MicroRNAs Modulate Drug Resistance-Related Mechanisms in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Targeted gene therapy for cancer: the impact of microRNA multipotentiality

Cancer is a life-threatening disease and its management is difficult due to its complex nature. Cancer is characterized by genomic instability and tumor-associated inflammation of the supporting stoma. With the advances in omics science, a treatment strategy for cancer has emerged, which is based on targeting cancer-driving molecules, known as targeted therapy. Gene therapy, a form of targeted therapy, is the introduction of nucleic acids into living cells to replace a defective gene, promote or repress gene expression to treat a disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that regulate gene expression and thus are involved in physiological processes like cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. miRNAs control the actions of many genes. They are deregulated in cancer and their abnormal expression influences genetic and epigenetic alterations inducing carcinogenesis. In this review, we will explain the role of miRNAs in normal and abnormal gene expression and their usefulness in monitoring cancer patients. Besides, we will discuss miRNA-based therapy as a method of gene therapy and its impact on the success of cancer management.

Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes for Delivery of Ferulic Acid and Diosgenin Anticancer Natural Agents

It was investigated whether loading multi-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with two natural anticancer agents: ferulic acid (FUA) and diosgenin (DGN), may enhance the anticancer effect of these drugs. The CNTs were functionalized with carboxylic acid (CNTCOOH) or amine (CNTNH2), loaded with the above pro-drugs, as well as both combined and coated with chitosan or chitosan-stearic acid. Following physicochemical characterization, the drug-loading properties and kinetics of the drug's release were investigated. Their effects on normal human skin fibroblasts and MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells, HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and A549 non-small-cell lung cancer cells were evaluated in vitro. Their actions at the molecular level were evaluated by assessing the expression of lncRNAs (HULC, HOTAIR, CCAT-2, H19, and HOTTIP), microRNAs (mir-21, mir-92, mir-145, and mir-181a), and proteins (TGF-β and E-cadherin) in HepG2 cells. The release of both pro-drugs depended on the glutathione concentration, coating, and functionalization. Release occurred in two stages: a no-burst/zero-order release followed by a sustained release best fitted to Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetics. The combined nanoformulation cancer inhibition effect on HepG2 cancer cells was more pronounced than for A549 and MCF7 cells. The combined nanoformulations had an additive impact followed by a synergistic effect, with antagonism demonstrated at high concentrations. The nanoformulation coated with chitosan and stearic acid was particularly successful in targeting HepG2 cells and inducing apoptosis. The CNT functionalized with carboxylic acid (CNTCOOH), loaded with both FUA and DGN, and coated with chitosan-stearic acid inhibited the expression of lncRNAs and modulated both microRNAs and proteins. Thus, nanoformulations composed of functionalized CNTs dual-loaded with FUA and DGN and coated with chitosan-stearic acid are a promising drug delivery system that enhances the activity of natural pro-drugs.

TIMELESS promotes reprogramming of glucose metabolism in oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the predominant malignancy of the oral cavity, is characterized by high incidence and low survival rates. Emerging evidence suggests a link between circadian rhythm disruptions and cancer development. The circadian gene TIMELESS, known for its specific expression in various tumors, has not been extensively studied in the context of OSCC. This study aims to explore the influence of TIMELESS on OSCC, focusing on cell growth and metabolic alterations.

METHODS

We analyzed TIMELESS expression in OSCC using western blot, immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE). The role of TIMELESS in OSCC was examined through clone formation, MTS, cell cycle, and EdU assays, alongside subcutaneous tumor growth experiments in nude mice. We also assessed the metabolic impact of TIMELESS by measuring glucose uptake, lactate production, oxygen consumption, and medium pH, and investigated its effect on key metabolic proteins including silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), pyruvate kinase isozyme type M2 (PKM2), recombinant lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1).

RESULTS

Elevated TIMELESS expression in OSCC tissues and cell lines was observed, correlating with reduced patient survival. TIMELESS overexpression enhanced OSCC cell proliferation, increased glycolytic activity (glucose uptake and lactate production), and suppressed oxidative phosphorylation (evidenced by reduced oxygen consumption and altered pH levels). Conversely, TIMELESS knockdown inhibited these cellular and metabolic processes, an effect mirrored by manipulating SIRT1 levels. Additionally, SIRT1 was positively associated with TIMELESS expression. The expression of SIRT1, HK2, PKM2, LDHA and GLUT1 increased with the overexpression of TIMELESS levels and decreased with the knockdown of TIMELESS.

CONCLUSION

TIMELESS exacerbates OSCC progression by modulating cellular proliferation and metabolic pathways, specifically by enhancing glycolysis and reducing oxidative phosphorylation, largely mediated through the SIRT1 pathway. This highlights TIMELESS as a potential target for OSCC therapeutic strategies.

The Role of microRNAs in Hepatocellular Cancer: A Narrative Review Focused on Tumor Microenvironment and Drug Resistance

Globally, hepatic cancer ranks fourth in terms of cancer-related mortality and is the sixth most frequent kind of cancer. Around 80% of liver cancers are hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), which are the leading cause of cancer death. It is well known that HCC may develop resistance to the available chemotherapy treatments very fast. One of the biggest obstacles in providing cancer patients with appropriate care is drug resistance. According to reports, more than 90% of cancer-specific fatalities are caused by treatment resistance. By binding to the 3'-untranslated region of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), a group of noncoding RNAs which are around 17 to 25 nucleotides long, regulate target gene expression. Moreover, they play role in the control of signaling pathways, cell proliferation, and cell death. As a result, miRNAs play an important role in the microenvironment of HCC by changing immune phenotypes, hypoxic conditions, and acidification, as well as angiogenesis and extracellular matrix components. Moreover, changes in miRNA levels in HCC can effectively resist cancer cells to chemotherapy by affecting various cellular processes such as autophagy, apoptosis, and membrane transporter activity. In the current work, we narratively reviewed the role of miRNAs in HCC, with a special focus on tumor microenvironment and drug resistance.

NPAS2 promotes aerobic glycolysis and tumor growth in prostate cancer through HIF-1A signaling

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa), one of the common malignant tumors, is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. The circadian rhythm plays a critical role in disease. Circadian disturbances are often found in patients with tumors and enable to promote tumor development and accelerate its progression. Accumulating evidence suggests that the core clock gene NPAS2 (neuronal PAS domain-containing protein 2) has been implicated in tumors initiation and progression. However, there are few studies on the association between NPAS2 and prostate cancer. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of NPAS2 on cell growth and glucose metabolism in prostate cancer.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, western blot, GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) and CCLE (Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia) databases were used to analyze the expression of NPAS2 in human PCa tissues and various PCa cell lines. Cell proliferation was assessed using MTS, clonogenic assays, apoptotic analyses, and subcutaneous tumor formation experiments in nude mice. Glucose uptake, lactate production, cellular oxygen consumption rate and medium pH were measured to examine the effect of NPAS2 on glucose metabolism. The relation of NPAS2 and glycolytic genes was analyzed based on TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) database.

RESULTS

Our data showed that NPAS2 expression in prostate cancer patient tissue was elevated compared with that in normal prostate tissue. NPAS2 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis in vitro and suppressed tumor growth in a nude mouse model in vivo. NPAS2 knockdown led to glucose uptake and lactate production diminished, oxygen consumption rate and pH elevated. NPAS2 increased HIF-1A (hypoxia-inducible factor-1A) expression, leading to enhanced glycolytic metabolism. There was a positive correlation with the expression of NPAS2 and glycolytic genes, these genes were upregulated with overexpression of NPAS2 while knockdown of NPAS2 led to a lower level.

CONCLUSION

NPAS2 is upregulated in prostate cancer and promotes cell survival by promoting glycolysis and inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation in PCa cells.

Age-related ceRNA networks in adult Drosophila ageing

As Drosophila is an extensively used genetic model system, understanding of its regulatory networks has great significance in revealing the genetic mechanisms of ageing and human diseases. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA)-mediated regulation is an important mechanism by which circular RNAs (circRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate ageing and age-related diseases. However, extensive analyses of the multiomics (circRNA/miRNA/mRNA and lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA) characteristics of adult Drosophila during ageing have not been reported. Here, differentially expressed circRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) between 7 and 42-day-old flies were screened and identified. Then, the differentially expressed mRNAs, circRNAs, miRNAs, and lncRNAs between the 7- and 42-day old flies were analysed to identify age-related circRNA/miRNA/mRNA and lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA networks in ageing Drosophila. Several key ceRNA networks were identified, such as the dme_circ_0009500/dme_miR-289-5p/CG31064, dme_circ_0009500/dme_miR-289-5p/frizzled, dme_circ_0009500/dme_miR-985-3p/Abl, and XLOC_027736/dme_miR-985-3p/Abl XLOC_189909/dme_miR-985-3p/Abl networks. Furthermore, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to verify the expression level of those genes. Those results suggest that the discovery of these ceRNA networks in ageing adult Drosophila provide new information for research on human ageing and age-related diseases.

Exploring a four-gene risk model based on doxorubicin resistance-associated lncRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Liver cancer is a lethal cancer type among which hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common manifestation globally. Drug resistance is a central problem impeding the efficiency of HCC treatment. Long non-coding RNAs reportedly result in drug resistance. This study aimed to identify key lncRNAs associated with doxorubicin resistance and HCC prognosis.

Materials and Methods: HCC samples with gene expression profiles and clinical data were accessed from public databases. We applied differential analysis to identify key lncRNAs that differed between HCC and normal samples and between drug-fast and control samples. We also used univariate Cox regression analysis to screen lncRNAs or genes associated with HCC prognosis. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used to identify the key prognostic genes. Finally, we used receiver operating characteristic analysis to validate the effectiveness of the risk model.

Results: The results of this study revealed RNF157-AS1 as a key lncRNA associated with both doxorubicin resistance and HCC prognosis. Metabolic pathways such as fatty acid metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation were enriched in RNF157-AS1-related genes. LASSO identified four protein-coding genes—CENPP, TSGA10, MRPL53, and BFSP1—to construct a risk model. The four-gene risk model effectively classified HCC samples into two risk groups with different overall survival. Finally, we established a nomogram, which showed superior performance in predicting the long-term prognosis of HCC.

Conclusion: RNF157-AS1 may be involved in doxorubicin resistance and may serve as a potential therapeutic target. The four-gene risk model showed potential for the prediction of HCC prognosis.

The Elevated Circ_0067835 Could Accelerate Cell Proliferation and Metastasis via miR-1236-3p/Twist2 Axis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant cancer with leading mortality worldwide. Circ_0067835 is a circRNA which plays an important role in various kinds of tumor, while the potential functions of circ_0067835 in HCC remains unclear. In this study, our results of microarray and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) showed that it was obviously elevated in human HCC tumor tissues and HCC cell lines. Inhibition of circ_0067835 restrained cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Furthermore, miR-1236-3p was decreased in tumor samples, and it was indicated to be a target of circ_0067835. Moreover, Twist2 was established to be elevated in HCC tissues, and we identified it as the direct target of miR-1236-3p. Finally, we found that knockdown of miR-1236-3p could reverse the circ_0067835 inhibition effects in HCC cells. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that circ_0067835 contributed to promoting hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and metastasis through downregulating miR-1236-3p expression and then elevating Twist2 expression, which might provide a new vision for HCC patients.

Non-coding RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma: Insights into regulatory mechanisms, clinical significance, and therapeutic potential

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex and heterogeneous malignancy with high incidence and poor prognosis. In addition, owing to the lack of diagnostic and prognostic markers, current multimodal treatment options fail to achieve satisfactory outcomes. Tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, metastasis, metabolism, and drug resistance are important factors influencing tumor development and therapy. The intercellular communication of these important processes is mediated by a variety of bioactive molecules to regulate pathophysiological processes in recipient cells. Among these bioactive molecules, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), account for a large part of the human transcriptome, and their dysregulation affects the progression of HCC. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the potential regulatory mechanisms of ncRNAs in HCC, summarize novel biomarkers from somatic fluids (plasma/serum/urine), and explore the potential of some small-molecule modulators as drugs. Thus, through this review, we aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of the regulatory mechanisms, early diagnosis, prognosis, and precise treatment of HCC.

The Roles of microRNAs in Cancer Multidrug Resistance

Simple Summary

The resistance of neoplastic cells to multiple drugs is a serious problem in cancer chemotherapy. The molecular causes of multidrug resistance in cancer are largely known, but less is known about the mechanisms by which cells deliver phenotypic changes that resist the attack of anticancer drugs. The findings of RNA interference based on microRNAs represented a breakthrough in biology and pointed to the possibility of sensitive and targeted regulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Such regulation is also involved in the development of multidrug resistance in cancer. The aim of the current paper is to summarize the available knowledge on the role of microRNAs in resistance to multiple cancer drugs.

Abstract

Cancer chemotherapy may induce a multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. The development of MDR is based on various molecular causes, of which the following are very common: induction of ABC transporter expression; induction/activation of drug-metabolizing enzymes; alteration of the expression/function of apoptosis-related proteins; changes in cell cycle checkpoints; elevated DNA repair mechanisms. Although these mechanisms of MDR are well described, information on their molecular interaction in overall multidrug resistance is still lacking. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression and subsequent RNA interference are candidates that could be important players in the interplay of MDR mechanisms. The regulation of post-transcriptional processes in the proteosynthetic pathway is considered to be a major function of miRNAs. Due to their complementarity, they are able to bind to target mRNAs, which prevents the mRNAs from interacting effectively with the ribosome, and subsequent degradation of the mRNAs can occur. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the possible role of miRNAs in the molecular mechanisms that lead to MDR. The possibility of considering miRNAs as either specific effectors or interesting targets for cancer therapy is also analyzed.

Role of circulating microRNAs to predict hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence in patients treated with radiofrequency ablation or surgery

BACKGROUND

Loco-regional treatments have improved the survival of patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but tumor relapse is a frequent event and survival rates remain low. Moreover, conflicting evidences address early HCC patients to surgery or radiofrequency ablation (RFA), with the clinical need to find predictive non-invasive biomarkers able to guide treatment choice and define patients survival.

METHODS

Two independent case series of treatment-naïve HCC patients treated with local RFA, and a cohort of 30 HCC patients treated with liver surgery were enrolled. On the basis of literature evidence, we customized a panel of 21 miRNAs correlated with relapse and prognosis after local curative treatment of HCC.

RESULTS

Expression levels of let-7c predict tumor relapse after RFA; we also investigated the same panel in a small cohort of HCC patients undergoing surgery, finding no statistically significance in predicting tumor relapse or survival. Moreover, interaction test indicated that let-7c expression levels are predictive for identifying a subset of patients that should be addressed to surgery.

CONCLUSION

Results from this study could predict prognosis of early HCC patients, helping to address early HCC patients to surgery or RFA treatment.

MicroRNA-128-3p Mediates Lenvatinib Resistance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Downregulating c-Met

Objective

Lenvatinib is a first-line multikinase inhibitor for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but resistance to the drug remains a major hurdle for its long-term anti-cancer activity. This resistance is thought to be due to overexpression of c-Met. This study aims to identify potential upstream microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate c-Met, investigate the underlying mechanisms, and seek potential strategies that may reverse such resistance.

Methods

Lenvatinib-resistant HCC (LR-HCC) cells were established from human HCC Huh7 and SMMC-7721 cells. Assays of cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, RT-qPCR, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were employed. Potential miRNAs were screened by miRNA-target prediction tools and their regulatory effects were evaluated by luciferase reporter assays. Xenograft tumor models were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects.

Results

LR-HCC cells were refractory to lenvatinib-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Sustained exposure of cells to lenvatinib resulted in increased expression and phosphorylation of c-Met, and c-Met inhibition enhanced the effects of lenvatinib in suppressing LR-HCC cells. Among eleven miRNA candidates, miR-128-3p displayed the most vigorous activity to negatively regulate c-Met and was downregulated in LR-HCC cells. MiR-128-3p mimics inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of LR-HCC cells, and enhanced the effects of lenvatinib in cell culture and animal models. MiR-128-3p and c-Met participate in the mechanisms underlying lenvatinib resistance through regulating Akt that mediates the apoptotic pathway and ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) modulating cell cycle progression.

Conclusion

The present results indicate that the miR-128-3p/c-Met axis may be potential therapeutic targets for circumventing lenvatinib resistance in HCC and warrant further investigation.

Mechanisms of Pharmacoresistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: New Drugs but Old Problems

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy with poor prognosis when diagnosed at advanced stages in which curative treatments are no longer applicable. A small group of these patients may still benefit from transarterial chemoembolization. The only therapeutic option for most patients with advanced HCC is systemic pharmacological treatments based on tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immunotherapy. Available drugs only slightly increase survival, as tumor cells possess additive and synergistic mechanisms of pharmacoresistance (MPRs) prior to or enhanced during treatment. Understanding the molecular basis of MPRs is crucial to elucidate the genetic signature underlying HCC resistome. This will permit the selection of biomarkers to predict drug treatment response and identify tumor weaknesses in a personalized and dynamic way. In this article, we have reviewed the role of MPRs in current first-line drugs and the combinations of immunotherapeutic agents with novel TKIs being tested in the treatment of advanced HCC.

MiRNA-124-3p.1 sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma cells to sorafenib by regulating FOXO3a by targeting AKT2 and SIRT1

As a multikinase inhibitor, sorafenib is commonly used to treat patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, acquired resistance to sorafenib is a major obstacle to the effectiveness of this treatment. Thus, in this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying sorafenib resistance as well as approaches devised to increase the sensitivity of HCC to sorafenib. We demonstrated that miR-124-3p.1 downregulation is associated with early recurrence in HCC patients who underwent curative surgery and sorafenib resistance in HCC cell lines. Regarding the mechanism of this phenomenon, we identified FOXO3a, an important cellular stress transcriptional factor, as the key factor in the function of miR-124-3p.1 in HCC. We showed that miR-124-3p.1 binds directly to AKT2 and SIRT1 to reduce the levels of these proteins. Furthermore, we showed that AKT2 and SIRT1 phosphorylate and deacetylate FOXO3a. We also found that miR-124-3p.1 maintains the dephosphorylation and acetylation of FOXO3a, leading to the nuclear location of FOXO3a and enhanced sorafenib-induced apoptosis. Moreover, the combination of miR-124-3p.1 mimics and sorafenib significantly enhanced the curative efficacy of sorafenib in a nude mouse HCC xenograft model. Collectively, our data reveal that miR-124-3p.1 represents a predictive indicator of early recurrence and sorafenib sensitivity in HCC. Furthermore, we demonstrate that miR-124-3p.1 enhances the curative efficacy of sorafenib through dual effects on FOXO3a. Thus, the miR-124-3p.1-FOXO3a axis is implicated as a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Mechanisms of Action And Clinical Implications of MicroRNAs in the Drug Resistance of Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of digestive systems worldwide, with high recurrence and mortality. Chemotherapy is still the standard treatment option for GC and can effectively improve the survival and life quality of GC patients. However, with the emergence of drug resistance, the clinical application of chemotherapeutic agents has been seriously restricted in GC patients. Although the mechanisms of drug resistance have been broadly investigated, they are still largely unknown. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a large group of small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) widely involved in the occurrence and progression of many cancer types, including GC. An increasing amount of evidence suggests that miRNAs may play crucial roles in the development of drug resistance by regulating some drug resistance-related proteins as well as gene expression. Some also exhibit great potential as novel biomarkers for predicting drug response to chemotherapy and therapeutic targets for GC patients. In this review, we systematically summarize recent advances in miRNAs and focus on their molecular mechanisms in the development of drug resistance in GC progression. We also highlight the potential of drug resistance-related miRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for GC patients.

Functional and Clinical Significance of Dysregulated microRNAs in Liver Cancer

Simple Summary

Liver cancer has a high mortality rate. Here, we retrospectively discuss the current progress and dilemmas in the clinical research and treatment of liver cancer. We primarily focus on microRNAs because of their extremely high value in applications and research. We discuss whether microRNAs can be used for the development of better biomarkers and/or therapeutic drugs, and address the difficulties, requirements for improved diagnostic technologies, and side effects related to microRNA-based drugs.

Abstract

Liver cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. This mainly reflects the lack of early diagnosis tools and effective treatment methods. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-transcribed RNAs, some of which play important regulatory roles in liver cancer. Here, we discuss microRNAs with key impacts on liver cancer, such as miR-122, miR-21, miR-214, and miR-199. These microRNAs participate in various physiological regulatory pathways of liver cancer cells, and their modulation can have non-negligible effects in the treatment of liver cancer. We discuss whether these microRNAs can be used for better clinical diagnosis and/or drug development. With the advent of novel technologies, fast, inexpensive, and non-invasive RNA-based biomarker research has become a new mainstream approach. However, the clinical application of microRNA-based markers has been limited by the high sequence similarity among them and the potential for off-target problems. Therefore, researchers particularly value microRNAs that are specific to or have special functions in liver cancer. These include miR-122, which is specifically expressed in the liver, and miR-34, which is necessary for the replication of the hepatitis C virus in liver cancer. Clinical treatment drugs have been developed based on miR-34 and miR-122 (MRX34 and Miravirsen, respectively), but their side effects have not yet been overcome. Future research is needed to address these weaknesses and establish a feasible microRNA-based treatment strategy for liver cancer.

Dysregulation of Non-coding RNAs mediates Cisplatin Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and therapeutic strategies

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth major contributor to cancer-related deaths worldwide, and patients mostly have poor prognosis. Although several drugs have been approved for the treatment of HCC, cisplatin (CDDP) is still applied in treatment of HCC as a classical chemotherapeutic drug. Unfortunately, the emergence of CDDP resistance has caused HCC patients to exhibit poor drug response. How to mitigate or even reverse CDDP resistance is an urgent clinical issue to be solved. Because of critical roles in biological functional processes and disease developments, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been extensively studied in HCC in recent years. Importantly, ncRNAs have also been demonstrated to be involved in the development of HCC to CDDP resistance process. Therefore, this review highlighted the regulatory roles of ncRNAs in CDDP resistance of HCC, elucidated the multiple potential mechanisms by which HCC develops CDDP resistance, and attempted to propose multiple drug delivery systems to alleviate CDDP resistance. Recently, ncRNA-based therapy may be a feasible strategy to alleviate CDDP resistance in HCC. Meanwhile, nanoparticles can overcome the deficiencies in ncRNA-based therapy and make it possible to reverse tumor drug resistance. The combined use of these strategies provides clues for reversing CDDP resistance and overcoming the poor prognosis of HCC.

Role of Calcium Homeostasis in Modulating EMT in Cancer

Calcium is essential for cells to perform numerous physiological processes. In cancer, the augmentation of calcium signaling supports the more proliferative and migratory cells, which is a characteristic of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). By genetically and epigenetically modifying genes, channels, and entire signaling pathways, cancer cells have adapted to survive with an extreme imbalance of calcium that allows them to grow and metastasize in an abnormal manner. This cellular remodeling also allows for the evasion of immune surveillance and the development of drug resistance, which lead to poor prognosis in patients. Understanding the role calcium flux plays in driving the phenotypes associated with invasion, immune suppression, metastasis, and drug resistance remains critical for determining treatments to optimize clinical outcomes and future drug discovery.

A Comprehensive Pan-Cancer Analysis of RBM8A Based on Data Mining

Background

As a member of the exon junction complex (EJC), RNA-binding motif protein 8A (RBM8A) plays a crucial role in the maintenance of mRNA and multiple activities of an organism. Immunotherapy has been proven to be a staple type of cancer treatment. However, the role of RBM8A and immunity across cancer types is unclear.

Objective

This study aims to visualize the expression, prognosis, mutations, and coexpressed gene results of RBM8A across cancer types and to explore the link between RBM8A expression and immunity.

Methods

In this study, data were collected from multiple online databases. We analyzed the data using the HPA, UALCAN Database, COSMIC, cBioPortal, Cancer Regulome tools, Kaplan–Meier Plotter, and TIMER website.

Results

For the expression of RBM8A in normal tissues, higher expression of RBM8A was observed in immune-related cells than in nonimmune organs. The expression level of RBM8A was related to tumor type. Missense mutations in RBM8A were found in most tumors and affected the prognosis of carcinomas with coexpressed genes. RBM8A was strongly associated with immune-infiltrating cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors, especially in LIHC.

Conclusions

RBM8A is a gene worth exploring and may be a unique immune target in the future.

Falcarindiol Enhances Cisplatin Chemosensitivity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Down-Regulating the STAT3-Modulated PTTG1 Pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary liver malignancy globally and the third leading cause of cancer-related death. Chemotherapy is one of the main methods in treating HCC, while recent studies have found that the resistance of HCC to chemotherapeutic drugs reduces the efficacy of the chemotherapy. Falcarindiol (FAD) is a cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory polyacetylenic oxylipin found in food plants of the carrot family (Apiaceae), while its role in HCC remains to be explored. Here, HCC cells (Huh7 and LM3) were treated with FAD at different doses. Cell proliferation was tested by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method and colony formation assay, while the apoptosis was monitored by flow cytometry. The profiles of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, bcl2, and Caspase-3), DNA repair proteins (Rad51, BRCA1, and MDC1), and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/Pituitary Tumor Transforming Gene 1 (PTTG1) were verified by western blot (WB) or quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The interaction between STAT3 and PTTG1 was verified by immunoprecipitation (IP). In addition, a xenograft tumor model was constructed in mice to explore the anti-tumor effects of FAD in vivo, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to count the number of Ki67-stained cells. As a result, FAD inhibited HCC cell proliferation and DNA repair, facilitated their apoptosis, and also enhanced cisplatin (DDP) chemosensitivity. The Combination Index (CI) evaluation showed that FAD and DDP had synergistic effects in repressing HCC cell proliferation. Besides, FAD dampened the STAT3/PTTG1 pathway expression. Further studies revealed that inhibiting STAT3 enhanced the inhibitive effect of FAD on HCC cells, whereas overexpressing PTTG1 attenuated the anti-tumor effect of FAD. Overall, our study illustrated that FAD is a potential anticancer drug and strengthens the chemosensitivity of HCC cells to DDP by inhibiting the STAT3/PTTG1 pathway.

Identification of novel targets of miR-622 in hepatocellular carcinoma reveals common regulation of cooperating genes and outlines the oncogenic role of zinc finger CCHC-type containing 11

The poor prognosis of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is driven by diverse features including dysregulated microRNAs inducing drug resistance and stemness. Lin-28 homolog A (LIN28A) and its partner zinc finger CCHC-type containing 11 (ZCCHC11) cooperate in binding, oligouridylation and subsequent degradation of tumorsuppressive let-7 precursor microRNAs. Functionally, activation of LIN28A was recently shown to promote stemness and chemoresistance in HCC. However, the expression and regulation of LIN28A in HCC had been unclear. Moreover, the expression, regulation and function of ZCCHC11 in liver cancer remained elusive. In contrast to "one-microRNA-one-target" interactions, we identified common binding sites for miR-622 in both LIN28A and ZCCHC11, suggesting miR-622 to function as a superior pathway regulator. Applying comprehensive microRNA database screening, human hepatocytes and HCC cell lines, patient-derived tissue samples as well as "The Cancer Genome Atlas" (TCGA) patient cohorts, we demonstrated that loss of tumorsuppressive miR-622 mediates derepression and overexpression of LIN28A in HCC. Moreover, the cooperator of LIN28A, ZCCHC11, was newly identified as a prognostic and therapeutic target of miR-622 in liver cancer. Together, identification of novel miR-622 target genes revealed common regulation of cooperating genes and outlines the previously unknown oncogenic role of ZCCHC11 in liver cancer.

MicroRNA-4325 Suppresses Cell Progression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via GATA-Binding Protein 6

MicroRNAs (miRs) are regulators of the formation and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The biological role of miR-4325 in HCC has yet to be determined. This study is aimed at dissecting the role of miR-4325 in HCC and the underlying mechanism. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect miR-4325 expression in HCC tissue specimens and cells. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were assessed by using the MTT assay and Transwell assay, respectively. The miR-4325 target was predicted based on bioinformatics analysis and validated using the dual-luciferase reporter assay. Rescue experiments in the cells were utilized to functionally characterize the downstream molecular targets of miR-4325. We observed that miR-4325 expression levels were significantly reduced in both HCC tissue specimens and cell lines. Meanwhile, a lower miR-4325 level was associated with a poorer prognosis. Gain and loss of function assays revealed that miR-4325 markedly downregulated HCC cell growth, migration, and invasion. Moreover, we identified GATA-binding protein 6 (GATA6) as a miR-4325 target and found that GATA6 was abnormally expressed in HCC. Rescue assays demonstrated that the regulatory function of miR-4325 in HCC was mediated by GATA6. Taken together, miR-4325 suppresses HCC cell growth, migration, and invasion by targeting GATA6, suggesting that miR-4325 may potentially serve as a novel therapeutic target for HCC.

Pyroptosis: mechanisms and diseases

Currently, pyroptosis has received more and more attention because of its association with innate immunity and disease. The research scope of pyroptosis has expanded with the discovery of the gasdermin family. A great deal of evidence shows that pyroptosis can affect the development of tumors. The relationship between pyroptosis and tumors is diverse in different tissues and genetic backgrounds. In this review, we provide basic knowledge of pyroptosis, explain the relationship between pyroptosis and tumors, and focus on the significance of pyroptosis in tumor treatment. In addition, we further summarize the possibility of pyroptosis as a potential tumor treatment strategy and describe the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy caused by pyroptosis. In brief, pyroptosis is a double-edged sword for tumors. The rational use of this dual effect will help us further explore the formation and development of tumors, and provide ideas for patients to develop new drugs based on pyroptosis.

Combined De-Repression of Chemoresistance Associated Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 14 and Activating Transcription Factor 2 by Loss of microRNA-622 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Chemoresistance is a major hallmark driving the progression and poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Limited chemoresponse of HCC was demonstrated to be mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14) and activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2). Recently, we have demonstrated loss of control of RAS-RAF-ERK-signaling as a consequence of miR-622 downregulation in HCC. However, the majority of target genes of this potent tumorsuppressive microRNA had remained elusive. The MAPK14-ATF2-axis represents a collateral pathway ensuring persisting ERK-activation in the presence of sorafenib-mediated RAF-inhibition. In contrast to the function of the MAPK14-ATF2-axis, both the expression and regulation of MAPK14 and ATF2 in human HCC remained to be clarified. We found combined overexpression of MAPK14 and ATF2 in human HCC cells, tissues and in sorafenib resistant cell lines. High expression of MAPK14 and ATF2 was associated with reduced overall survival in HCC patients. Deciphering the molecular mechanism promoting combined upregulation of MAPK14 and ATF2 in HCC, we revealed that miR-622 directly targets both genes, resulting in combined de-repression of the MAPK14-ATF2-axis. Together, miR-622 represents a superior regulator of both RAS-RAF-ERK as well as MAPK14-ATF2-signaling pathways in liver cancer.

miR-21 inhibition reverses doxorubicin-resistance and inhibits PC3 human prostate cancer cells proliferation

Many approaches have been examined to reversing multidrug resistance (MDR), but sub-optimal target-based strategies have limited their efficacy. Herein, we investigate microRNA (miR-21) suppression on the doxorubicin (DOX)-sensitisation of the DOX-resistant (PC3/DOX) cell line in prostate cancer (PCa). Expression levels of miR-21, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), MDR-1 and PTEN evaluated in PC3/DOX cancer cells by qRT-PCR and western blot analyses. The cytotoxic effects of transfected of miR-21 were assessed by MTT assay for 72 hr. Rhodamine123 (Rh123) assay was employed to define the activity of P-gp. Apoptosis was detected by Flow cytometry. As expected, miR-21 was expressed highly in PC3/DOX cells (p < 0.05). It was shown that miRNA-21 suppression considerably hindered PC3/DOX cell viability. miR-21 suppression dramatically downregulated P-gp expression and activity in DOX-resistance cells and abolished MDR by an increment of intracellular accumulation of DOX in PC3/DOX cells (p < 0.05). PTEN is a key modulator of the PI3K/Akt/P-gp cascade, which miR-21 suppression led to the upregulation of PTEN and sequentially lower-expression of P-gp that reversed MDR. Also, miR-21 repression enhanced the apoptosis rate of PC3/DOX cells. The findings of this paper contribute to the current understanding of the functions of miR-21 in MDR-reversing in PCa.

Master regulator genes and their impact on major diseases

Master regulator genes (MRGs) have become a hot topic in recent decades. They not only affect the development of tissue and organ systems but also play a role in other signal pathways by regulating additional MRGs. Because a MRG can regulate the concurrent expression of several genes, its mutation often leads to major diseases. Moreover, the occurrence of many tumors and cardiovascular and nervous system diseases are closely related to MRG changes. With the development in omics technology, an increasing amount of investigations will be directed toward MRGs because their regulation involves all aspects of an organism’s development. This review focuses on the definition and classification of MRGs as well as their influence on disease regulation.