miR-762 Promotes Malignant Development of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Targeting PHLPP2 and FOXO4

LncRNA CCAT1 knockdown suppresses tongue squamous cell carcinoma progression by inhibiting the ubiquitination of PHLPP2

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is prevailing malignancy in the oral and maxillofacial region, characterized by its high frequency. LncRNA CCAT1 can promote tumorigenesis and progression in many cancers. Here, we investigated the regulatory mechanism by which CCAT1 influences growth and metastasis of TSCC. Levels of CCAT1, WTAP, TRIM46, PHLPP2, AKT, p-AKT, and Ki67 in TSCC tissues and cells were assessed utilizing qRT-PCR, Western blot and IHC. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated utilizing CCK8, colony formation, wound healing and transwell assays. Subcellular localization of CCAT1 was detected utilizing FISH assay. m6A level of CCAT1 was assessed using MeRIP. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and RNA pull down elucidated binding relationship between molecules. Nude mouse tumorigenesis experiments were used to verify the TSCC regulatory function of CCAT1 in vivo. Metastatic pulmonary nodules were observed utilizing hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. CCAT1 silencing repressed TSCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Expression of CCAT1 was enhanced through N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of its RNA, facilitated by WTAP. Moreover, IGF2BP1 up-regulated CCAT1 expression by stabilizing its RNA transcript. CCAT1 bond to PHLPP2, inducing its ubiquitination and activating AKT signaling. CCAT1 mediated the ubiquitination and degradation of PHLPP2 by TRIM46, thereby promoting TSCC growth and metastasis. CCAT1/TRIM46/PHLPP2 axis regulated proliferation and invasion of TSCC cells, implying that CCAT1 would be a novel therapeutic target for TSCC patients.

The possible correlation between miR-762, Hippo signaling pathway, TWIST1, and SMAD3 in lung cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases

MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules that have a significant role in translational repression and gene silencing through binding to downstream target mRNAs. MiR-762 can stimulate the proliferation and metastasis of various types of cancer. Hippo pathway is one of the pathways that regulate tissue development and carcinogenesis. Dysregulation of this pathway plays a vital role in the progression of cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the possible correlation between miR-762, the Hippo signaling pathway, TWIST1, and SMAD3 in patients with lung cancer, as well as patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. The relative expression of miR-762, MST1, LATS2, YAP, TWIST1, and SMAD3 was determined in 50 lung cancer patients, 30 patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, and 20 healthy volunteers by real-time PCR. The levels of YAP protein and neuron-specific enolase were estimated by ELISA and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, respectively. Compared to the control group, miR-762, YAP, TWIST1, and SMAD3 expression were significantly upregulated in lung cancer patients and chronic inflammatory patients, except SMAD3 was significantly downregulated in chronic inflammatory patients. MST1, LATS2, and YAP protein were significantly downregulated in all patients. MiR-762 has a significant negative correlation with MST1, LATS2, and YAP protein in lung cancer patients and with MST1 and LATS2 in chronic inflammatory patients. MiR-762 may be involved in the induction of malignant behaviors in lung cancer through suppression of the Hippo pathway. MiR-762, MST1, LATS2, YAP mRNA and protein, TWIST1, and SMAD3 may be effective diagnostic biomarkers in both lung cancer patients and chronic inflammatory patients. High YAP, TWIST1, SMA3 expression, and NSE level are associated with a favorable prognosis for lung cancer.

miRNAs as potential game-changers in head and neck cancer: Future clinical and medicinal uses

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) are a group of heterogeneous tumors formed most frequently from epithelial cells of the larynx, lips, oropharynx, nasopharynx, and mouth. Numerous epigenetic components, including miRNAs, have been demonstrated to have an impact on HNCs characteristics like progression, angiogenesis, initiation, and resistance to therapeutic interventions. The miRNAs may control the production of numerous genes linked to HNCs pathogenesis. The roles that miRNAs play in angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, cell cycle, proliferation, and apoptosis are responsible for this impact. The miRNAs also have an impact on crucial HNCs-related mechanistic networks like the WNT/β-catenin signaling, PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathway, TGFβ, and KRAS mutations. miRNAs may affect how the HNCs respond to treatments like radiation and chemotherapy in addition to pathophysiology. This review aims to demonstrate the relationship between miRNAs and HNCs with a particular emphasis on how miRNAs impact HNCs signaling networks.

Low Doses of PFOA Promote Prostate and Breast Cancer Cells Growth through Different Pathways

Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) are found in everyday products. Widely distributed throughout the environment, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a specific class of EDCs that can accumulate in adipose tissue. Many of them induce adverse effects on human health—such as obesity, fertility disorders and cancers—by perturbing hormone effects. We previously identified many compounds with EDC activity in the circulation of obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery. Herein, we analyzed the effects of four of them (aldrin, BDE28, PFOA and PCB153) on two cancer cell lines of hormone-sensitive organs (prostate and breast). Each cell line was exposed to serial dilutions of EDCs from 10−6 M to 10−12 M; cytotoxicity and proliferation were monitored using the IncuCyte® technology. We showed that none of these EDCs induce cytotoxicity and that PFOA and PCB153, only at very low doses (10−12 M), increase the proliferation of DU145 (prostate cancer) and MCF7 (breast cancer) cells, while the same effects are observed with high concentrations (10−6 M) for aldrin or BDE28. Regarding the mechanistic aspects, PFOA uses two different signaling pathways between the two lines (the Akt/mTORC1 and PlexinD1 in MCF7 and DU145, respectively). Thus, our study demonstrates that even at picomolar (10−12 M) concentrations PFOA and PCB153 increase the proliferation of prostate and breast cancer cell lines and can be considered possible carcinogens.

MicroRNAs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a possible challenge as biomarkers, determinants for the choice of therapy and targets for personalized molecular therapies

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are referred to a group of heterogeneous cancers that include structures of aerodigestive tract such as oral and nasal cavity, salivary glands, oropharynx, pharynx, larynx, paranasal sinuses, and local lymph nodes. HNSCC is characterized by frequent alterations of several genes such as TP53, PIK3CA, CDKN2A, NOTCH1, and MET as well as copy number increase in EGFR, CCND1, and PIK3CA. These genomic alterations play a role in terms of resistance to chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, and prediction of patient outcome. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small single-stranded noncoding RNAs which are about 19-25 nucleotides. They are involved in the tumorigenesis of HNSCC including dysregulation of cell survival, proliferation, cellular differentiation, adhesion, and invasion. The discovery of the stable presence of the miRNAs in all human body made them attractive biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis or as targets for novel therapeutic ways, enabling personalized treatment for HNSCC. In recent times the number of papers concerning the characterization of miRNAs in the HNSCC tumorigenesis has grown a lot. In this review, we discuss the very recent studies on different aspects of miRNA dysregulation with their clinical significance and we apologize for the many past and most recent works that have not been mentioned. We also discuss miRNA-based therapy that are being tested on patients by clinical trials.

The biological function and diagnostic value of miR-762 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Low diagnostic efficiency and high metastasis and recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) result in bad survival. A novel diagnostic biomarker is of great importance for the improvement of NPC management. This study aimed to state the biological function and diagnostic values of miR-762 in NPC to provide a novel insight into the detection and therapy of NPC.

METHODS

The expression of miR-762 in NPC and healthy samples was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and its diagnostic value was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The functional roles of miR-762 in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of NPC cells were assessed by CCK8 and Transwell assay.

RESULTS

The significant upregulation of miR-762 was observed in NPC serum compared with healthy controls, which was associated with the TNM stage and lymph node metastasis of NPC patients. The ROC curve showed that miR-762 could be a diagnostic biomarker for NPC with high accuracy and specificity. Additionally, miR-762 served as a tumor promoter, which could promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of NPC.

CONCLUSION

The upregulation of miR-762 in NPC is associated with the disease progression and diagnosis of NPC. miR-762 might be involved in the tumor progression of NPC, which provides a potential therapeutic target for the treatment and management of NPC.

Identification of Circulating miR-762 as a Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background:

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been demonstrated to play critical roles in tumorigenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and circulating miRNAs are a valuable source of biomarkers for the clinical management of NSCLC. The aim of this study was to determine the value of serum miR-762 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for NSCLC.

Methods:

We examined circulating miR-762 expression in 148 NSCLC patients and 60 healthy individuals using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The effect of miR-762 downregulation on the proliferative capacity of NSCLC cells were also explored.

Results:

The serum miR-762 levels were significantly upregulated in NSCLC patients compared to the healthy individuals. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis revealed that circulating miR-762, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CYFRA21-1 and a combination of these 3 biomarkers yield the areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.874, 0.826, 0.41 and 0.969, respectively. Interestingly, circulating miR-762 identified the NSCLC patients at the clinical stage I from healthy controls with an AUC value of 0.920. In addition, serum miR-762 expression was significantly correlated with clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, histological grade and gefitinib-resistance. The survival analysis showed that NSCLC patients in the high serum miR-762 group suffered worse overall survival and relapse-free survival than those in the low serum miR-762 group. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed high circulating miR-762 was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor. Downregulation of miR-762 significantly suppressed the proliferative capacity of NSCLC cells in vitro, and bioinformatic analysis of the potential downstream targets of miR-762 identified many important cancer-associated pathways.

Conclusions:

In conclusion, serum miR-762 might serve as a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for the NSCLC.