Comprehensive Genomic Characterization Analysis Identifies an Oncogenic Pseudogene RP11-3543B.1 in Human Gastric Cancer

Prognostic Roles of ceRNA Network-Based Signatures in Gastrointestinal Cancers

Gastrointestinal cancers (GICs) are high-incidence malignant tumors that seriously threaten human health around the world. Their complexity and heterogeneity make the classic staging system insufficient to guide patient management. Recently, competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) interactions that closely link the function of protein-coding RNAs with that of non-coding RNAs, such as long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA), has emerged as a novel molecular mechanism influencing miRNA-mediated gene regulation. Especially, ceRNA networks have proven to be powerful tools for deciphering cancer mechanisms and predicting therapeutic responses at the system level. Moreover, abnormal gene expression is one of the critical breaking events that disturb the stability of ceRNA network, highlighting the role of molecular biomarkers in optimizing cancer management and treatment. Therefore, developing prognostic signatures based on cancer-specific ceRNA network is of great significance for predicting clinical outcome or chemotherapy benefits of GIC patients. We herein introduce the current frontiers of ceRNA crosstalk in relation to their pathological implications and translational potentials in GICs, review the current researches on the prognostic signatures based on lncRNA or circRNA-mediated ceRNA networks in GICs, and highlight the translational implications of ceRNA signatures for GICs management. Furthermore, we summarize the computational approaches for establishing ceRNA network-based prognostic signatures, providing important clues for deciphering GIC biomarkers.

Pseudogene MSTO2P Interacts with miR-128-3p to Regulate Coptisine Sensitivity of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) through TGF-β Signaling and VEGFC

Background

Coptisine has been widely used for treating a variety of cancer types. To date, whether pseudogene is implicated in coptisine resistance of NSCLC remains unknown.

Methods

We performed MTT to assess the cell viability of A549 and Calu-1 cells. The transwell assay was used to examine the invasion of cells. TUNEL was used to determine apoptosis.

Results

Our data showed that coptisine treatment suppressed cell viability and invasion of NSCLC cells while contributing to apoptosis. MiR-128-3p negatively regulated MSTO2P. miR-128-3p reverted MSTO2P knockdown-attenuated cell viability and invasion, as well as promoted cell apoptosis of A549 cells. Moreover, we identified TGF-β signaling and VEGFC as key downstream effectors for MSTO2P and miR-128-3p in A549 cells. MiR-128-3p mimic inhibited TGF-β pathway-associated genes (TGFBR1, Smad2, Smad5, and Smad9), whereas miR-128-3p inhibitor exerted opposite effect. MSTO2P knockdown led to attenuated expression levels of TGFBR1, Smad2, Smad5 and Smad9. VEGFC overexpression greatly rescued miR-128-3p-modulated cell viability, invasion, and apoptosis of A549 cells.

Conclusion

MSTO2P plays a role in coptisine therapy of NSCLC through miR-128-3p. The findings will advance our understanding of NSCLC treatment.