Long non‑coding RNA MIR4435‑2HG promotes the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by regulating the miR‑383‑5p/RBM3 axis

Long non-coding RNA MIR4435-2HG promotes pancreatic cancer progression by regulating ABHD17C through sponging miR-128-3p

Background

The recently identified carcinogenic long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MIR4435-2HG has been validated to contribute to the initiation and progression of several malignancies. Nonetheless, its specific mechanistic function in pancreatic cancer (PC) is yet to be determined. This study aims to investigate the expression and functional role of MIR4435-2HG in PC and to elucidate its potential mechanism.

Methods

This study employed The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx)-Pancreas datasets for the analysis of MIR4435-2HG expression in PC and normal pancreatic tissues and its relations with prognosis in PC. Moreover, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed for analyzing MIR4435-2HG, miR-128-3p, and ABHD17C expressions within cells and tissues. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected in vitro through Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry while utilizing transwell and wound healing assays to assess cell migration and invasion. Predicting miR-128-3p binding sites with MIR4435-2HG or ABHD17C was conducted via the online tool starBase and validated through a dual-luciferase reporter (DLR), RNA pull-down and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Herein, we deployed Western blot to assess protein expression levels. The in vivo role of MIR4435-2HG was studied using tumor xenografts.

Results

MIR4435-2HG overexpression exhibited a correlation with poor prognosis in PC. Knocking down MIR4435-2HG significantly hindered the proliferative, invading, and migrating PC cell abilities, accompanied by apoptosis induction, counteracted via a miR-128-3p inhibitor. Moreover, MIR4435-2HG could directly bind to miR-128-3p. Additionally, miR-128-3p directly targeted ABHD17C. Furthermore, in vitro as well as in vivo experiment results elucidated that knocking down MIR4435-2HG hindered PC progression by suppressing ABHD17C expression via miR-128-3p upregulation.

Conclusions

MIR4435-2HG can serve as a dependable target for PC diagnosis and treatment by modulating the miR-128-3p/ABHD17C axis to promote its progression.

Identification of a disulfidptosis-related lncRNA signature for the prognostic and immune landscape prediction in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

Disulfidptosis, a newly identified form of cell death, is triggered by disulfide stress. Herein, a unique signature was developed based on disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs (DRlncRNAs) for the prognostic and immune landscape prediction of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

METHODS

Transcriptome, somatic mutation, and clinical data were acquired at The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Individuals were partitioned into training and test cohorts at a 1:1 ratio to facilitate the development of a DRlncRNA signature using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operation method. Based on the median risk score, all HNSCC individuals were stratified into the high-risk group (HRG) and low-risk group (LRG). Kaplan-Meier survival and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to estimate the prognostic value, and a nomogram was generated for survival prediction. To provide a more comprehensive assessment, the tumor microenvironment, functional enrichment, immune cell infiltration, and immunotherapeutic sensitivity were explored between LRG and HRG.

RESULTS

A DRlncRNA signature was established with 10 DRlncRNAs. The corresponding values of areas under the ROC curves for 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival were 0.710, 0.692, and 0.640. A more favorable prognosis was noted in the patients with lower risk, along with higher immune scores, increased immune-related functions, and immune cell infiltration, as well as improved response to the immunotherapeutic intervention in comparison with individuals at higher risk.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate that the developed DRlncRNA signature holds promise as a reliable prognostic marker and predictor of immunotherapy response in HNSCC patients.

Biological Roles and Pathogenic Mechanisms of LncRNA MIR4435-2HG in Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

The long non-coding RNA MIR4435-2HG has been confirmed to play a crucial regulatory role in various types of tumors. As a novel type of non-coding RNA, MIR4435-2HG plays a key role in regulating the expression of tumor-related genes, interfering with cellular signaling pathways, and affecting tumor immune evasion. Its unique structure allows it to regulate the expression of various tumor-related genes through different pathways, participating in the regulation of tumor signaling pathways, such as regulating the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, influencing the biological behaviors of proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis in tumors. Numerous studies have found a high expression of MIR4435-2HG in various tumor tissues, closely related to the clinical pathological characteristics of tumors, such as staging, lymph node metastasis and prognosis. Some studies have discovered that MIR4435-2HG can regulate the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy drugs, affecting tumor cell drug resistance. This provides new insights into overcoming tumor drug resistance by regulating MIR4435-2HG. Therefore, studying its molecular mechanisms, expression regulation, and its relationship with the clinical features of tumors is of great significance for revealing the mechanisms of tumor occurrence and developing new therapeutic targets.

Establishment and validation of a redox-related long non-coding RNAs prognostic signature in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Reduction and oxidation (redox) reactions occur in living organisms as part of normal cellular metabolism. Here, we established a novel redox-related long non-coding RNAs (rrlncRNAs) signature to predict the prognosis and therapeutic response in Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The expression profile and clinical information were obtained from the TCGA project. In total, 10 differently expressed rrlncRNAs associated with prognosis were identified and involved in a prognostic risk score signature by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator penalized Cox analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of the survival rates predicted by the rrlncRNAs signature over one, two, and three years were found to be 0.651, 0.670, and 0.679. Following the completion of the Kaplan-Meier survival study, we discovered that the lower-risk cohort exhibited a much longer overall survival period in contrast with the higher-risk cohort. Univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses demonstrated that the risk score independently served as a significant predictive factor. GO annotation and KEGG pathway analyses illustrated that the rrlncRNAs signature was strongly associated with immune-related functions as well as signaling pathways. The tumor-infiltrating immune cells, tumor microenvironment, immune-related functions, HLA gene family expression, immune checkpoint genes expression, and somatic variants differed substantially between the low- and high-risk cohorts. Moreover, patients in low-risk group were predicted to present a favorable immunotherapy responsiveness, while in contrast, the high-risk group patients might have a stronger sensitivity to "docetaxel". According to our findings, the rrlncRNAs signature showed an excellent prognosis predictive value and might indicate therapeutic response to immunotherapy in HNSCC.

NUTF2 as a Prognostic Indicator and Potential Therapeutic Target in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Aim: To identify genes associated with the prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) and potential molecular targets for therapy. Materials and Methods: Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, Human Protein Atlas, University of ALabama at Birmingham CANcer, LinkedOmics, cBioPortal, Cell Counting Kit 8, and polymerase chain reaction were used in this study. Results: The expression level of nuclear transport factor 2 (NUTF2) was elevated in HNSC tissues and was associated with poor prognosis in HNSC patients. NUTF2-targeted intervention inhibited the proliferation of HNSC cells. SEC61G, which was positively correlated with NUTF2, was decreased in HNSC cells with NUTF2 suppression. Conclusions: NUTF2 may be correlated with the prognosis and development of HNSC, laying the foundation for future studies on the potential role of NUTF2 in HNSC.

Integrative Analysis of N6-Methyladenosine-Related Enhancer RNAs Identifies Distinct Prognosis and Tumor Immune Micro-Environment Patterns in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

At present, the prognostic value of N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-related enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) still remains unclear. Our study aims to explore the prognostic value of m6A-related eRNAs in HNSCC patients and their potential significance in immune infiltration and immunotherapy. We constructed a 5 m6A-related eRNAs risk model from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) HNSCC dataset, using univariate and multivariate Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Based on the SRAMP website and in vitro experiments, it was verified that these 5 m6A-related eRNAs had m6A sites, the expression of which was regulated by corresponding m6A regulators. Moreover, we constructed a nomogram base on 5 m6A-related eRNAs and confirmed the consistency and robustness of an internal TCGA testing set. Further analysis found that the risk score was positively associated with low overall survival (OS), tumor cell metastasis, metabolic reprogramming, low immune surveillance, lower expression of immune-related genes, and higher expression of targeted genes. Finally, we verified that silencing MIR4435-2HG inhibited HNSCC cell migration and invasion. This study contributes to the understanding of the characteristics of m6A-related eRNAs in HNSCC and provides a reference for effective immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

RBM3 is an outstanding cold shock protein with multiple physiological functions beyond hypothermia

RNA-binding motif protein 3 (RBM3), an outstanding cold shock protein, is rapidly upregulated to ensure homeostasis and survival in a cold environment, which is an important physiological mechanism in response to cold stress. Meanwhile, RBM3 has multiple physiological functions and participates in the regulation of various cellular physiological processes, such as antiapoptosis, circadian rhythm, cell cycle, reproduction, and tumogenesis. The structure, conservation, and tissue distribution of RBM3 in human are demonstrated in this review. Herein, the multiple physiological functions of RBM3 were summarized based on recent research advances. Meanwhile, the cytoprotective mechanism of RBM3 during stress under various adverse conditions and its regulation of transcription were discussed. In addition, the neuroprotection of RBM3 and its oncogenic role and controversy in various cancers were investigated in our review.

Emerging roles of PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and PIWI proteins in head and neck cancer and their potential clinical implications

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are among the well-known neoplasms originating in the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. Despite advancements in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, the survival rates of the patients are low, which has posed a major therapeutic challenge. A growing number of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), for instance, microRNAs, have been identified whose abnormal expression patterns have been implicated in HNSCC. However, more recently, several seminal research has shown that piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), a promising and young class of small ncRNA, are linked to the emergence and progression of cancer. They can regulate transposable elements (TE) and gene expression through multiple mechanisms, making them potentially more powerful regulators than miRNAs. Hence, they can be more promising ncRNAs candidates for cancer therapeutic intervention. Here, we surveyed the roles and clinical implications of piRNAs and their PIWI proteins partners in tumorigenesis and associated molecular processes of cancer, with a particular focus on HNSCC, to offer a new avenue for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic interventions for the malignancy, improving patient's outcomes.

MIR4435-2HG Is a Potential Pan-Cancer Biomarker for Diagnosis and Prognosis

The lncRNA MIR4435-2 host gene (MIR4435-2HG) is located on human chromosome 2q13, and its expression is up-regulated in 18 tumors. MIR4435-2HG participates in 6 signaling pathways to promote tumorigenesis, including the TGF-β signaling pathway, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, MDM2/p53 signaling pathway, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, Hippo signaling pathway, and MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. MIR4435-2HG competitively binds with 20 miRNAs to form a complex ceRNA network, thereby regulating the expression of downstream target genes. The high expression of MIR4435-2HG is also closely related to the clinicopathological characteristics and poor prognosis of a variety of tumors. Also, the high expression of MIR4435-2HG in peripheral blood or serum has the value of predicting the risk of 9 tumors. In addition, MIR4435-2HG participates in the mechanism of action of three cancer drugs, including resveratrol for the treatment of lung cancer, cisplatin for non-small cell lung cancer and colon cancer, and carboplatin for triple-negative breast cancer. This article systematically summarizes the diagnostic and prognostic value of MIR4435-2HG in a variety of tumors and outlines the ceRNA network and signaling pathways related to MIR4435-2HG, which will provide potential directions for future MIR4435-2HG research.

MIR4435-2HG：A tumor-associated long non-coding RNA

BACKGROUND

It is well known that the changes in the expression level of LncRNA can affect the progression of tumors, which has caused a great upsurge of research in recent years. More and more LncRNA has been proved to take effect on a series of cancers and can promote tumor growth, migration and invasion. In this review, we aim to clarify the pathophysiological functions of LncRNA -MIR4435-2 HG in multiple tumors can be elucidated.

METHODS

By consulting the literature through PubMed, this paper summarizes the relationship between MIR4435-2HG and tumor and its role in the occurrence and development of cancer, and also expounds the specific molecular mechanism of the effect of MIR4435-2HG on cancer.

RESULTS

MIR4435-2HG can function as an oncogene in a variety of cancers. The expression level was abnormally elevated in a series of cancers, consisting of melanoma gastric cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, oral squamous cell carcinoma, lung cancer, cervical cancer, prostate carcinoma, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, hepatocellular Carcinoma, clear cell renal cell carcinoma malignant, glioma and colorectal cancer. Moreover, MIR4435-2HG is related to the poor prognosis of a variety of cancers. MIR4435-2HG can also affect tumor proliferation, invasion and apoptosis. In addition, MIR4435-2HG can also enhance the metabolic function of myeloid dendritic cells of elite HIV-1 controllers.

CONCLUSION

MIR4435-2HG affects the development of a variety of cancers. It can act as a clinical marker for early tumor diagnosis and takes effects to tumor targeted therapy.

MIR4435-2HG: A newly proposed lncRNA in human cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in the occurrence and progression of tumors. Extensive research has contributed to the current understanding of the critical roles played by lncRNAs in various cancers. LncRNA MIR4435-2HG has been found to be crucial in many cancers, such as breast, cervical, colorectal, and gastric cancer. Expression of MIR4435-2HG is generally upregulated in cancers and MIR4435-2HG participates in many biological functions through molecular mechanism of competitive endogenous RNA networks. This review profiles recent research findings on the expression, functions, mechanism, and clinical value of MIR4435-2HG in cancer, and serves as a reference for further MIR4435-2HG-related research and clinical trials.

Construction of a necroptosis-related lncRNA signature to predict the prognosis and immune microenvironment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Previous studies have determined that necroptosis‐related genes are potential biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Herein, we established a novel risk model based on necroptosis‐related lncRNAs (nrlncRNAs) to predict the prognosis of HNSCC patients.

Methods

Transcriptome and related information were obtained from TCGA database, and an nrlncRNA signature was established based on univariate Cox analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression. Kaplan–Meier analysis and time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were used to evaluate the model, and a nomogram for survival prediction was established. Gene set enrichment analysis, immune analysis, drug sensitivity analysis, correlation with N6‐methylandenosin (m6A), and tumor stemness analysis were performed. Furthermore, the entire set was divided into two clusters for further discussion.

Results

A novel signature was established with six nrlncRNAs. The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) for 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year overall survival (OS) were 0.699, 0.686, and 0.645, respectively. Patients in low‐risk group and cluster 2 had a better prognosis, more immune cell infiltration, higher immune function activity, and higher immune scores; however, patients in high‐risk group and cluster 1 were more sensitive to chemotherapy. Moreover, the risk score had negative correlation with m6A‐related gene expression and tumor stemness.

Conclusion

According to this study, we constructed a novel signature with nrlncRNA pairs to predict the survival of HNSCC patients and guide immunotherapy and chemotherapy. This may possibly promote the development of individualized and precise treatment for HNSCC patients.

miR-196b-5p and miR-107 Expression Differentiates Ocular Sebaceous Carcinoma from Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Conjunctiva

An Ocular Sebaceous Carcinoma (OSC) is a rare malignant tumor for which initial clinical and pathological diagnosis is often incorrect. OSCs can mimic Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Conjunctiva (SCCC). The aim of this study was to find microRNA biomarkers to distinguish OSCs and SCCCs from normal tissue and from each other. Clinical OSC and SCCC case files and the corresponding histopathological slides were collected and reviewed. Micro dissected formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor and control tissues were subjected to semi-high throughput microRNA profiling. MicroRNA expression distinguishes OSCs and SCCCs from corresponding control tissues. Selected differentially expressed miRNAs were validated using single RT-PCR assays. No prognostic miRNAs could be identified that reliably predict SCCC metastasis or OSC recurrence. A comparison between OSCs (n = 14) and SCCCs (n = 18) revealed 38 differentially expressed microRNAs (p < 0.05). Differentially expressed miRNAs were selected for validation in the discovery cohort and an independent validation cohort (OSCs, n = 11; SCCCs, n = 12). At least two miRNAs, miR-196b-5p (p ≤ 0.05) and miR-107 (p ≤ 0.001), displayed a statistically significant differential expression between OSCs and SCCCs with miR-196b-5p upregulated in SCCCs and miR-107 upregulated in OSCs. In the validation cohort, microRNA miR-493-3p also showed significant upregulation in SCCCs when compared to OSCs (p ≤ 0.05). ROC analyses indicated that the combined miR-196b-5p and miR-107 expression levels predicted OSCs with 90.0% sensitivity and 83.3% specificity. In conclusion, the combined testing of miR-196b-5p and miR-107, can be of additional use in routine diagnostics to discriminate OSCs from SCCCs.

Regulation of Ferroptosis by Non-Coding RNAs in Head and Neck Cancers

Ferroptosis is a newly identified mode of programmed cell death characterized by iron-associated accumulation of lipid peroxides. Emerging research on ferroptosis has suggested its implication in tumorigenesis and stemness of cancer. On the other hand, non-coding RNAs have been shown to play a pivotal role in the modulation of various genes that affect the progression of cancer cells and ferroptosis. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the theoretical modeling of ferroptosis and its relationship between non-coding RNAs and head and neck cancers. Aside from the significance of ferroptosis-related non-coding RNAs in prognostic relevance, we also review how these non-coding RNAs participate in the regulation of iron, lipid metabolism, and reactive oxygen species accumulation. We aim to provide a thorough grounding in the function of ferroptosis-related non-coding RNAs based on current knowledge in an effort to develop effective therapeutic strategies for head and neck cancers.

A Novel Ferroptosis-Related lncRNA Signature for Prognosis Prediction in Patients with Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma

Purpose

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) is a common renal cell carcinoma. Recent studies have reported that ferroptosis is involved in the occurrence and development of tumors. Long non-coding RNAs can be used as independent biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of a variety of tumors.

Methods

Gene expression profile and clinical information of patients with PRCC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Lasso penalized Cox regression and univariate Cox regression analysis were utilized for model construction. The Kaplan–Meier (K-M) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to validate the predictive effect of the prognostic signature. Immune cell infiltration and immune function were compared between the high-risk and low-risk groups. Chemotherapy sensitivity analysis was also performed.

Results

We constructed a prognostic signature consisting of 15 ferroptosis-related lncRNAs. The K-M curves validated the fine predictive accuracy of the prognostic signature (p < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) of the lncRNA signature was 0.930, exhibiting robust prognostic capacity. The high-risk group had a greater degree of immune cell infiltration than the low-risk group. Significant differences in inflammation promotion, parainflammation, and type I IFN response were noted between the low-risk and high-risk groups (p < 0.01). The expression levels of immune checkpoints including CD80, IDO1, and LAG3 were significantly higher in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group (p < 0.05). Chemotherapy sensitivity analysis showed that MNX1-AS1, ZFAS1, MIR4435-2HG, and ADAMTS9-AS1 were significantly correlated with the sensitivity of some chemotherapy drugs (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

We demonstrated that a ferroptosis-related lncRNA prognostic signature could be a novel biomarker for PRCC.

A Concise Review of MicroRNA-383: Exploring the Insights of Its Function in Tumorigenesis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that commonly have 18-22 nucleotides and play important roles in the regulation of gene expression via directly binding to the 3'-UTR of target mRNAs. Approximately 50% of human genes are regulated by miRNAs and they are involved in many human diseases, including various types of cancers. Recently, microRNA-383 (miR-383) has been identified as being aberrantly expressed in multiple cancers, such as malignant melanoma, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular cancer, and glioma. Increasing evidence suggests that miR-383 participates in tumorigenic events including proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis as well as drug resistance. Although downstream targets including CCND1, LDHA, VEGF, and IGF are illustrated to be regulated by miR-383, its roles in carcinogenesis are still ambiguous and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Herein, we review the latest studies on miR-383 and summarize its functions in human cancers and other diseases. The goal of this review is to provide new strategies for targeted therapy and further investigations.

MicroRNA-383: A tumor suppressor miRNA in human cancer

Downregulated expression of anti-tumor miR-383 has been found in many kinds of cancer. MiR-383 family members can directly target the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the mRNA of some pro-tumor genes to attenuate several cancer-related processes, including cell proliferation, invasion, migration, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, glycolysis, chemoresistance, and the development of cancer stem cells, whilst promoting apoptosis. Functionally, miR-383 operates as a tumor inhibitor miRNA in many types of cancer, including breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, glioma, medulloblastoma, melanoma, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma, thyroid cancer, and B-cell lymphoma. Both pro-tumor and anti-tumor effects have been attributed to miR-383 in ovarian cancer. However, only the pro-tumor effects of miR-383 were reported in cholangiocarcinoma. The restoration of miR-383 expression could be considered a possible treatment for cancer. This review discusses the anti-tumor effects of miR-383 in human cancers, emphasizing their downstream target genes and potential treatment approaches.

Excavating novel diagnostic and prognostic long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: an integrated bioinformatics analysis of competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and gene co-expression networks

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to fine-tune gene regulations that govern a broad spectrum of oncogenic processes. Nonetheless, our understanding of the roles of lncRNAs and their interactions with miRNAs and mRNAs in HNSCC is still highly rudimentary. Here, we present a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis in which competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network construction and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were combined to explore novel diagnostic and prognostic lncRNAs for HNSCC. Differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs), miRNAs (DEMs) and lncRNAs (DELs) were identified based on the RNA sequencing data and clinical data retrieved from TCGA database. LncRNA-regulated ceRNA networks were constructed based on the interactive RNA pairs predicted by miRDB, miRcode and TargetScan. WGCNA was conducted to identify lncRNAs that were significantly correlated with patient overall survival (OS) and HNSCC tumor. RT-qPCR was employed to validate the expression of lncRNAs in HNSCC cell lines and patient sera. A ceRNA network consisting of 90 DEGs, 7 DEMs and 67 DELs associated with clinical traits was established. WGCNA and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that 5 DELs (MIR4435-2 HG, CASC9, LINC01980, STARD4-AS1 and MIR99AHG) were significantly correlated with OS of HNSCC patients, whereas DEL PART1 was most significantly correlated with the HNSCC tumor. The in silico predicted expression patterns of PART1, LINC01980 and MIR4435-2 HG were further validated in HNSCC cell lines and patient sera. Collectively, the present study provided novel insights into the lncRNA-regulated ceRNA networks in HNSCC and identified novel lncRNAs that harbor diagnostic and prognostic potentials for HNSCC.Abbreviations BP, biological process. CC, cellular component. ceRNA, competing endogenous RNA. DEG, differential expressions of mRNA. DEL, differentially expressed lncRNA. DEM, differentially expressed miRNA. ESCC, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. FPKM, Fragments Per Kilobase Million. GO, Gene Ontology. GS, gene significance. HNSCC, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. KEGG, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. LncRNA, long non-coding RNA. MCC, Maximal Clique Centrality. ME, module eigengenes. MF, molecular functions. MM, module membership. MRE, miRNA-binding site. MYO5A, Myosin-Va. PART1, prostate androgen-regulated transcript 1. RBM3, RNA‑binding motif protein 3. TCGA, The Cancer Genome Atlas. TOM, topological overlap measure. TSCC, tongue squamous cell carcinoma. WGCNA, weighted gene co-expression network analysis.

Systematical analysis reveals a strong cancer relevance of CREB1-regulated genes

The transcription factor cyclic-AMP response element-binding protein 1 (CREB1) responds to cAMP level and controls the expression of target genes, which regulates nutrition partitioning. The promoters of CREB1-targeted genes responsive to cAMP have been extensively investigated and characterized with the presence of both cAMP response element and TATA box. Compelling evidence demonstrates that CREB1 also plays an essential role in promoting tumor development. However, only very few genes required for cell survival, proliferation and migration are known to be constitutively regulated by CREB1 in tumors. Their promoters mostly do not harbor any cAMP response element. Thus, it is very likely that CREB1 regulates the expressions of distinct sets of target genes in normal tissues and tumors. The whole gene network constitutively regulated by CREB1 in tumors has remained unrevealed. Here, we employ a systematical and integrative approach to decipher this gene network in the context of both tissue cultured cancer cells and patient samples. We combine transcriptomic, Rank-Rank Hypergeometric Overlap, and Chipseq analysis, to define and characterize CREB1-regulated genes in a multidimensional fashion. A strong cancer relevance of those top-ranked targets, which meet the most stringent criteria, is eventually verified by overall survival analysis of cancer patients. These findings strongly suggest the importance of genes constitutively regulated by CREB1 for their implicative involvement in promoting tumorigenesis.