LncRNA NEAT1 modulates sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma through regulating the miR-149-5p/AKT1 axis

Exploring non-coding RNA mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma: implications for therapy and prognosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant contributor to cancer-related deaths in the world. The development and progression of HCC are closely correlated with the abnormal regulation of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Important biological pathways in cancer biology, such as cell proliferation, death, and metastasis, are impacted by these ncRNAs, which modulate gene expression. The abnormal expression of non-coding RNAs in HCC raises the possibility that they could be applied as new biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment targets. Furthermore, by controlling the expression of cancer-related genes, miRNAs can function as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes. On the other hand, lncRNAs play a role in the advancement of cancer by interacting with other molecules within the cell, which, in turn, affects processes such as chromatin remodeling, transcription, and post-transcriptional processes. The importance of ncRNA-driven regulatory systems in HCC is being highlighted by current research, which sheds light on tumor behavior and therapy response. This research highlights the great potential of ncRNAs to improve patient outcomes in this difficult disease landscape by augmenting the present methods of HCC care through the use of precision medicine approaches.

Research Progress of Long Non-Coding RNA in Tumor Drug Resistance: A New Paradigm

In the past few decades, chemotherapy has been one of the most effective cancer treatment options. Drug resistance is currently one of the greatest obstacles to effective cancer treatment. Even though drug resistance mechanisms have been extensively investigated, they have not been fully elucidated. Recent genome-wide investigations have revealed the existence of a substantial quantity of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) transcribed from the human genome, which actively participate in numerous biological processes, such as transcription, splicing, epigenetics, the cell cycle, cell differentiation, development, pluripotency, immune microenvironment. The abnormal expression of lncRNA is considered a contributing factor to the drug resistance. Furthermore, drug resistance may be influenced by genetic and epigenetic variations, as well as individual differences in patient treatment response, attributable to polymorphisms in metabolic enzyme genes. This review focuses on the mechanism of lncRNAs resistance to target drugs in the study of tumors with high mortality, aiming to establish a theoretical foundation for targeted therapy.

LncRNA NEAT1 in the pathogenesis of liver-related diseases

Nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) that is widely expressed in a variety of mammalian cell types. Altered expression levels of the lncRNA NEAT1 have been reported in liver-related disorders including cancer, fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, viral hepatitis, and hepatic ischemia. lncRNA NEAT1 mostly acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to sponge various miRNAs (miRs) to regulate different functions. In regard to hepatic cancers, the elevated expression of NEAT1 has been reported to have a relation with the proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells. Furthermore, NEAT1 upregulation has contributed to the pathogenesis of other liver diseases such as fibrosis. In this review, we summarize and discuss the molecular mechanisms by which NEAT1 contributes to liver-related disorders including acute liver failure, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver fibrosis, and liver carcinoma, providing novel insights and introducing NEAT1 as a potential therapeutic target in these diseases.

The role of competing endogenous RNA network in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma: potential therapeutic targets

The current situation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management is challenging due to its high incidence, mortality, recurrence and metastasis. Recent advances in gene genetic and expression regulation have unveiled the significant role of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) in various cancers. This led to the formulation of the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) hypothesis, which posits that both coding RNA and ncRNA, containing miRNA response elements (MRE), can share the same miRNA sequence. This results in a competitive network between ncRNAs, such as lncRNA and mRNA, allowing them to regulate each other. Extensive research has highlighted the crucial role of the ceRNA network in HCC development, impacting various cellular processes including proliferation, metastasis, cell death, angiogenesis, tumor microenvironment, organismal immunity, and chemotherapy resistance. Additionally, the ceRNA network, mediated by lncRNA or circRNA, offers potential in early diagnosis and prevention of HCC. Consequently, ceRNAs are emerging as therapeutic targets for HCC. The complexity of these gene networks aligns with the multi-target approach of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), presenting a novel perspective for TCM in combating HCC. Research is beginning to show that TCM compounds and prescriptions can affect HCC progression through the ceRNA network, inhibiting proliferation and metastasis, and inducing apoptosis. Currently, the lncRNAs TUG1, NEAT1, and CCAT1, along with their associated ceRNA networks, are among the most promising ncRNAs for HCC research. However, this field is still in its infancy, necessitating advanced technology and extensive basic research to fully understand the ceRNA network mechanisms of TCM in HCC treatment.

CircUCK2 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma development by upregulating UCK2 in a mir-149-5p-dependent manner

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) participate in the regulation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) progression. The objective of this study was to explore the function and mechanism of circUCK2 in HCC development.

METHODS

The RNA levels of circUCK2, miR-149-5p and uridine-cytidine kinase 2 (UCK2) were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). EdU incorporation assay and colony formation assay were respectively performed to analyze cell proliferation and colony formation. Wound healing assay and transwell assay were conducted for cell migration and invasion. Flow cytometry was used for cell apoptosis analysis. Western blot assay was conducted to determine the protein levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) and UCK2. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and RNA pull-down assay were conducted to confirm the interaction between miR-149-5p and circUCK2 or UCK2. The xenograft model was established to explore the role of circUCK2 in tumor growth in vivo.

RESULTS

CircUCK2 level was elevated in HCC, and circUCK2 depletion suppressed HCC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion and accelerated cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, circUCK2 could positively modulate UCK2 expression by interacting with miR-149-5p. Furthermore, the repressive effects of circUCK2 knockdown on the malignant behaviors of HCC cells were alleviated by UCK2 overexpression or miR-149-5p inhibition. The promoting effects of circUCK2 overexpression on HCC cell malignancy were alleviated by UCK2 silencing or miR-149-5p introduction. Additionally, circUCK2 knockdown hampered tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSION

CircUCK2 contributed to HCC malignant progression in vitro and in vivo via targeting miR-149-5p/UCK2 axis, demonstrating that circUCK2 might be a novel therapeutic target for HCC.

Combating drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma: No awareness today, no action tomorrow

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the sixth most common cancer worldwide, is associated with a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. Patients with early HCC may benefit from surgical resection to remove tumor tissue and a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it. Unfortunately, most patients with HCC are diagnosed at an advanced or distant stage, at which point resection is not feasible. Systemic therapy is now routinely prescribed to patients with advanced HCC; however, drug resistance has become a major obstacle to the treatment of HCC and exploring purported mechanisms promoting drug resistance remains a challenge. Here, we focus on the determinants of drug resistance from the perspective of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs), autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), exosomes, ferroptosis, and the tumor microenvironment (TME), with the aim to provide new insights into HCC treatment.

Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression: From Classic to Novel Clinicopathogenetic Implications

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a predominant malignancy with increasing incidences and mortalities worldwide. In Western countries, the progressive affirmation of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) as the main chronic liver disorder in which HCC occurrence is appreciable even in non-cirrhotic stages, constitutes a real health emergency. In light of this, a further comprehension of molecular pathways supporting HCC onset and progression represents a current research challenge to achieve more tailored prognostic models and appropriate therapeutic approaches. RNA non-coding transcripts (ncRNAs) are involved in the regulation of several cancer-related processes, including HCC. When dysregulated, these molecules, conventionally classified as "small ncRNAs" (sncRNAs) and "long ncRNAs" (lncRNAs) have been reported to markedly influence HCC-related progression mechanisms. In this review, we describe the main dysregulated ncRNAs and the relative molecular pathways involved in HCC progression, analyzing their implications in certain etiologically related contexts, and their applicability in clinical practice as novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic tools. Finally, given the growing evidence supporting the immune system response, the oxidative stress-regulated mechanisms, and the gut microbiota composition as relevant emerging elements mutually influencing liver-cancerogenesis processes, we investigate the relationship of ncRNAs with this triad, shedding light on novel pathogenetic frontiers of HCC progression.

Pathogenesis of psoriasis via miR-149-5p/AKT1axis by long noncoding RNA BLACAT1

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is a chronic, complicated, and recurrent inflammatory skin disease, whose precise molecular mechanisms need to be further explored. The lncRNA bladder cancer-associated transcript 1 (BLACAT1) is aberrantly expressed in many cancers and associated with cellular hyperproliferation and may play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Thus, this study aimed at identifying the primary mechanism associated with BLACAT1 in psoriasis pathogenesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the expression of BLACAT1 in psoriasis tissues. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using cell counting kit-8 and apoptosis assays, respectively. In vivo experiments and histopathological examinations were performed to investigate the effects of BLACAT1 on psoriasis. Dual-luciferase Reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were used to evaluate the relationship among BLACAT1 and miR-149-5p and AKT1.

RESULTS

BLACAT1 was upregulated in psoriasis tissues. Overexpression exacerbated the clinical manifestation of psoriasis and increased the epidermal thickness in imiquimod-induced mice. BLACAT1 could promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of keratinocytes. Further studies demonstrated that BLACAT1 positively regulated AKT1 expression, functioning as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging miR-149-5p.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of lncRNA BLACAT1 and miR-149-5p regulates AKT1 expression and promotes psoriasis formation thus may provide a new direction for psoriasis treatment.

Evaluation and Application of Drug Resistance by Biomarkers in the Clinical Treatment of Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is one of the most lethal cancers in the world, mainly owing to the lack of effective means for early monitoring and treatment. Accordingly, there is considerable research interest in various clinically applicable methods for addressing these unmet needs. At present, the most commonly used biomarker for the early diagnosis of liver cancer is alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), but AFP is sensitive to interference from other factors and cannot really be used as the basis for determining liver cancer. Treatment options in addition to liver surgery (resection, transplantation) include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. However, even more expensive targeted drug therapies have a limited impact on the clinical outcome of liver cancer. One of the big reasons is the rapid emergence of drug resistance. Therefore, in addition to finding effective biomarkers for early diagnosis, an important focus of current discussions is on how to effectively adjust and select drug strategies and guidelines for the treatment of liver cancer patients. In this review, we bring this thought process to the drug resistance problem faced by different treatment strategies, approaching it from the perspective of gene expression and molecular biology and the possibility of finding effective solutions.

An Updated Review of Contribution of Long Noncoding RNA-NEAT1 to the Progression of Human Cancers

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) present pivotal roles in cancer tumorigenesis and progression. Recently, nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) as a lncRNA has been shown to mediate cell proliferation, migration, and EMT in tumor cells. NEAT1 by targeting several miRNAs/mRNA axes could regulate cancer cell behavior. Therefore, NEAT1 may function as a potent biomarker for the prediction and treatment of some human cancers. In this review, we summarized various NEAT1-related signaling pathways that are critical in cancer initiation and progression.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in hepatocellular carcinoma progression: Biological functions and new therapeutic targets

Liver is an important organ in body that performs vital functions such as detoxification. Liver is susceptible to development of cancers, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among them. 75-85% of liver cancer cases are related to HCC. Therefore, much attention has been directed towards understanding factors mediating HCC progression. LncRNAs are epigenetic factors with more than 200 nucleotides in length located in both nucleus and cytoplasm and they are promising candidates in cancer therapy. Directing studies towards understanding function of lncRNAs in HCC is of importance. LncRNAs regulate cell cycle progression and growth of HCC cells, and they can also induce/inhibit apoptosis in tumor cells. LncRNAs affect invasion and metastasis in HCC mainly by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanism. Revealing the association between lncRNAs and downstream signaling pathways in HCC is discussed in the current manuscript. Infectious diseases can affect lncRNA expression in mediating HCC development and then, altered expression level of lncRNA is associated with drug resistance and radio-resistance. Biomarker application of lncRNAs and their role in prognosis and diagnosis of HCC are also discussed to pave the way for treatment of HCC patients.

Tumor-Suppressive and Oncogenic Roles of microRNA-149-5p in Human Cancers

Malignant tumors are always a critical threat to human health, with complex pathogenesis, numerous causative factors, and poor prognosis. The features of cancers, such as gene mutations, epigenetic alterations, and the activation and inhibition of signaling pathways in the organism, play important roles in tumorigenesis and prognosis. MicroRNA (miRNA) enables the control of various molecular mechanisms and plays a variety of roles in human cancers, such as radiation sensitivity and tumor immunity, through the regulation of target genes. MiR-149-5p participates in the process and is closely related to lipogenesis, the migration of vascular endothelial cells, and the expression of stem-cell-related proteins. In recent years, its role in cancer has dramatically increased. In this review, we summarize the regular physiological roles of miRNAs, specifically miR-149-5p, in the organism and discuss the tumor-suppressive or oncogenic roles of miR-149-5p in different human cancers with respect to signaling pathways involved in regulation. Possible clinical applications of miR-149-5p in future targeted therapies and prognosis improvement in oncology are suggested.

Investigation of Anti-Liver Cancer Activity of the Herbal Drug FDY003 Using Network Pharmacology

Globally, liver cancer (LC) is the sixth-most frequently occurring and the second-most fatal malignancy, responsible for 0.83 million deaths annually. Although the application of herbal drugs in cancer therapies has increased, their anti-LC activity and relevant mechanisms have not been fully studied from a systems perspective. To address these issues, we conducted a system-perspective network pharmacological investigation into the activity and mechanisms underlying the action of the herbal drug. FDY003 reduced the viability of human LC treatment. FDY003 reduced the viability of human LC cells and elevated their chemosensitivity. There were a total of 16 potential bioactive chemical components in FDY003 and they had 91 corresponding targets responsible for the pathological processes in LC. These FDY003 targets were functionally involved in regulating the survival, proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of LC cells. Additionally, we found that FDY003 may target key signaling cascades connected to diverse LC pathological mechanisms, namely, PI3K-Akt, focal adhesion, IL-17, FoxO, MAPK, and TNF pathways. Overall, this study contributed to integrative mechanistic insights into the anti-LC potential of FDY003.

Recent advances of NEAT1-miRNA interactions in cancer

With high incidence rate, cancer is the main cause of death in humans. Non-coding RNAs, as novel master regulators, especially long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), play important roles in the regulation of tumorigenesis. lncRNA NEAT1 has recently gained much attention, as it is dysregulated in a broad spectrum of cancers, where it acts as either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor gene. Accumulating evidence shows that NEAT1 is correlated with the process of carcinogenesis, including proliferation, invasion, survival, drug resistance, and metastasis. NEAT1 is considered to be a biomarker and a novel therapeutic target for the diagnosis and prognosis of different cancer types. The mechanisms by which NEAT1 plays a critical role in cancers are mainly via interactions with miRNAs. NEAT1-miRNA regulatory networks play significant roles in tumorigenesis, which has attracted much attention from researchers around the world. In this review, we summarize the interaction of NEAT1 with miRNAs in the regulation of protein-coding genes in cancer. A better understanding of the NEAT1-miRNA interactions in cancer will help develop new diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic approaches.

A Review on the Role of miR-149-5p in the Carcinogenesis

miR-149 is an miRNA with essential roles in carcinogenesis. This miRNA is encoded by the MIR149 gene on 2q37.3. The miR-149 hairpin produces miR-149-5p and miR-149-3p, which are the “guide” and the sister “passenger” strands, respectively. Deep sequencing experiments have shown higher prevalence of miR-149-5p compared with miR-149-3p. Notably, both oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles have been reported for miR-149-5p. In this review, we summarize the impact of miR-149-5p in the tumorigenesis and elaborate mechanisms of its involvement in this process in a variety of neoplastic conditions based on three lines of evidence, i.e., in vitro, in vivo and clinical settings.

MicroRNA‑149 inhibits cancer cell malignant phenotype by regulating Akt1 in C4‑2 CRPC cell line

Prostate cancer (PCa) is an androgen‑dependent disease. Androgen receptor (AR) has a crucial role in the development and progression of PCa. Recently, several microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) involved in AR regulation have been associated with castration‑resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), the terminal stage of PCa. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism remains unclear. The present study aimed to identify a novel miR‑149 regulatory network and potential therapeutic target for CRPC. It was found that ectopic expression of miR‑149 mimic could inhibit AR expression, repress epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in CRPC cell line C4‑2, whereas the miR‑149 inhibitor exerted the opposite effects. Furthermore, it was also revealed that miR‑149 could reduce the functional activity of the PI3K/Akt1 signaling pathway by targeting Akt1 protein, the key regulatory factor of the PI3K/Akt1 signaling pathway. Knockdown of Akt1 by short hairpin RNA increased apoptosis, reduced proliferation, and restrained migration and invasion in CRPC cells, with the effect of AR inhibition. In conclusion, these results revealed that miR‑149 acts as a tumor suppressor in CRPC cell line C4‑2 and restrains its progression through the AR signaling pathway by targeting Akt1. The miR‑149/Akt1/AR regulatory pathway may represent a novel PCa therapeutic target.

MiR-149-5p: An Important miRNA Regulated by Competing Endogenous RNAs in Diverse Human Cancers

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) consist of a large family of small, non-coding RNAs with the ability to result in gene silencing post-transcriptionally. With recent advances in research technology over the past several years, the physiological and pathological potentials of miRNAs have been gradually uncovered. MiR-149-5p, a conserved miRNA, was found to regulate physiological processes, such as inflammatory response, adipogenesis and cell proliferation. Notably, increasing studies indicate miR-149-5p may act as an important regulator in solid tumors, especially cancers in reproductive system and digestive system. It has been acknowledged that miR-149-5p can function as an oncogene or tumor suppressor in different cancers, which is achieved by controlling a variety of genes expression and adjusting downstream signaling pathway. Moreover, the levels of miR-149-5p are influenced by several newly discovered long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs). However, there is blank about systematic function and mechanism of miR-149-5p in human cancers. In this review, we firstly summarize the present comprehension of miR-149-5p at the molecular level, its vital role in tumor initiation and progression, as well as its potential roles in monitoring diverse reproductive and digestive malignancies.

Upregulated LINC01667 Expression Is Correlated With Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex pathological process. Long intergenic non–protein-coding RNA 1667 (LINC01667, also known as MGC38584) plays an oncogenic role in several human cancers; however, its functional role in HCC tumorigenesis remains unknown. Here, we first evaluated the gene expression levels of LINC01667 in HCC using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases. We then elucidated the association between LINC01667 gene expression levels and the survival rates of patients with HCC. We detected the effect of LINC01667 on the malignant phenotypes (cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis etc.) and the MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways of HepG2, SMMC-7721 and HUH7 cells. We also analyzed the sensitivity of HepG2, SMMC-7721 and HUH7 with different expression levels of LINC01667 to anti-HCC drugs in vitro. Based on data from the aforementioned databases and our experiments in vitro, we found that LINC01667 was overexpressed in HCC, and that patients with high LINC01667 levels had a remarkably poor overall survival rate. In addition, inhibition of LINC01667 expression suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells and promoted their apoptosis in vitro. In contrast, overexpression of LINC01667 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of HUH7 cells and suppressed their apoptosis in vitro. ChIRP-seq (chromatin isolation by RNA purification) showed that LINC01667 bound to MEG3, and downregulated the expression of MEG3. In addition, western blotting showed that LINC01667 could activate the NF-κB pathway to promote cancer progression. In conclusion, we report that LINC01667 is an important oncogene in HCC and may be used as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of HCC.

Long Non-coding RNAs: Potential Players in Cardiotoxicity Induced by Chemotherapy Drugs

One of the most important side effects of chemotherapy is cardiovascular complications, such as cardiotoxicity. Many factors are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiotoxicity; one of the most important of which is long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). lncRNA has 200-1000 nucleotides. It is involved in important processes such as cell proliferation, regeneration and apoptosis; today it is used as a prognostic and diagnostic factor. A, various drugs by acting on lncRNAs can affect cells. Therefore, by accurately identifying IncRNAs function, we can play an effective role in preventing the development of cardiotoxicity-induced chemotherapy drugs, and use them as a therapeutic strategy to improve clinical symptoms and increase patient survival.

Long Noncoding RNA MIR100HG Knockdown Attenuates Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Regulating MicroRNA-146b-5p/Chromobox 6

Purpose

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for approximately ninety percent of primary liver cancer. This study attempted to investigate the effects of the long noncoding RNA MIR100HG (MIR100HG) in HCC and the underlying molecular mechanism.

Materials and Methods

qRT-PCR was implemented to analyze the expression of MIR100HG, microRNA-146b-5p (miR-146b-5p), and Chromobox 6 (CBX6). The correlation between MIR100HG and clinicopathological features of HCC patients was assessed. Additionally, the effects of MIR100HG knockdown on HCC cell viability, migration, and invasion were explored. The interactions among MIR100HG, miR-146b-5p, and CBX6 were confirmed. Furthermore, rescue experiments were conducted to investigate whether MIR100HG knockdown modulates HCC cell behaviors through modulating the miR-146b-5p/CBX6 axis.

Results

The expression of MIR100HG and CBX6 was enhanced, while miR-146b-5p was inhibited in HCC cells. High MIR100HG expression was positively associated with the TNM tumor stage and Edmondson-Steiner grading in HCC patients. MIR100HG knockdown considerably reduced the HCC cell viability, migration, and invasion. In addition, MIR100HG directly targeted miR-146b-5p, and miR-146b-5p directly targeted CBX6 in HCC cells. Moreover, miR-146b-5p suppression or CBX6 elevation evidently rescued the suppressed viability, migration, and invasion of HCC cells caused by MIR100HG knockdown.

Conclusions

Knockdown of MIR100HG inhibited the viability, migration, and invasion of HCC cells by targeting the miR-146b-5p/CBX6 axis, offering a potential therapeutic target for HCC therapy.

The Role of Non-Coding RNAs in the Sorafenib Resistance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death. Sorafenib is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be a first-line chemotherapy agent for patients with advanced HCC. A portion of advanced HCC patients can benefit from the treatment with sorafenib, but many patients ultimately develop sorafenib resistance, leading to a poor prognosis. The molecular mechanisms of sorafenib resistance are sophisticated and indefinite. Notably, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which include long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are critically participated in the occurrence and progression of tumors. Moreover, growing evidence has suggested that ncRNAs are crucial regulators in the development of resistance to sorafenib. Herein, we integrally and systematically summarized the molecular mechanisms and vital role of ncRNAs impact sorafenib resistance of HCC, and ultimately explored the potential clinical administrations of ncRNAs as new prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HCC.

Circular RNA circUBE2D2 functions as an oncogenic factor in hepatocellular carcinoma sorafenib resistance and glycolysis

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported to regulate the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) chemoresistance and tumor progression by regulating gene expression. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of HCC sorafenib resistance regulated by circRNAs remain unclear. Here, higher expression of circUBE2D2 was directly associated with low survival rate in HCC patients. Functional experiments showed that circUBE2D2 promoted the glycolysis (Warburg effect) and sorafenib resistance in vitro, and knockdown of circUBE2D2 repressed the tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, circUBE2D2 was predominantly localized in the cytoplasm and sponged miR-889-3p, which in turn targeted the 3'-UTR of LDHA mRNA. Therefore, circUBE2D2 exerted an oncogenic role through miR-889-3p/LDHA axis. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that circUBE2D2 accelerated the HCC glycolysis and sorafenib resistance via circUBE2D2/miR-889-3p/LDHA axis, which provides a novel approach for HCC treatment.

The Possible Role of Cancer Stem Cells in the Resistance to Kinase Inhibitors of Advanced Thyroid Cancer

Target therapy with various kinase inhibitors (KIs) has been extended to patients with advanced thyroid cancer, but only a subset of these compounds has displayed efficacy in clinical use. However, after an initial response to KIs, dramatic disease progression occurs in most cases. With the discovery of cancer stem cells (CSCs), it is possible to postulate that thyroid cancer resistance to KI therapies, both intrinsic and acquired, may be sustained by this cell subtype. Indeed, CSCs have been considered as the main drivers of metastatic activity and therapeutic resistance, because of their ability to generate heterogeneous secondary cell populations and survive treatment by remaining in a quiescent state. Hence, despite the impressive progress in understanding of the molecular basis of thyroid tumorigenesis, drug resistance is still the major challenge in advanced thyroid cancer management. In this view, definition of the role of CSCs in thyroid cancer resistance may be crucial to identifying new therapeutic targets and preventing resistance to anti-cancer treatments and tumor relapse. The aim of this review is to elucidate the possible role of CSCs in the development of resistance of advanced thyroid cancer to current anti-cancer therapies and their potential implications in the management of these patients.