Interplay between miRNAs and Genes Associated with Cell Proliferation in Endometrial Cancer

miR-6884-5p inhibits proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer cells

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with a high mortality and morbidity rate. MicroRNAs participate in tumorigenesis, progression and metastasis of NSCLC. However, miR-6884-5p has not been previously studied. This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-6884-5p in NSCLC and explore its underlying mechanisms.

Methods

We used miR-6884-5p mimics and inhibitors to assess its effects in NSCLC. miR-6884-5p expression levels in NSCLC cell lines were quantified using qRT-PCR. Cell viability was determined using a cell-counting kit 8 assay. Western blot analysis was employed to measure apoptotic proteins. The impact of miR-6884-5p on cell proliferation was assessed via colony formation assay. Furthermore, Transwell assays were utilized to visualize and quantify the effects of miR-6884-5p on NSCLC migration and invasion.

Results

miR-6884-5p mimic significantly inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation to 71.21 % and 72.26 % of control at 5 days of culture time in H460 and HC9 cells (both p < 0.01), respectively, while miR-6884-5p inhibitor significantly promoted cell proliferation to 119.66 % and 126.44 % of control at 5 days of culture time in H460 and HC9 cells (both p < 0.05), respectively. In addition, miR-6884-5p promoted apoptosis by reducing the anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) protein and increasing apoptotic protein BCL2 associated X protein (all p < 0.01 at least). Moreover, miR-6884-5p effectively suppressed transforming growth factor β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition, as evidenced by the restored expression of E-cadherin (p < 0.01), N-cadherin (p < 0.01) and Vimentin (p < 0.05), leading to the inhibition of migration and invasion in NSCLC cell lines.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that miR-6884-5p can inhibit NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for NSCLC treatment.

Small non-coding RNAs as diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers of gynecological cancers: an update

INTRODUCTION

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) comprise a heterogeneous cluster of RNA molecules. Emerging evidence suggests their involvement in various aspects of tumorigenesis, particularly in gynecological malignancies. Notably, ncRNAs have been implicated as mediators within tumor signaling pathways, exerting their influence through interactions with RNA or proteins. These findings further highlight the hypothesis that ncRNAs constitute therapeutic targets and point out their clinical potential as stratification biomarkers.

AREAS COVERED

The review outlines the use of small ncRNAs, including miRNAs, tRNA-derived small RNAs, PIWI-interacting RNAs and circular RNAs, for diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive purposes in gynecological cancers. It aims to increase our knowledge of their functions in tumor biology and their translation into clinical practice.

EXPERT OPINION

By leveraging interdisciplinary collaborations, scientists can decipher the riddle of small ncRNA biomarkers as diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers of gynecological tumors. Integrating small ncRNA-based assays into clinical practice will allow clinicians to provide cure plans for each patient, reducing the likelihood of adverse responses. Nevertheless, addressing challenges such as standardizing experimental methodologies and refining diagnostic assays is imperative for advancing small ncRNA research in gynecological cancer.

Immunological Roles of CCL18 in Pan‑Cancer and Its Potential Value in Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in the female reproductive system. However, the potential functions and mechanisms of immune-related genes in the onset and progression of EC remain unclear. The immune-related gene CCL18 has been implicated in apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance in various types of tumors. Nevertheless, its role in pan-cancer has been poorly investigated, and its expression value and prognostic significance in endometrial cancer (EC) have not been explored. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify potential immune-related prognostic biomarkers for EC by utilizing the cancer genome atlas (TCGA), immunology database and analysis portal (ImmPort) database, and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Immunohistochemistry staining results from EC tissue chips demonstrated elevated expression levels of inflammatory chemokine protein 18 (CCL18) in EC compared to normal endometrium. This study offers a potential therapeutic strategy for EC treatment by identifying regulatory targets through microRNA sequencing data. Additionally, drug prediction was based on CCL18 targets. Furthermore, an analysis of CCL18 expression in pan-cancer was conducted, and the results revealed its high expression in various types of cancer, including EC and bladder cancer. Through analysis of the ATAC-seq data, we found that SIX1, SOX3, and TWIST2 may regulate CCL18 transcription by binding to the gene promoter of CCL18 in EC. This study indicated that CCL18 could be a potential biomarker in pan-cancer and EC.

RNA 5-Methylcytosine regulators are associated with cell adhesion and predict prognosis of endometrial cancer

Background

RNA methylation is a significant form of post-transcriptional modification that has been implicated in various diseases, including cancers. One prominent type of RNA methylation is 5-Methylcytosine (m5C), which primarily regulates RNA stability, transcription, and translation. However, the role of m5C-related gene regulation in cell adhesion within uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) remains unexplored. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the association between RNA m5C methylation and UCEC and develop a prognostic predictive model to forecast survival outcomes in UCEC patients.

Methods

The RNA datasets were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. The dataset was used to explore the interaction relationships of m5C regulators in UCEC. Unsupervised clustering analysis identified clusters with distinct m5C modification patterns. Different clusters underwent Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment level analysis to investigate the effects of pathways related to m5C methylation, which were further validated through in vitro cellular experiments. A prognostic predictive model was developed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate regression analysis.

Results

Two clusters with distinct m5C modification patterns were identified using unsupervised cluster analysis. Furthermore, the prognosis of cluster 2 was found to be worse. Enrichment analysis showed alterations in cell adhesion-related pathways in both clusters, as well as differences between the clusters. Through this analysis, we identified 25 genes with significant prognostic value. Finally, a prognostic predictive model comprising NSUN2 and YBX1 was constructed.

Conclusions

In conclusion, diverse m5C modification patterns display distinct cell adhesion properties in UCEC, which are correlated with prognosis and offer significant potential as prognostic markers for UCEC assessment. We developed a prognostic predictive model to accurately predict the prognosis of UCEC.

Transcriptomic analysis identifies four novel receptors potentially linking endometrial cancer with polycystic ovary syndrome and generates a transcriptomic atlas

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is associated with a 3 to 4-fold increased risk of endometrial cancer (EC), but molecular mechanisms are unclear. Upregulation of the IGF1 gene in PCOS endometrium may increase EC risk, but this is uncertain. We aimed to investigate links between EC and PCOS, by analysing publicly available transcriptomic data. The NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus was used to identify relevant studies. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and analysed using Metascape to identify pathways of interest. PCOS DEGs that encode proteins secreted into blood were identified using the Human Protein Atlas blood protein database. EC DEGs that are cellular receptors were identified using EcoTyper. These were intersected to identify which EC receptors interact with PCOS secreted proteins. Seven receptors were identified in EC but only PTPRF, ITGA2, ITGA3 and ITGB4 genes were expressed on epithelial cells. Pathway enrichment of these genes showed that the major and common pathway involved was that of the PI3K-AKT signalling pathway which was consistent with a link between PCOS and EC. However, IGF1 was down regulated in PCOS and EC. These findings hold significant promise for improving our understanding of mechanistic pathways leading to EC in PCOS.

The Role of miRNAs in the Development, Proliferation, and Progression of Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancers in developing and developed countries. Although the detection of this cancer is high at the early stages, there is still a lack of markers to monitor the disease, its recurrence, and metastasis. MiRNAs are in charge of the post-transcriptional regulation of genes responsible for the most important biological processes, which is why they are increasingly used as biomarkers in many types of cancer. Many studies have demonstrated the influence of miRNAs on the processes related to carcinogenesis. The characteristics of miRNA expression profiles in endometrial cancer will allow their use as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. This paper focuses on the discussion of selected miRNAs based on the literature and their role in the development of endometrial cancer.

Anti-drug resistance, anti-inflammation, and anti-proliferation activities mediated by melatonin in doxorubicin-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma: in vitro investigations

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the major life-threatening primary liver malignancy in both sexes all over the world. Unfortunately, the majority of patients are diagnosed at later stages because HCC does not elicit obvious symptoms during its early incidence. Consequently, most individuals escape the first-line HCC treatments and are treated with chemotherapy. Regrettably, the therapeutic outcomes for those patients are usually poor because of the development of multidrug resistance phenomena. Furthermore, most anti-HCC therapies cause severe undesired side effects that notably interfere with the life quality of such patients. Accordingly, there is an important need to search for an alternative therapeutic drug or adjuvant which is more efficient with safe or even minimal side effects for HCC treatment. Melatonin was recently reported to exert intrinsic antitumor activity in different cancers. However, the regulatory pathways underlying the antitumor activity of melatonin are poorly understood in resistant liver cells. Furthermore, a limited number of studies have addressed the therapeutic role of melatonin in HCC cells resistant to doxorubicin chemotherapy. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effects of melatonin in doxorubicin-resistant HepG2 cells and explored the regulatory pivotal targets underlying these effects. To achieve our aim, an MTT assay was used to calculate the 50% inhibitory concentration of melatonin and evaluate its antiproliferative effect on resistant cells. Additionally, qRT-PCR was used to quantify genes having a role in drug resistance phenotype (ABCB1, ABCC1, ABCC2, ABCC3, ABCC4, ABCC5, and ABCG2); apoptosis (caspases-3, and -7, Bcl2, Bax, and p53); anti-oxidation (NRF2); expression of melatonin receptors (MT1, MT2, and MT3); besides, programmed death receptor PD-1 gene. The active form of the caspase-3 enzyme was estimated by ELISA. A human inflammatory antibody membrane array was employed to quantify forty inflammatory factors expressed in treated cells. We observed that melatonin inhibited the proliferation of doxorubicin-resistant HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner after 24-h incubation time with a calculated IC₅₀ greater than 10 mM (13.4 mM), the expression levels of genes involved in drug resistance response (ABCB1, ABCC1, ABCC5, and ABCG2) were downregulated. Also, the expression of caspase-3, Caspase-7, NRF2, and p53 genes were expressed at higher levels as compared to control (DMSO-treated cells). An active form of caspase-3 was confirmed by ELISA. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effect of melatonin was detected through the calculated fold change to control which was reduced for various mediators that have a role in the inflammation pathway. The current findings introduce melatonin as a promising anti-cancer treatment for human-resistant HCC which could be used in combination with current chemotherapeutic regimens to improve the outcome and reduce the developed multidrug resistance.

Computational approaches for discovering significant microRNAs, microRNA-mRNA regulatory pathways, and therapeutic protein targets in endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer (EC) is a urogenital cancer affecting millions of post-menopausal women, globally. This study aims to identify key miRNAs, target genes, and drug targets associated with EC metastasis. The global miRNA and mRNA expression datasets of endometrial tissue biopsies (24 tumors +3 healthy tissues for mRNA and 18 tumor +4 healthy tissues for miRNAs), were extensively analyzed by mapping of DEGs, DEMi, biological pathway enrichment, miRNA-mRNA networking, drug target identification, and survival curve output for differentially expressed genes. Our results reveal the dysregulated expression of 26 miRNAs and their 66 target genes involved in focal adhesions, p53 signaling pathway, ECM-receptor interaction, Hedgehog signaling pathway, fat digestion and absorption, glioma as well as retinol metabolism involved in cell growth, migration, and proliferation of endometrial cancer cells. The subsequent miRNA-mRNA network and expression status analysis have narrowed down to 2 hub miRNAs (hsa-mir-200a, hsa-mir-429) and 6 hub genes (PTCH1, FOSB, PDGFRA, CCND2, ABL1, ALDH1A1). Further investigations with different systems biology methods have prioritized ALDH1A1, ABL1 and CCND2 as potential genes involved in endometrial cancer metastasis owing to their high mutation load and expression status. Interestingly, overexpression of PTCH1, ABL1 and FOSB genes are reported to be associated with a low survival rate among cancer patients. The upregulated hsa-mir-200a-b is associated with the decreased expression of the PTCH1, CCND2, PDGFRA, FOSB and ABL1 genes in endometrial cancer tissue while hsa-mir-429 is correlated with the decreased expression of the ALDH1A1 gene, besides some antibodies, PROTACs and inhibitory molecules. In conclusion, this study identified key miRNAs (hsa-mir-200a, hsa-mir-429) and target genes ALDH1A1, ABL1 and CCND2 as potential biomarkers for metastatic endometrial cancers from large-scale gene expression data using systems biology approaches.

The interplay of sex steroid hormones and microRNAs in endometrial cancer: current understanding and future directions

Introduction

Endometrial cancer is a hormone-dependent malignancy, and sex steroid hormones play a crucial role in its pathogenesis. Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) can regulate the expression of sex steroid hormone receptors and modulate hormone signaling pathways. Our aim is to provide an overview of the current understanding of the role of miRNAs in endometrial cancer regulated by sex steroid hormone pathways.

Methods

A thorough literature search was carried out in the PubMed database. The articles published from 2018 to the present were included. Keywords related to miRNAs, endometrial cancer, and sex steroid hormones were used in the search.

Results

Dysregulation of miRNAs has been linked to abnormal sex steroid hormone signaling and the development of endometrial cancer. Various miRNAs have been identified as modulators of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression, and the miRNA expression profile has been shown to be a predictor of response to hormone therapy. Additionally, specific miRNAs have been implicated in the regulation of genes involved in hormone-related signaling pathways, such as the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK/ERK pathways.

Conclusion

The regulation of sex steroid hormones by miRNAs is a promising area of research in endometrial cancer. Future studies should focus on elucidating the functional roles of specific miRNAs in sex steroid hormone signaling and identifying novel miRNA targets for hormone therapy in endometrial cancer management.

MiR-1306-5p predicts favorable prognosis and inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion of colorectal cancer cells via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in the occurrence and progression of colorectal cancer. Our study aims to explore the role of miR-1306-5p in cell malignant phenotypes of colorectal cancer cells. RT-qPCR was performed to assess the expression of miR-1306-5p in colorectal cancer samples and cell lines. The effects of miR-1306-5p on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated through the CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay, and transwell invasion assay, respectively. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Luciferase reporter assay was used to predict the target gene of miR-1306-5p. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of signal pathway molecules and target proteins. We found that miR-1306-5p was low-expressed in colorectal cancer tissues and cell lines, and its expression was also associated with colorectal cancer development and prognosis. MiR-1306-5p overexpression led to a decrease in colorectal cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while promoting apoptosis. Moreover, it was discovered that SLCO2A1 was a target of miR-1306-5p. By targeting SLCO2A1, overexpression of miR-1306-5p could inhibit the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Overexpression of miR-1306-5p inhibited the colorectal cancer cell malignant phenotypes via regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway regulation by targeting SLCO2A1. Therefore, miR-1306-5p can be a prospective therapeutic target for treating colorectal cancer.

MicroRNA global profiling in cystic fibrosis cell lines reveals dysregulated pathways related with inflammation, cancer, growth, glucose and lipid metabolism, and fertility: an exploratory study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Cystic fibrosis (CF), is due to CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) loss of function, and is associated with comorbidities. The increasing longevity of CF patients has been associated with increased cancer risk besides the other known comorbidities. The significant heterogeneity among patients, suggests potential epigenetic regulation. Little attention has been given to how CFTR influences microRNA (miRNA) expression and how this may impact on biological processes and pathways.

METHODS

We assessed the changes in miRNAs and subsequently identified the affected molecular pathways using CFBE41o-, and IB3 human immortalized cell lines since they reflect the most common genetic mutations in CF patients, and 16HBE14o- cells were used as controls.

RESULTS

In the CF cell lines, 41 miRNAs showed significant changes (FC (log2) ≥ +2 or FC (log2) ≤ -2 and p-value≤0.05). Gene target analysis evidenced 511 validated miRNA target genes. Gene Ontology analysis evidenced cancer, inflammation, body growth, glucose, and lipid metabolism as the biological processes most impacted by these miRNAs. Protein-protein interaction and pathway analysis highlighted 50 significantly enriched pathways among which RAS, TGF beta, JAK/STAT and insulin signaling.

CONCLUSIONS

CFTR loss of function is associated with changes in the miRNA network, which regulates genes involved in the major comorbidities that affect CF patients suggesting that further research is warranted.

Retracted: miR-27b-3p Inhibits Invasion, Migration and Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition in Gastric Cancer by Targeting RUNX1 and Activation of the Hippo Signaling Pathway

The article entitled “miR-27b-3p Inhibits Invasion, Migration and Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition in Gastric Cancer by Targeting RUNX1 and Activation of the Hippo Signaling Pathway”, by Chen-Hui Bao and Lin Guo, has been retracted on the request of the Author in light of the changes to the University’s promotion policy, due to which the article needs further content. Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused. Kindly see Bentham Science Policy on Article retraction at the link https://benthamscience.com/journals/anti-canceragents-in-medicinal-chemistry/editorial-policies/ Bentham Science Disclaimer: It is a condition of publication that manuscripts submitted to this journal have not been published and will not be simultaneously submitted or published elsewhere. Furthermore, any data, illustration, structure, or table that has been published elsewhere must be reported, and copyright permission for reproduction must be obtained. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden, and by submitting the article for publication the authors agree that the publishers have the legal right to take appropriate action against the authors if plagiarism or fabricated information is discovered. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that the copyright of their article is transferred to the publishers if and when the article is accepted for publication.

Integrated Transcriptome and Multiple Activated Pathways in Endometrial Cancer

Because the incidence of endometrial cancer is notably increasing worldwide, it has become the leading gynecologic cancer in the United States. Standard treatment results in the loss of reproductive function in women of childbearing age. Furthermore, advanced cancer stages are associated with poor overall survival. The aim of this study was to explore the abnormal expression profile of genes during the development of endometrial cancer, which is essential to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms involved. Five pairs of endometrial cancer tissues and normal endometrial tissues were subjected to next-generation transcriptome sequencing technology. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to validate the expression profile of key differentially expressed genes (2.0-fold change, adj. p < 0.05) (DEGs) identified in the RNA-seq result. GO and KEGG pathways were used for bioinformatic analyses. The transcriptomic sequencing results showed 1153 DEGs, including 673 upregulated and 480 downregulated genes, in the EC specimens. Decreased expression of ID1, IGF1, GDF7, SMAD9, TGF-beta and WNT4, as well as GDF5, INHBA and ERBB4 overexpression, were confirmed in EC using RT-qPCR. Additionally, EC tissue exhibited marked enrichment in genes promoting cellular adhesion, proliferation, migration and plasma membrane. KEGG analysis revealed changes in various pathways, such as the TGF-beta, PI3K-Akt, Wnt, and estrogen pathways. Our data describe the molecular events involved in the pathogenesis of EC, which may be potential diagnostic markers and targets of therapeutic interventions.

miR-138-5p inhibits proliferation and invasion in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma by targeting SINA3 and regulation of the Notch signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

The function of miR-138-5p as an oncogenic factor has been reported in certain cancers. This study was performed to analyze the potential involvement of miR-138-5p in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC).

METHODS

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to explain the expression of miR-138-5p in cancer and paired non-cancer tissues of KIRC patients. Subsequently, miR-138-5p expression in KIRC tissues and cell lines, as well as that in normal tissues and normal renal tubular epithelial cell line, was detected. Artificial overexpressing of miR-138-5p was applied to observe its effect on the biological behaviors of KIRC cells. The target mRNA of miR-138-5p, SIN3A, was predicted and validated. Altered expression of miR-138-5p and SIN3A was introduced to confirm their functions in KIRC proliferation and invasion.

RESULTS

We showed that miR-138-5p was down-regulated in tumor tissues of KIRC patients comparing to adjacent healthy tissues and linked to dismal prognosis in patients. miR-138-5p could hinder KIRC proliferation and invasion, while artificial overexpression of SIN3A led to reversed trends. SIN3A was a target mRNA of miR-138-5p. miR-138-5p and SIN3A together affect the activation of the Notch signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

This study evidenced that up-regulated miR-138-5p inhibits proliferation and invasion of KIRC cells involving the transcription of SIN3A and the following regulation of the Notch signaling pathway.

PLAC1 is an independent predictor of poor survival, and promotes cell proliferation and invasion in cervical cancer

Placenta-specific protein 1 (PLAC1) is inversely associated with survival in several types of cancer. However, whether PLAC1 is involved in the progression of cervical cancer (CC) remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the prognostic role of PLAC1 in CC by determining the relationship between clinicopathological factors, PLAC1 gene expression and survival prognosis using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses. Similarly, Kaplan-Meier curves were evaluated with the log-rank test. Subsequently, gene set enrichment analysis was performed to compare the high- and low-PLAC1 expression phenotypes. Functional studies were further conducted in PLAC1-overexpressing HeLa cells and PLAC1-silenced MS751 cells, and western blotting was performed to determine whether PLAC1 promoted CC progression via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The findings demonstrated that high expression of PLAC1 was associated with American Joint Committee on Cancer metastasis pathological score and suggested a poor overall survival. ‘mTOR complex 1 signaling’, ‘interferon α response’ and ‘hypoxia’ were differentially enriched in the high-PLAC1 phenotype. Furthermore, PLAC1 promoted the invasion of CC cells in vitro. E-cadherin expression was decreased in the PLAC1-overexpressing cells, accompanied by increased expression of the mesenchymal markers, Vimentin, MMP2 and Slug, and the opposite effects were observed in PLAC1-silenced cells. Taken together, the present results indicated that high expression of PLAC1 was associated with poor survival and PLAC1 promoted metastasis via EMT in CC.

Long noncoding RNA ZFAS1 suppresses chondrocytes apoptosis via miR-302d-3p/SMAD2 in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) seriously affects people's quality of life due to joint pain, stiffness, disability, and dyskinesia worldwide. Long noncoding RNA zinc finger antisense 1 (ZFAS1) is downregulated and tightly associated with proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and matrix synthesis of chondrocyte in OA. However, the molecular mechanisms of ZFAS1 in OA remain unknown. The expression correlation between ZFAS1, miR-302d-3p, and SMAD2 in OA tissues was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. ZFAS1 was a lower expression, and expedited proliferation and repressed apoptosis of chondrocytes. MiR-302d-3p was a direct target of ZFAS1. MiR-302d-3p hindered proliferation and facilitated apoptosis of chondrocytes. MiR-302d-3p partially reversed the effect of ZFAS1 on proliferation and apoptosis of chondrocytes. SMAD2 was positively regulated by the ZFAS1/miR-302d-3p. MiR-302d-3p-mediated proliferation and apoptosis were partly abrogated by targeting SMAD2. ZFAS1 promoted chondrocytes proliferation and repressed apoptosis possibly by regulating miR-302d-3p/SMAD2 axis, providing a potential target for OA treatment.

MiRNA based tumor mutation burden diagnostic and prognostic prediction models for endometrial cancer

Uterus Corpus Endometrial cancer (UCEC) is the sixth most common malignant tumor worldwide. In this research, we identified diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers to reflect patients’ immune microenvironment and prognostic. Various data of UCEC patients from the TCGA database were obtained. Firstly, patients were divided into a high tumor mutation burden (TMB) level group and a low TMB level group according to the level of TMB. Then, differentially expressed miRNAs between the two groups were obtained. LASSO logistic regression analysis was used to construct a diagnostic model to predict the level of TMB. Univariate, multivariate, and LASSO regression analysis were used to construct a prognostic risk signature (PRS) to predict the prognosis of UCEC patients. Twenty-one miRNAs were used to construct a diagnostic model for predicting TMB levels. The AUC values of ROC curves for 21-miRNA-based diagnostic models were 0.911 in the training set, 0.827 in the test set, and 0.878 in the entire set. This diagnostic model showed positive correlation with TMB, PDL1 expression, and the infiltration of immune cells. In addition, three prognostic miRNAs were finally used to construct the PRS. The PRS was related to the expression of multiple immune checkpoints and the infiltration of multiple immune cells. Furthermore, the PRS can also reflect the response to some commonly used chemotherapy regimens. We have established a miRNA-based diagnostic model and a prognostic model that can predict the prognosis of UCEC patients and their response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy, thus providing valuable information on the choice of treatment regimen.

MicroRNA as Epigenetic Modifiers in Endometrial Cancer: A Systematic Review

Simple Summary

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the 2nd most common gynecologic cancer worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that contribute to epigenetic regulation. The objective of this systematic review is to summarize our current knowledge on the role of miRNAs in the epigenetic deregulation of tumor-related genes in EC. It includes all miRNAs reported to be involved in EC including their roles in DNA methylation and RNA-associated silencing. This systematic review should be useful for development of novel strategies to improve diagnosis and risk assessment as well as for new treatments aimed at miRNAs, their target genes or DNA methylation.

Abstract

The objective of this systematic review is to summarize our current knowledge on the influence of miRNAs in the epigenetic deregulation of tumor-related genes in endometrial cancer (EC). We conducted a literature search on the role of miRNAs in the epigenetic regulation of EC applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The following terms were used: microRNA, miRNA, miR, endometrial cancer, endometrium, epigenetic, epimutation, hypermethylation, lynch, deacetylase, DICER, novel biomarker, histone, chromatin. The miRNAs were classified and are presented according to their function (tumor suppressor or onco-miRNA), their targets (when known), their expression levels in EC tissue vs the normal surrounding tissue, and the degree of DNA methylation in miRNA loci and CpG sites. Data were collected from 201 articles, including 190 original articles, published between November 1, 2008 and September 30, 2020 identifying 313 different miRNAs implicated in epigenetic regulation of EC. Overall, we identified a total of 148 miRNAs with decreased expression in EC, 140 miRNAs with increased expression in EC, and 22 miRNAs with discordant expression levels. The literature implicated different epigenetic phenomena including altered miRNA expression levels (miR-182, -230), changes in the methylation of miRNA loci (miR-34b, -129-2, -130a/b, -152, -200b, -625) and increased/decreased methylation of target genes (miR-30d,-191). This work provides an overview of all miRNAs reported to be involved in epigenetic regulation in EC including DNA methylation and RNA-associated silencing. These findings may contribute to novel strategies in diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatments aimed at miRNAs, their target genes or DNA methylation.

Identification of a five-gene signature for predicting the progression and prognosis of stage I endometrial carcinoma

Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) is often diagnosed at an early clinical stage based on abnormal vaginal bleeding. However, the prognosis of UCEC is poor. The present study was conducted to identify novel tumor grade-related genes with the potential to predict the prognosis and progression of UCEC. A total of three gene expression microarray datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and one RNA-sequencing dataset with corresponding clinical information of patients with UCEC was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. In summary, 1,447 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between endometrial cancerous tissues and normal endometrial tissues. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was performed to assess the associations between DEGs and clinical traits. In total, five genes were found to be highly associated with the tumorigenesis and prognosis of UCEC. Among them, BUB1 mitotic checkpoint serine/threonine kinase B, cyclin B1, cell-division cycle protein 20 and non-SMC condensing I complex subunit G were involved in cell cycle regulation pathways, and DLG-associated protein 5 was involved in the Notch receptor 3 signaling pathway based on functional enrichment analyses. Of the five genes, four were highly expressed in endometrial cancerous tissues compared with normal endometrial tissues at the protein level. In addition, the higher expression of these genes predicted a higher tumor grade and worse overall survival. In conclusion, the present study revealed a 5-gene signature that can be used to predict the progression of UCEC.

Identification of core genes in the progression of endometrial cancer and cancer cell-derived exosomes by an integrative analysis

Endometrial cancer is one of the most prevalent tumors of the female reproductive system causing serious health effects to women worldwide. Although numerous studies, including analysis of gene expression profile and cellular microenvironment have been reported in this field, pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear. In this study, we performed a system bioinformatics analysis of endometrial cancer using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets (GSE17025, GSE63678, and GSE115810) to identify the core genes. In addition, exosomes derived from endometrial cancer cells were also isolated and identified. First, we analyzed the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between endometrial cancer tissues and normal tissues in clinic samples. We found that HAND2-AS1, PEG3, OGN, SFRP4, and OSR2 were co-expressed across all 3 datasets. Pathways analysis showed that several pathways associated with endometrial cancer, including "p53 signaling pathway", "Glutathione metabolism", "Cell cycle", and etc. Next, we selected DEGs with highly significant fold change and co-expressed across the 3 datasets and validated them in the TCGA database using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA). Finally, we performed a survival analysis and identified four genes (TOP2A, ASPM, EFEMP1, and FOXL2) that play key roles in endometrial cancer. We found up-regulation of TOP2A and ASPM in endometrial cancer tissues or cells, while EFEMP1 and FOXL2 were down-regulated. Furthermore, we isolated exosomes from the culturing supernatants of endometrial cancer cells (Ishikawa and HEC-1-A) and found that miR-133a, which regulates expression of FOXL2, were present in exosomes and that they could be delivered to normal endometrial cells. The common DEGs, pathways, and exosomal miRNAs identified in this study might play an important role in progression as well as diagnosis of endometrial cancer. In conclusion, our results provide insights into the pathogenesis and risk assessment of endometrial cancer. Even so, further studies are required to elucidate on the precise mechanism of action of these genes in endometrial cancer.