RNA degradation. To solve this critical issue, some novel delivery systems have been proposed. In current years, there has been growing interest in the improvement of RNAbased therapeutics as a promising approach to target ovarian cancer and improve patient outcomes. This paper provides a practical insight into the use of RNA-based therapeutics in ovarian cancers, highlighting their potential benefits, challenges, and current research progress. RNA-based therapeutics offer a novel and targeted approach to treat ovarian cancer by exploiting the unique characteristics of RNA molecules. By targeting key oncogenes or genes responsible for drug resistance, siRNAs can effectively inhibit tumor growth and sensitize cancer cells to conventional therapies. Furthermore, messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have emerged as a revolutionary tool in cancer immunotherapy. MRNA vaccines can be designed to encode tumor-specific antigens, stimulating the immune system to distinguish and eliminate ovarian cancer cells. A nano-based delivery platform improves the release of loaded RNAs to the target location and reduces the off-target effects. Additionally, off-target effects and immune responses triggered by RNA molecules necessitate careful design and optimization of these therapeutics. Several preclinical and clinical researches have shown promising results in the field of RNA-based therapeutics for ovarian cancer. In a preclinical study, siRNA-mediated silencing of the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) gene, involved in DNA repair, sensitized ovarian cancer cells to PARP inhibitors, leading to enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In clinical trials, mRNA-based vaccines targeting tumor-associated antigens have demonstrated safety and efficacy in stimulating immune responses in ovarian cancer patients. In aggregate, RNA-based therapeutics represent a promising avenue for the therapy of ovarian cancers. The ability to specifically target oncogenes or stimulate immune responses against tumor cells holds great potential for improving patient outcomes. However, further research is needed to address challenges related to delivery, permanence, and off-target effects. Clinical trials assessing the care and effectiveness of RNAbased therapeutics in larger patient cohorts are warranted. With continued advancements in the field, RNAbased therapeutics have the potential to develop the management of ovarian cancer and provide new hope for patients.

The effect of SNPs in lncRNA as ceRNA on the risk and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Most susceptible loci of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are located in non-coding regions, and the mechanism of action remains unclear. The objective of this study was to explore the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that affect competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) regulation mechanism with the risk and prognosis of HCC.

Methods

Based on a set of bioinformatics strategies, eight lncRNA genes that affect HCC through the mechanism of lncRNA-mediated ceRNA were systematically screened, and 15 SNPs that affect microRNA (miRNA) binding in these lncRNA genes were annotated. Genotyping was performed in 800 HCC cases and 801 healthy controls to examine associations of these SNPs with HCC in a northeastern Chinese Han population.

Results

The GG, GC and GG + GC genotypes of HOTAIR rs7958904 were associated with a 0.65, 0.59 and 0.63-fold decreased HCC risk, respectively. In addition, HCC patients with PVT1 rs3931282 AA + GA genotypes were less prone to develop late-stage cancers in a stratified analysis of clinical characteristics. When stratified by clinical biochemical indexes, rs1134492 and rs10589312 in PVT1 and rs84557 in EGFR-AS1 showed significant associations with aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or AST/ALT ratio in HCC patients. Furthermore, we constructed potential ceRNA regulatory axes that might be affected by five positive SNPs to explain the causes of these genetic associations.

Conclusions

HOTAIR rs7958904, PVT1 rs3931282, rs1134492 and rs10589312, and EGFR-AS1 rs84557 might be predictors for HCC risk or prognosis. Our results provide new insights into how SNPs on lncRNA-mediated ceRNAs confer interindividual differences to occurrence and progression of HCC.

Association between genetic variants (rs920778, rs4759314, and rs217727) in LncRNAs and cervical cancer susceptibility in Chinese population: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: The relationship between gene polymorphisms in long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) and cervical cancer susceptibility has been thoroughly analyzed; however, the conclusions are inconsistent. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to accurately assess the relationship between them. Method: Eligible literatures were retrieved from PubMed, Medline, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and WanFang databases before 1 April 2022. The odds ratios with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals were used to evaluate the strength of these relationships. Sensitivity analysis for publication bias was conducted to assess the stability and reliability of included literatures. Results: A total of 59 SNPs in 11 LncRNAs were summarized for a systematic review in this study, and then, a meta-analysis of rs920778 and rs4759314 polymorphisms in HOTAIR and rs217727 polymorphisms in H19 was conducted. The results demonstrated that rs920778 and rs4759314 polymorphisms were significantly correlated with cervical cancer susceptibility. Further subgroup analysis of rs920778 polymorphism showed that both small sample size and large sample size subgroups were associated with cervical cancer susceptibility. However, no association was found between rs217727 polymorphism and cervical cancer risk in all five genetic models. Conclusion: In conclusion, the rs4759314, rs920778, and rs217717 polymorphisms of HOTAIR and H19 may be associated with cervical cancer. However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the limited sample and heterogeneity in this study. Large-scale and well-designed studies need to be practiced to validate our results.

(In)Distinctive Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Common and Rare Ovarian Cancers

Rare ovarian cancers (ROCs) are OCs with an annual incidence of fewer than 6 cases per 100,000 women. They affect women of all ages, but due to their low incidence and the potential clinical inexperience in management, there can be a delay in diagnosis, leading to a poor prognosis. The underlying causes for these tumors are varied, but generally, the tumors arise due to alterations in gene/protein expression in cellular processes that regulate normal proliferation and its checkpoints. Dysregulation of the cellular processes that lead to cancer includes gene mutations, epimutations, non-coding RNA (ncRNA) regulation, posttranscriptional and posttranslational modifications. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) are defined as transcribed RNA molecules, more than 200 nucleotides in length which are not translated into proteins. They regulate gene expression through several mechanisms and therefore add another level of complexity to the regulatory mechanisms affecting tumor development. Since few studies have been performed on ROCs, in this review we summarize the mechanisms of action of lncRNA in OC, with an emphasis on ROCs.

Long non-coding RNAs: A view to kill ovarian cancer

An emerging role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumor progression has been revealed in the last decade. Through interactions with nucleic acids and proteins, lncRNAs could act as enhancers, scaffolds or decoys for a number of oncoproteins and tumor suppressors. The aberrant lncRNA expression or mutations are often associated with changes in a variety of cellular processes, including proliferation, stress response and cell death. Here, we will focus on the tumor-associated lncRNAs in ovarian cancer according to their contribution to cancer hallmarks, such as intense proliferation, cell death resistance, altered energy metabolism, invasion and metastasis, and immune evasion. Moreover, the potential clinical implications of lncRNAs and their significance for the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of ovarian cancer will be discussed.

Non-Coding RNAs as Biomarkers of Tumor Progression and Metastatic Spread in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Simple Summary

Despite advances in cancer research in recent years, efficient predictive biomarkers of tumor progression and metastatic spread for ovarian cancer are still missing. Therefore, we critically address recent findings in the field of non-coding RNAs (microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs) and DNA methylation in ovarian cancer patients as promising novel biomarkers of ovarian cancer progression.

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common causes of death among gynecological malignancies. Molecular changes occurring in the primary tumor lead to metastatic spread into the peritoneum and the formation of distant metastases. Identification of these changes helps to reveal the nature of metastases development and decipher early biomarkers of prognosis and disease progression. Comparing differences in gene expression profiles between primary tumors and metastases, together with disclosing their epigenetic regulation, provides interesting associations with progression and metastasizing. Regulatory elements from the non-coding RNA families such as microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs seem to participate in these processes and represent potential molecular biomarkers of patient prognosis. Progress in therapy individualization and its proper targeting also rely upon a better understanding of interactions among the above-listed factors. This review aims to summarize currently available findings of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs linked with tumor progression and metastatic process in ovarian cancer. These biomolecules provide promising tools for monitoring the patient’s response to treatment, and further they serve as potential therapeutic targets of this deadly disease.

Genetic impacts on thermostability of onco-lncRNA HOTAIR during the development and progression of endometriosis

HOTAIR is a well-known long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) involved in various cellular signaling, whereas its functional impacts on endometriosis development are still largely unknown. To this end, six potential functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HOTAIR, with minor allele frequencies more than 10% in Han population and altered net energy of RNA structures larger than 0.5 kcal/mol, were selected for genotyping study. The study included 207 endometriosis patients and 200 healthy women. Genetic substitutions at rs1838169 and rs17720428 were frequently found in endometriosis patients, and rs1838169 showed statistical significance (p = 0.0174). The G-G (rs1838169-rs17720428) haplotype showed the most significant association with endometriosis (p < 0.0001) with enhanced HOTAIR stability, and patients who harbor such haplotype tended to show higher CA125. Data mining further revealed higher mRNA HOTAIR levels in the endometria of patients with severe endometriosis which consistently showed reduced HOXD10 and HOXA5 levels. HOTAIR knockdown with specific shRNAs down-regulated cell proliferation and migration with the induction of HOXD10 and HOXA5 expression in human ovarian clear cancer cells. Our study therefore provided evidence to indicate a prominent role of HOTAIR in promoting endometriosis, which could be used as a potential target for clinical applications.

Contributions of HOTAIR polymorphisms to the susceptibility of cancer

OBJECTIVE

Hox transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR), a lncRNA, functions as a critical regulator in cancer development. A plenty of case-control studies were conducted to assess the actual relationship of HOTAIR gene generic variants on cancer susceptibility, yet conflicting conclusions remain. Herein, we carried out this up-to-date meta-analysis to get a better understanding of such relationship by incorporating all eligible case-control studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Six widely investigated polymorphisms were included in this meta-analysis: rs920778, rs4759314, rs7958904, rs874945, rs1899663, and rs12826786. We retrieved relevant studies from databases PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, CNKI and Wanfang update to June 2020. We applied odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to estimate the relationship strengths.

RESULTS

Our findings indicate that rs920778, rs4759314, rs874945, rs12826786 polymorphism significantly increased with susceptibility to overall cancer. However, rs7958904, rs1899663 under any five genetic models could not impact susceptibility to overall cancer. Furthermore, altered cancer risk was detected when the data were stratified by cancer type, ethnicity, the source of controls, and HWE in all the SNPs.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings of the meta-analysis suggest that HOTAIR polymorphisms may predispose to cancer susceptibility.

Associations between HOTAIR polymorphisms rs4759314, rs920778, rs1899663, and rs7958904 and risk of primary ovarian insufficiency in Korean women

BACKGROUND

We investigated the association between the Hox transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) polymorphisms rs4759314, rs920778, rs1899663, and rs7958904 and primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) in Korean women.

METHODS

We conducted a case-control study of 134 Korean women with POI and 383 control individuals with at least one live birth and no history of pregnancy loss.

RESULTS

The GT genotype of rs1899663 was associated with a decreased risk of POI compared with other genotypes at that locus. In addition, compared with the wild-type homozygous genotypes, the combination of the AA genotype of rs4759314 and the GC genotype of rs7958904 was associated with a decreased risk of POI (P < 0.05), whereas the combination of the GG genotype of rs1899663 and the GC genotype of rs7958904 was associated with an increased risk of POI (P = 0.003). Haplotype analysis revealed that certain haplotypes involving some or all of the polymorphisms were associated with a decreased risk of POI, whereas other haplotypes were associated with an increased risk of POI. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and estradiol differed between patients with POI and control individuals (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the HOTAIR polymorphisms rs4759314, rs920778, rs1899663, and rs7958904 are involved in POI.

Association between HOTAIR genetic polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility: A meta-analysis involving 122,832 subjects

The association between polymorphisms in HOTAIR gene and cancer susceptibility has been analyzed intensively, but the conclusions are inconsistent. Therefore, we carried out a meta-analysis aiming to assess the relationship exactly. Eligible studies were searched in PubMed and Embase databases up to October 31, 2019. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the strength of association. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias were applied to evaluate the reliability of the study. Moreover, TSA was conducted to estimate the robustness of the results. Totally, 116 studies involving 122,832 subjects were analyzed in our meta-analysis. Significant increased risk of cancer was detected for the rs4759314, rs920778, rs1899663, rs12826786 and rs874945 polymorphisms. Further subgroup analyses according to cancer type revealed that different polymorphisms were associated with the risk of specific type of cancer. For example, the rs4759314 polymorphism was significantly associated with the risk of estrogen-dependent cancer, whereas the rs920778 polymorphism was associated with the risk of gastrointestinal cancer. In conclusion, our findings indicated that the rs4759314, rs920778, rs1899663, rs12826786 and rs874945 polymorphisms in HOTAIR may serve as genetic biomarkers of cancer.

A comprehensive review of the role of long non-coding RNAs in organs with an endocrine function

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts with sizes larger than 200 nucleotides and no/ small open reading frame that cannot produce functional proteins. The number of these transcripts surpasses the number of coding genes. LncRNAs regulate many aspects of cell functions such as proliferation, cell cycle transition and differentiation; so their dysregulation has pervasive effects on cell phenotype. Increasing numbers of these transcripts have been shown to participate in the pathogenesis of cancer. In the current review, we summarize recent findings regarding the role of lncRNAs in tumors originated from organs which have an endocrine function. We mostly focused on adrenal, pancreas and pituitary gland as prototypes of these organs. Moreover, we presented the obtained data of the role of lncRNAs in prostate, ovarian and testicular cancers. Recent data highly supports the role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of cancers originated from these organs. Moreover, certain genomic loci within lncRNAs have been shown to be associated with risk of these cancers. Diagnostic and prognostic role of some lncRNAs in these cancers have been evaluated recently. Taken together, lncRNAs are putative biomarkers for cancers originated from organs which have an endocrine function.

Long Non-coding RNAs Involved in Resistance to Chemotherapy in Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) accounts for more than 150,000 deaths worldwide every year. Patients are often diagnosed at an advanced stage with metastatic dissemination. Although platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapies are effective treatment options, they are rarely curative and eventually, the disease will progress due to acquired resistance. Emerging evidence suggests a crucial role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the response to therapy in OC. Transcriptome profiling studies using high throughput approaches have identified differential expression patterns of lncRNAs associated with disease recurrence. Furthermore, several aberrantly expressed lncRNAs in resistant OC cells have been related to increased cell division, improved DNA repair, up-regulation of drug transporters or reduced susceptibility to apoptotic stimuli, supporting their involvement in acquired resistance. In this review, we will discuss the key aspects of lncRNAs associated with the development of resistance to platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy in OC. The molecular landscape of OC will be introduced, to provide a background for understanding the role of lncRNAs in the acquisition of malignant properties. We will focus on the interplay between lncRNAs and molecular pathways affecting drug response to evaluate their impact on treatment resistance. Additionally, we will discuss the prospects of using lncRNAs as biomarkers or targets for precision medicine in OC. Although there is still plenty to learn about lncRNAs and technical challenges to be solved, the evidence of their involvement in OC and the development of acquired resistance are compelling and warrant further investigation for clinical applications.

Association study of long non-coding RNA HOTAIR rs920778 polymorphism with the risk of cancer in an elderly Japanese population

The HOTAIR gene encodes a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), which functions in development and tumorigenesis. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs920778 in the HOTAIR gene, has been recurrently studied for susceptibility to many cancers including oesophageal cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Most of these studies were conducted in Chinese populations, and a few in Turkish, Iranian, and Portuguese populations. They mostly give rise to controversial results. It still remains largely unknown whether the cancer risk is conferred in a Japanese population. Here, we established an association study on the representative SNP rs920778, to examine its contribution to the presence of cancer in consecutive autopsy cases in the JG-SNP database. A total of 1373 subjects (mean age 80) including 827 cancer positive and 546 cancer negative subjects were analyzed. As a result, the occurrence of overall cancer was not associated with the rs920778 polymorphism (p > 0.05). For each cancer type, we did not find association except for lung cancer (p = 0.04) which was more likely a by-chance association after multiple testing. Our findings imply that rs920778 polymorphism does not affect total cancer presence and the effect on specific cancer types is also weak in the Japanese population.

miR-200c overexpression inhibits the invasion and tumorigenicity of epithelial ovarian cancer cells by suppressing lncRNA HOTAIR in mice

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a common ovarian cancer in gynecological cancers today. It has been found that microRNAs and long-chain noncoding RNA (lncRNA) regulate the gene transcriptional expression in cells. However, it is not well understood that the upstream and downstream regulatory molecules of lncRNA HOX antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR). The effects of miR-200c overexpression on the invasion and nude mouse tumorigenicity, as well as lncRNA HOTAIR and snail expression of EOC SKOV3 cells, should be further explored. The expression of miR-200c and lncRNA HOTAIR was detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) in EOC SKOV3 cells. The whole miR-200c gene fragment was cloned into a lentiviral plasmid vector. The miR-200c expression in transducted SKOV3 cells with reconstructed miR-200c lentivirus was significantly higher than the negative control (P < .01). The lentivirus-miR-200c-SKOV3 cells show that the invasion ability was significantly decreased compared with the negative control (P < .01). The nude mouse tumorigenicity was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group (P < .01). The snail protein expression in lentivirus-miR-200c-SKOV3 xenograft tumor was significantly decreased compared with the negative control lentivirus-SKOV3 group (P < .05). The miR-200c overexpression significantly decreased the expressions of lncRNA HOTAIR and snail, but increased E-cadherin expression in the lentivirus-miR-200c transducted SKOV3 cells of xenograft tumor, compared with the negative control (P < .05). The miR-200c overexpression in SKOV3 cells with transducted lentivirus-miR-200c can inhibit lncRNA HOTAIR expression, decrease snail, increase E-cadherin and significantly reduce the invasion and tumorigenicity of EOC SKOV3 cells. These results suggest that the miR-200c and lncRNA HOTAIR could be effective therapeutic targets for human epithelial ovarian cancer treatment.

Retracted: The role of HOTAIR-induced downregulation of microRNA-126 and interleukin-13 in the development of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in neonates

Long noncoding RNAs, including HOTAIR, are involved in the pathogenesis of a wide range of diseases. This study aimed to explore the mechanism underlying the involvement of HOTAIR in neonatal bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). A total of 105 newborns were recruited in this study to collect their peripheral blood mononuclear cell and serum samples, which were then divided into different genotype groups based on the genotypes of rs4759314, rs874945, and rs7958904. The real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis, computational analyses, and luciferase assays were performed to establish the regulatory relationships between the HOTAIR, microRNA-126 (miR-126), and interleukin-13 (IL-13). The level of HOTAIR, miR-126, and IL-13 among rs4759314 AA, AG, and GG groups, as well as among rs874945 GG, AG, and AA groups was similar. However, the level of HOTAIR was increased in the rs7958904 GG group, accompanied by a decreased level of miR-126 and IL-13. In addition, the level of airway responsiveness was comparable among rs4759314 AA, AG, and GG groups, as well as among rs874945 GG, AG, and AA groups. However, the airway responsiveness in the groups rs7958904 CG and CC was much stronger than that of the GG group. We also demonstrated that, by directly binding to miR-126, HOTAIR reduced the expression of miR-126, which in turn decreased the expression of IL-13. In summary, we demonstrated the role of HOTAIR-induced downregulation of miR-126 and IL-13 in the development of BHR in neonates.

Impact of HOTAIR variants on preeclampsia susceptibility based on blood and placenta and in silico analysis

HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) as a lncRNA involves in epigenetic regulation of various genes. Several studies have been suggested the effects of HOTAIR polymorphisms on different diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of maternal and placental HOTAIR polymorphisms on risk of preeclampsia (PE). The maternal blood of 203 preeclamptic and 202 nonpreeclamptic pregnant women as well as the placentas of 87 of preeclamptic and 95 nonpreeclamptic pregnant women were genotyped for HOTAIR polymorphisms. There was no association between maternal and placental HOTAIR polymorphisms (rs12826786, rs920778, and rs1899663) and PE risk. However, the maternal rs4759314AG and dominant model genotypes were associated with increased risk of PE. The maternal and placental HOTAIR rs10783618 polymorphism was associated with PE risk in recessive and allelic models. Haplotype analysis showed that, the maternal CTGAT and CCTAT and placental CTGAT haplotypes were significantly higher and maternal CTGAC, TCTAT, and TTGAT and placental CTGAC haplotypes were significantly lower in PE women. In silico analysis revealed that HOTAIR rs1899663 had a main effect on the secondary structure of mRNA, however, HOTAIR rs4759314 variant had potential alteration of splicing. In conclusion, the maternal and placental HOTAIR rs10783618 polymorphism might increase PE susceptibility. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 71(9):1367-1381, 2019.

lncRNA MEG3 modified epithelial-mesenchymal transition of ovarian cancer cells by sponging miR-219a-5p and regulating EGFR

This study was aimed to verify whether there existed any associations between long noncoding RNA MEG3/miR-219a-5p/EGFR axis and the development of ovarian cancer (OC). As a whole, we gathered 317 pairs of OC tissues and surgical marginal normal tissues and simultaneously acquired four OC cell lines (ie, A2780, Caov-3, OVCAR-3, and SKOV-3) and human normal ovarian surface epithelial cell line. Moreover, pcDNA3.1-MEG3, si-MEG3, miR-219a-5p mimic, miR-219a-5p inhibitor, pcDNA3.1-EGFR, and si-EGFR were, respectively, transfected into the OC cells, and their impacts on viability, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration of OC cells were assessed via conduction of MTT assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry assay, transwell assay, and scratch assay. Ultimately, dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to testify the targeted relationships among maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3), miR-219a-5p, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR). It was indicated that underexpressed MEG3 and miR-219a-5p were significantly associated with unfavorable prognosis of patients with OC when compared with overexpressed MEG3 and miR-219a-5p (P < .05). In addition, the OC cells transfected with si-MEG3 or miR-219a-5p inhibitor exhibited stronger viability, proliferation, invasion, and migration than untreated cells (P < .05). Correspondingly, the apoptotic percentage of OC cells was reduced observably under treatments of si-MEG3 and miR-219a-5p inhibitor (P < .05). Moreover, MEG3 exerted modulatory effects on the expression of miR-219a-5p (P < .05), and there was a sponging relationship between them (P < .05). Finally, EGFR expression was modified by both MEG3 and miR-219a-5p significantly (P < .05), and raising EGFR expression could changeover the impacts of MEG3 and miR-219a-5p on the above-mentioned activity of OC cells (P < .05). Conclusively, MEG3 could serve as a promising biomarker for diagnosis and treatment of OC, considering its involvement with OC etiology via regulation of miR-219a-5p/EGFR axis.

Association of HOTAIR gene polymorphisms and haplotypes with uterine leiomyoma susceptibility in southeast of Iran

Uterine leiomyoma (UL) is the most common benign tumor of the uterus. HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) as a lncRNAs is the product of HOXC gene that plays a major role in the invasion and development of different tumors. Several lines of evidence have been suggested the effects of HOTAIR polymorphisms on cancer risk. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of HOTAIR polymorphisms (rs12826786, rs920778, rs4759314 and rs1899663) on UL in southeast of Iran. A total of 152 women with UL and 182 age-matched healthy women were selected in the case-control study. The PCR-RFLP and ARMS-PCR methods were used for genotyping. HOTAIR rs920778 polymorphism was associated with a lower risk of UL in dominant [OR, 0.5 (95% CI, 0.3-0.9); P = 0.03], recessive [OR, 0.6 (95% CI, 0.4-0.9; P = 0.016] and allelic models [OR, 0.6(95% CI, 0.5-0.9); P = 0.004]. However, HOTAIR rs12826786 polymorphism was associated with a higher risk of UL in dominant [OR, 2.6 (95% CI, 1.6-4.1); P = 0.0001], recessive [OR, 1.9 (95% CI, 1-3.6); P = 0.04] and allelic models [OR, 1.8 (95% CI, 1.3-2.4); P = 0.0003]. There was no association between HOTAIR rs4759314 and rs1899663 polymorphisms and UL susceptibility. The frequency of CTGA haplotype was lower in UL women; however, the CCGA, TCGA, TTTA, and TTGA haplotypes were more frequent in UL women. Our results indicated that HOTAIR rs12826786 and rs920778 polymorphisms had a significant effect on UL susceptibility. The HOTAIR haplotypes could affect UL susceptibility.

Microarray profiling and co-expression network analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs in ovarian cancer

Dysregulated long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis and development of human diseases, such as epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). In this study, we identified EOC-related lncRNAs and performed lncRNA and mRNA microarray analyses using IOSE80, a normal ovary cell line, and two ovarian carcinoma cell lines (SKOV3 and SKOV3/DDP) to investigate the potential roles of lncRNAs in EOC. lncRNA-HEIH expression in EOC tissues and cell lines was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In addition, we generated a lncRNA–mRNA co-expression network in order to identify lncRNA-expression trends and potential lncRNA target genes. Cell viability, migration, and invasion were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8, transwell assay, and wound-healing assay, respectively, and apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. We identified 3527 differentially expressed lncRNAs upon comparison of the lncRNA profiles from IOSE80 with those of SKOV3 cell lines, with 11 differentially expressed lncRNAs confirmed by qPCR. Both pathway and gene ontology analyses demonstrated the involvement of lncRNAs, especially HEIH and LINC-PINT, in multiple biological processes. Furthermore, in vitro knockdown experiments confirmed that suppression of HEIH expression inhibited EOC cell proliferation. Our findings provide a foundation for further research into the role of these lncRNAs in EOC carcinogenesis and progression.

Long noncoding RNA SNHG15 serves as an oncogene and predicts poor prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer

Objective

This study aims to investigate the functional role of long noncoding RNA SNHG15 in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Materials and methods

The expression of SNHG15 was measured in EOC cells and tissues using qRT-PCR. The correlation of SNHG15 expression and the clinicopathological characters was statistically analyzed. The prognosis of patients with different clinical features in the high/low SNHG15 expression groups were calculated. Moreover, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The effect of SNHG15 on the migration and invasion was evaluated using Transwell and Matrigel, respectively. The proliferation ability of EOC cells was tested using colony formation and MTT assay. The influence of SNHG15 on the cisplatin resistance was detected by measuring cell inhibition rate and cell viability.

Results

SNHG15 was upegulated in EOC cells and tissues. High SNHG15 expression was correlated with EOC progression and predicted poor OS and PFS in different subgroups of EOC patients. Moreover, multivariate Cox regression analysis defined high SNHG15 expression as an independent risk factor for poor OS and PFS. Furthermore, functional assays showed that the overexpression of SNHG15 promoted migration and invasion, while the loss of SNHG15 suppressed migration and invasion. Furthermore, the proliferation of EOC cells was improved after the ectopic expression of SNHG15, which was suppressed with SNHG15 deficiency. In addition, cisplatin-resistant EOC cells were established for detecting the effect of SNHG15 on EOC chemoresistance. The results showed that cisplatin-resistant EOC cells exhibited much higher levels of SNHG15 expression than controls, and SNHG15 contributed to the chemoresistance of EOC cells.

Conclusion

This study confirms that SNHG15 contributes to the migration, invasion, proliferation, and chemoresistance of EOC. SNHG15 may serve as a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker of EOC patients.

LncRNAs in ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies and has a poor prognosis. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as key regulators of cancer development. Studies have shown that the dysregulation of lncRNAs is frequently observed in ovarian cancer and greatly contributes to malignant phenotypical changes. In this review, we provide perspectives on the involvement of lncRNAs in the proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration, invasion, metastasis and drug resistance of ovarian cancer based on recent discoveries. Then, we discuss the role of lncRNAs in predicting the prognosis of ovarian cancer. Finally, we provide insight into the potential of lncRNAs for evaluating the diagnosis and prognosis of ovarian cancer.

HOTAIR, a long noncoding RNA, is a marker of abnormal cell cycle regulation in lung cancer

Dysregulation of the cell cycle is a key indicator of tumors, including lung cancer. Recently, the study of cell cycle inhibitors has made great progress in relation to lung cancer. However, the question of what kinds of patients can use cell cycle inhibitors has plagued us. Therefore, seeking an accurate and convenient marker for the abnormal cell cycle in lung cancer is very important. In the present research, we showed that lncRNA HOTAIR is an optimal indicator of cell cycle dysregulation in lung cancer. In the present study, we investigated HOTAIR‐specific expression in lung primary tumor samples by analyzing the TCGA public database and 67 pairs of patients’ tissues collected from our department. Through the TCGA public database KEGG analysis, HOTAIR correlates with the cell cycle pathway. We identified that HOTAIR and its 2 segments, HOTAIR3′ and HOTAIR5′, promote the cell cycle passing through the restriction point during G1‐S phase by regulating the Rb‐E2F pathway and influence non–small‐cell lung cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion through epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the β‐catenin pathway in vitro and vivo. Finally, we showed that the high expression of HOTAIR was associated with resistance to gefitinib through the dysregulated cell cycle. In conclusion, HOTAIR could be an ideal indicator of cell cycle dysregulation and guide the use of cell cycle inhibitors.

Association between the HOTAIR polymorphisms and cancer risk: an updated meta-analysis

Purpose

LncRNA HOTAIR plays an important role in many cancer. Several studies have shown that some HOTAIR SNPs might be associated with tumor risk in case-control studies, but the results are inconsistent and inconclusive. Therefore, it is necessary to better evaluate association between the HOTAIR SNPs and the risk of cancer.

Results

rs920778, rs7958904 and rs874945 but not rs4759314 and rs1899663 loci were significantly related to cancer risk, among of which rs920778 and rs874945 increased and rs7958904 decreased cancer risk, respectively. Moreover, rs920778 is significantly susceptible in both Asian population and digestive cancer risks.

Materials and Methods

Data were collected from PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. A total of 11 case-control studies were selected for the quantitative analysis. Software Stata (Version 12) was used to calculate Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to evaluate the strength of the associations. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were also performed. Five HOTAIR SNPs were finally enrolled in the study.

Conclusions

HOTAIR SNP rs920778, rs7958904 and rs874945 are susceptible to cancer risk. SNP rs920778 is also a useful risk factor in evaluation of Asian population and digestive cancer. In addition, the cancer risk SNP rs874945 is first reported in the meta-analysis.

Long non-coding RNA HOTAIR polymorphism and susceptibility to cancer: an updated meta-analysis

Background

An increasing number of publications are drawing attention to the associations between six common polymorphisms in HOX transcript anti-sense RNA (HOTAIR) and the risk of cancers, while these results have been controversial and inconsistent. We conducted an up-to-date meta-analysis to pool eligible studies and to further explore the possible relationships between HOTAIR polymorphisms (rs920778, rs7958904, rs12826786, 4,759,314, rs874945, and rs1899663) and cancer risk.

Methods

A systematic retrieval was conducted up to 1 July 2017 in the PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI databases. Eighteen eligible publications including 45 case-control studies with 58,601subjects were enrolled for assessing the associations between the 6 polymorphisms in HOTAIR and cancer risk. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analyzed to reveal the polymorphisms and susceptibility to cancer. All the statistical analyses were performed using STATA 11.0 software.

Results

The pooled analyses detected significant associations between the rs920778 polymorphism and increased susceptibility to cancer in recessive, dominant, allelic, homozygous, and heterozygous models. For the rs7958904 polymorphism, we obtained the polymorphism significantly decreased susceptibility to overall cancer risk among five genetic models rather than recessive and homozygous models. For the rs12826786 polymorphism, we identified it significantly increased susceptibility to cancer risk in all genetic models rather than heterozygous models. However, no significant association was found between the rs1899663, rs874945, and rs4759314 polymorphisms and susceptibility of cancer.

Conclusion

These findings of the meta-analysis suggest that HOTAIR polymorphism may contribute to cancer susceptibility.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12199-018-0697-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The association between HOTAIR polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility: an updated systemic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

This work aims to explore whether HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) polymorphisms are associated with cancer susceptibility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted for literature published from January 2007 to July 2017. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% CIs were calculated using the Revman 5.2 software. Eighteen articles of 36 case-control studies were enrolled including six HOTAIR polymorphisms and 10 cancer types.

RESULTS

The results showed that cancer risk was elevated in recessive mutation of rs12826786 (TT vs CC+CT: OR =1.55, 95% CI =1.19, 2.03; TT+CT vs CC: OR =1.23, 95% CI =1.04, 1.46; TT vs CC: OR =1.67, 95% CI =1.24, 2.24; T vs C: OR =1.24, 95% CI =1.09, 1.40) and rs920778 (TT vs CC+CT: OR =1.73, 95% CI =1.30, 2.30; TT+CT vs CC: OR =1.40, 95% CI =1.16, 1.70; TT vs CC: OR =1.83, 95% CI =1.25, 2.68; T vs C: OR =1.37, 95% CI =1.18, 1.59), while the results for polymorphisms of rs7958904, rs4759314, rs874945, and rs1899663 were insignificant. The stratified results for Chinese population were consistent with the overall group analysis.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis showed that HOTAIR polymorphisms of rs12826786 and rs920778 were correlated with increased cancer risk, while rs7958904, rs4759314, rs874945, and rs1899663 were not. More studies with different types of cancer are needed to confirm the findings.

Expression and clinical role of long non-coding RNA in high-grade serous carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To profile long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression at the various anatomic sites of high-grades serous carcinoma (HGSC) and in effusion-derived exosomes.

METHODS

LncRNA profiling was performed on 60 HGSC specimens, including 10 ovarian tumors, 10 solid metastases and 10 malignant effusions, as well as exosomes from 30 effusion supernatants. Anatomic site-related expression of ESRG, Link-A, GAS5, MEG3, GATS, PVT1 H19, Linc-RoR, HOTAIR and MALAT1 was validated by quantitative PCR and assessed for clinical relevance in a series of 77 HGSC effusions, 40 ovarian carcinomas, 21 solid metastases and 42 supernatant exosomes.

RESULTS

Significantly different (p<0.05) expression of 241, 406 and 3634 lncRNAs was found in comparative analysis of the ovarian tumors to solid metastases, effusions and exosomes, respectively. Cut-off at two-fold change in lncRNA expression identified 54 lncRNAs present at the 3 anatomic sites and in exosomes. Validation analysis showed significantly different expression of 5 of 10 lncRNAs in the 4 specimen groups (ESRG, Link-A, MEG3, GATS and PVT1, all p<0.001). Higher ESRG levels in HGSC effusions were associated with longer overall survival in the entire effusion cohort (p=0.023) and in patients with pre-chemotherapy effusions tapped at diagnosis (p=0.048). Higher Link-A levels were associated with better overall (p=0.015) and progression-free (p=0.023) survival for patients with post-chemotherapy effusions. Link-A was an independent prognostic marker in Cox multivariate analysis in the latter group (p=0.045).

CONCLUSIONS

We present the first evidence of differential LncRNA expression as function of anatomic site in HGSC. LncRNA levels in HGSC effusions are candidate prognostic markers.

Up-regulation of long non-coding RNA SNHG20 promotes ovarian cancer progression via Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Long non-coding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 20 (SNHG20) has been demonstrated to play crucial regulatory roles in many types of cancer. However, the biological function of long ncRNA (lncRNA) SNHG20 in ovarian cancer is still unclear. In the present study, we found that lncRNA SNHG20 was significantly increased in ovarian cancer. In addition, lncRNA SNHG20 knockdown suppressed the ovarian cancer progression, whereas overexpression of SNHG20 showed the opposite effects. Moreover, our results also revealed that lncRNA SNHG20 knockdown inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity by suppressing β-catenin expression and reversing the downstream target gene expression. Taken together, lncRNA SNHG20 plays an pivotal role in ovarian cancer progression by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

HOTAIR Long Non-coding RNA: Characterizing the Locus Features by the In Silico Approaches

HOTAIR is an lncRNA that has been known to have an oncogenic role in different cancers. There is limited knowledge of genetic and epigenetic elements and their interactions for the gene encoding HOTAIR. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanism and its regulation remains to be challenging. We used different in silico analyses to find genetic and epigenetic elements of HOTAIR gene to gain insight into its regulation. We reported different regulatory elements including canonical promoters, transcription start sites, CpGIs as well as epigenetic marks that are potentially involved in the regulation of HOTAIR gene expression. We identified repeat sequences and single nucleotide polymorphisms that are located within or next to the CpGIs of HOTAIR. Our analyses may help to find potential interactions between genetic and epigenetic elements of HOTAIR gene in the human tissues and show opportunities and limitations for researches on HOTAIR gene in future studies.

Polymorphisms of long non-coding RNA HOTAIR with breast cancer susceptibility and clinical outcomes for a southeast Chinese Han population

Hox transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) is a well-known long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) which participates in tumorigenesis and progress of multiple cancers. However, the associations among polymorphisms on HOTAIR, breast cancer (BC) susceptibility and clinical outcomes have remained obscure. In this case-control study, we assessed the interaction between three lncRNA HOTAIR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1899663, rs4759314 and rs7958904) on the risk and clinical outcome of breast cancer in a Chinese Han population. In total, 969 breast cancer cases and 970 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Associations among genotypes, BC risk and survival were evaluated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression to estimate the odds ratio (OR), hazard ratio (HR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI). The disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method. We found that the T allele of rs1899663 and C allele of rs7958904 both achieved significant differences between cases and controls in the single locus analyses (P = 0.017 and 0.010, respectively). Multivariate analyses also revealed the rs1899663 TT genotype and rs7958904 CC genotype were both at higher risk of breast cancer compared with the GG homozygotes (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.20–3.60 and OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.01–2.08, respectively). In survival analysis, we observed that the T allele of rs1899663 presented significant differences for both DFS (HR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.12–2.40) and OS (HR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.29–3.42) in younger subjects (age ≤ 40). Our findings may provide new insights into the associations among the genetic susceptibility, the fine classifications and the prognosis of breast cancer. Further studies with larger sample size and functional research should also be conducted to validate our findings and better elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms.

The regulatory roles of long non-coding RNAs in the development of chemoresistance in breast cancer

Chemoresistance is one of the major hurdles in the treatment of breast cancer, which limits the effect of both targeted and conventional therapies in clinical settings. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underpinning resistance is paramount for developing strategies to circumvent resistance in breast cancer patients. Several published reports have indicated that lncRNAs play a dynamic role in the regulation of both intrinsic and acquired chemoresistance through a variety of mechanisms that endow cells with a drug-resistant phenotype. Although a number of lncRNAs have been implicated in chemoresistance of breast cancer, their mechanistic roles have not been systematically reviewed. Thus, here we present a detailed review on the latest research findings and discoveries on the mechanisms of acquisition of chemoresistance in breast cancer related to lncRNAs, and how lncRNAs take part in various cancer signalling pathways involved in breast cancer cells. Knowledge obtained from this review could assist in the development of new strategies to avoid or reverse drug resistance in breast cancer chemotherapy.

Quantitative assessment of lncRNA HOTAIR polymorphisms and cancer risk in Chinese population: a meta-analysis based on 26,810 subjects

As a well-known long non-coding RNA, HOTAIR has been demonstrated to be involved in carcinogenesis and progression of various human cancers. Previous studies have investigated the potential association between HOTAIR polymorphisms and cancer risk in Chinese population. However, the results remain conflicting. Therefore, for the first time, we conducted a meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation of these associations for Chinese. PubMed, Embase, CNKI and Wanfang databases were systematically searched. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were applied to assess the association between rs920778, rs4759314, rs7958904, rs874945 and rs1899663 polymorphisms of HOTAIR and cancer susceptibility. Heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis and publication bias were conducted to measure the robustness of our findings. A total of 21 eligible studies comprising 12,278 cases and 14,532 controls were analyzed. The pooled data showed that rs920778 polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased cancer risk in all five genetic models in Chinese population. As for rs4759314 and rs874945 polymorphisms, similarly increased risks were found in specific genetic models and stratified groups. However, significant decreases in cancer risk were observed for rs7958904 in the total population, as well as in subgroup analyses. In addition, lack of association was detected between rs1899663 polymorphism and cancer susceptibility. In summary, our meta-analysis implicates possible relationship between HOTAIR polymorphisms and cancer risk in Chinese population.

HOTAIR: a key regulator in gynecologic cancers

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in the initiation and progression of human cancers. HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) is an lncRNA localized to the mammalian HOXC gene cluster; it can interact with polycomb repressive complex 2 and the lysine-specific histone demethylase/CoREST/REST complex, and it manipulates the expression of various genes. HOTAIR promotes tumor invasion and metastasis by silencing tumor suppressors, and activating oncogenes and signaling pathways. HOTAIR is deregulated in many human cancers; despite its critical roles in health and disease, the underlying mechanisms governing HOTAIR function are unknown. In this review, we summarize the recent findings on the roles of HOTAIR in gynecologic cancers.

Clinical roles of the aberrantly expressed lncRNAs in lung squamous cell carcinoma: a study based on RNA-sequencing and microarray data mining

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) accounts for a significant proportion of lung cancer and there have been few therapeutic alternatives for recurrent LUSC due to the lack of specific driver molecules. To investigate the prospective role of lncRNAs in the tumorigenesis and progression of LUSC, the aberrantly expressed lncRNAs were calculated based on The Cancer Genome Atlas RNA-seq data. Of 7589 lncRNAs with 504 LUSC cases, 884 lncRNAs were identified as being aberrantly expressed (|log2 fold change| >2 and adjusted P<0.05) by DESeq R. The top 10 lncRNAs with the highest diagnostic value were SFTA1P,LINC00968, LINC00961, LINC01572,RP1-78O14.1, FENDRR, LINC01314,LINC01272, GATA6-AS1, and MIR3945HG. In addition to the significant roles in the carcinogenesis of LUSC, several lncRNAs also played vital parts in the survival and progression of LUSC. SFTA1P, LINC01272, GATA6-AS1 and MIR3945HG were closely related to the survival time of LUSC. Furthermore, LINC01572 and LINC01314 could distinguish the LUSC at early stage from that at advanced stage. The prospective molecular assessment of key lncRNAs showed that a certain series of genes could be involved in the regulation network. Furthermore, the OncoPrint from cBioPortal indicated that 14% (69/501) LUSC cases with genetic alterations could be obtained, including amplification, deep deletion and mRNA upregulation. More interestingly, the cases with genetic alterations had a poorer survival as compared to those without alterations. Overall, the study propounds a potentiality for interpreting the pathogenesis and development of LUSC with lncRNAs, and provides a novel platform for searching for more capable diagnostic biomarkers for LUSC.

Long Noncoding RNA CCAT2 Knockdown Suppresses Tumorous Progression by Sponging miR-424 in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the one of most common gynecological malignant tumors with high mortality. A series of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been validated to play a vital role in EOC tumorigenesis. Colon cancer-associated transcript 2 (CCAT2) has been verified as an oncogenic lncRNA in multiple tumors; however, the role of CCAT2 in EOC genesis is still unclear. The purpose of the present study was to probe the function of CCAT2 on EOC. Preliminary experiments found that CCAT2 expression was significantly upregulated in EOC tissues and cell lines compared to noncancerous tissue and cells. CCAT2 knockdown induced by interfering oligonucleotides could inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis and induce cell cycle arrest at the G₀/G₁ phase. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that miR-424 targeted CCAT2, which was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. Moreover, the miR-424 inhibitor rescued the tumorigenesis inhibition induced by CCAT2 knockdown. In summary, our findings illustrate that CCAT2 acts as competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) or sponge via negatively targeting miR-424, providing a novel diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for EOC.

The long noncoding RNA HOTAIR activates the Hippo pathway by directly binding to SAV1 in renal cell carcinoma

The long noncoding RNA HOTAIR promotes the development and progression of several tumors. Here, the clinical significance and role of HOTAIR in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tumorigenesis were explored. The results showed that increased expression of HOTAIR predicted a poor prognosis of RCC after surgery. HOTAIR promoted RCC cell proliferation and growth in vitro and in vivo. The expressions of HOTAIR and Salvador homolog 1 (SAV1) were inversely correlated in clinical RCC samples. HOTAIR downregulated SAV1 by directly binding to the SAV1 protein and enhanced histone H3K27 methylation. Loss of function of SAV1 activated the Hippo pathway. HOTAIR could be a potential therapeutic target in RCC.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between long non-coding RNA polymorphisms and cancer risk

It has been suggested that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) gene polymorphisms are associated with cancer risk. In this article, we conducted a systematic review related to studies on the association between lncRNA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the overall risk of cancer. A total 17 SNPs in four common lncRNA genes were included in the meta-analysis. In the lncRNA H19, the rs2735971 A/G, rs2839698C/T, and rs3024270 G/C polymorphisms, but not rs217727C/T, were correlated with overall cancer risk. The results also suggested that other SNPs were correlated with overall cancer risk, namely, two in HOTAIR (HOX transcript antisense RNA: rs920778C/T and rs7958904 G/C) and two in PRNCR1 (rs1016343C/T and rs16901946 A/G). No association was found between the three ZNRD1-AS1 (ZNRD1 antisense RNA 1) SNPs and the risk of cancer. In summary, our findings suggest that quite a few studied lncRNA SNPs are associated with overall cancer risk; therefore, they are potential predictive biomarkers for the risk of cancer. Moreover, other lncRNA SNPs investigated were also relevant to cancer but studies on them are limited, and they were also briefly reviewed as candidate cancer markers.