MicroRNAs: regulators of cancer metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)

MicroRNA-205-5p inhibits the growth and migration of breast cancer through targeting Wnt/β-catenin co-receptor LRP6 and interacting with lncRNAs

Breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer among women worldwide. Non-coding RNAs play a fundamental role in regulating the expression of different genes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to bind to mRNA and either induce its degradation or repress its translation. Also, miRNA can modulate the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) through different mechanisms. This study aims to determine the role of miRNA-205-5p in breast cancer cell lines. miR-205-5p was bioinformatically predicted to interact with LRP6 mRNA and lncRNAs MALAT1, NEAT1, SNHG5, and SNHG16. Then, the levels of miR-205-5p and its target genes and lncRNAs in breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 were determined. In addition, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were transfected with miR-205-5p mimic or miRNA mimic negative control using lipofectamine 3000, and the effect of miR-205-5p overexpression on cellular proliferation and migration was assessed. Moreover, we probed the impact of miR-205-5p overexpression on the expression levels of LRP6, Wnt/β-catenin pathway genes, lncRNAs, and apoptotic markers. miR-205-5p upregulation resulted in decreasing the growth and migration and induced apoptosis markers in the two tested breast cancer subtypes. Additionally, miR-205-5p overexpression resulted in decreasing the expression of LRP6 in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells leading to downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin target genes, c-Myc, cyclin D1, and PPARδ and had various regulatory effects on the expression of lncRNAs MALAT1, NEAT1, SNHG5, and SNHG16. miR-205-5p inhibits the proliferation and migration of breast cancer through diverse mechanisms including targeting LRP6, Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and its regulatory effects on lncRNAs.

Differential miRNA and Protein Expression Reveals miR-1285, Its Targets TGM2 and CDH-1, as Well as CD166 and S100A13 as Potential New Biomarkers in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Early detection of PDAC remains challenging due to the lack of early symptoms and the absence of reliable biomarkers. The aim of the present project was to identify miRNA and proteomics signatures discriminating PDAC patients with DM from nondiabetic PDAC patients. Proteomics analysis and miRNA array were used for protein and miRNA screening. We used Western blotting and Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for protein and miRNA validation. Comparisons between experimental groups with normal distributions were performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test, and pairwise tests were performed using t-tests. p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Protein clusters of differentiation 166 (CD166), glycoprotein CD63 (CD63), S100 calcium-binding protein A13 (S100A13), and tumor necrosis factor-β (TNF-β) were detected in the proteomics screening. The miRNA assay revealed a differential miRNA 1285 regulation. Previously described target proteins of miR-1285 cadherin-1 (CDH-1), cellular Jun (c-Jun), p53, mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (Smad4), human transglutaminase 2 (TGM2) and yes-associated protein (YAP), were validated via Western blotting. miR-1285-3p was successfully validated as differentially regulated in PDAC + DM via qRT-PCR. Overall, our data suggest miRNA1285-3p, TGM2, CDH-1, CD166, and S100A13 as potential meaningful biomarker candidates to characterize patients with PDAC + DM. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD053169.

The Landscape of microRNAs in Bone Tumor: A Comprehensive Review in Recent Studies

Cancer, the second greatest cause of mortality worldwide, frequently causes bone metastases in patients with advanced-stage carcinomas such as prostate, breast, and lung cancer. The existence of these metastases contributes to the occurrence of skeletal-related events (SREs), which are defined by excessive pain, pathological fractures, hypercalcemia, and spinal cord compression. These injurious incidents leave uncomfortably in each of the cancer patient's life quality. Primary bone cancers, including osteosarcoma (OS), chondrosarcoma (CS), and Ewing's sarcoma (ES), have unclear origins. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression patterns have been changed in primary bone cancers such as OS, CS, and ES, indicating a role in tumor development, invasion, metastasis, and treatment response. These miRNAs are persistent in circulation and exhibit distinct patterns in many forms of bone tumors, making them potential biomarkers for early detection and treatment of such diseases. Given their crucial regulatory functions in various biological processes and conditions, including cancer, this study aims to look at miRNAs' activities and possible contributions to bone malignancies, focusing on OS, CS, and ES. In conclusion, miRNAs are valuable tools for diagnosing, monitoring, and predicting OS, CS, and ES outcomes. Further research is required to fully comprehend the intricate involvement of miRNAs in these bone cancers and to develop effective miRNA-based treatments.

Genetic and Epigenetic Characteristics in Isolated Pancreatic Metastases of Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Isolated pancreatic metastases of renal cell carcinoma (IsPMRCC) are a rare manifestation of metastatic, clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in which distant metastases occur exclusively in the pancreas. In addition to the main symptom of the isolated occurrence of pancreatic metastases, the entity surprises with additional clinical peculiarities: (a) the unusually long interval of about 9 years between the primary RCC and the onset of pancreatic metastases; (b) multiple pancreatic metastases occurring in 36% of cases; (c) favourable treatment outcomes with a 75% 5-year survival rate; and (d) volume and growth-rate dependent risk factors generally accepted to be relevant for overall survival in metastatic surgery are insignificant in isPMRCC. The genetic and epigenetic causes of exclusive pancreatic involvement have not yet been investigated and are currently unknown. Conversely, according to the few available data in the literature, the following genetic and epigenetic peculiarities can already be identified as the cause of the protracted course: 1. high genetic stability of the tumour cell clones in both the primary tumour and the pancreatic metastases; 2. a low frequency of copy number variants associated with aggressiveness, such as 9p, 14q and 4q loss; 3. in the chromatin-modifying genes, a decreased rate of PAB1 (3%) and an increased rate of PBRM1 (77%) defects are seen, a profile associated with a favourable course; 4. an increased incidence of KDM5C mutations, which, in common with increased PBRM1 alterations, is also associated with a favourable outcome; and 5. angiogenetic biomarkers are increased in tumour tissue, while inflammatory biomarkers are decreased, which explains the good response to TKI therapy and lack of sensitivity to IT.

Computational analysis of synergism in small networks with different logic

Cell fate decision processes are regulated by networks which contain different molecules and interactions. Different network topologies may exhibit synergistic or antagonistic effects on cellular functions. Here, we analyze six most common small networks with regulatory logic AND or OR, trying to clarify the relationship between network topologies and synergism (or antagonism) related to cell fate decisions. We systematically examine the contribution of both network topologies and regulatory logic to the cell fate synergism by bifurcation and combinatorial perturbation analysis. Initially, under a single set of parameters, the synergism of three types of networks with AND and OR logic is compared. Furthermore, to consider whether these results depend on the choices of parameter values, statistics on the synergism of five hundred parameter sets is performed. It is shown that the results are not sensitive to parameter variations, indicating that the synergy or antagonism mainly depends on the network topologies rather than the choices of parameter values. The results indicate that the topology with "Dual Inhibition" shows good synergism, while the topology with "Dual Promotion" or "Hybrid" shows antagonism. The results presented here may help us to design synergistic networks based on network structure and regulation combinations, which has promising implications for cell fate decisions and drug combinations.

Tumor suppressive role of microRNA-4731-5p in breast cancer through reduction of PAICS-induced FAK phosphorylation

A wide array of microRNAs (miRNAs) is differentially expressed in breast tumors and also functions as tumor suppressors. Herein, the current study sought to unravel the function of miR-4731-5p in breast cancer progression. First, breast cancer-related miRNA and mRNA microarray data sets were retrieved for differential analyses. Subsequently, the expression patterns of miR-4731-5p, PAICS, and FAK in breast cancer tissues and cells were determined, in addition to analyses of their roles in glycometabolism, migration, invasion, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) analyzed through functional assays. Next, the targeting relation between miR-4731-5p and PAICS was validated. Xenograft tumors in nude mice were further established to reproduce and verify the in vitro findings. miR-4731-5p was poorly expressed and PAICS was highly expressed in breast cancer tissues and cells. PAICS was confirmed as a target of miR-4731-5p. Moreover, miR-4731-5p exerted an inhibitory effect on glycolysis, EMT, migration, and invasion in breast cancer cells via regulation of PAICS-dependent phosphorylation of FAK. In vivo assay further validated the significance of the miR-4731-5p/PAICS/FAK axis in vivo tumorigenesis and lung metastasis in breast cancer. Collectively, our findings indicated that miR-4731-5p inhibited breast cancer cell glycolysis and EMT through the reduction of PAICS-induced phosphorylation of FAK.

Isolated Pancreatic Metastases of Renal Cell Cancer: Genetics and Epigenetics of an Unusual Tumour Entity

Isolated pancreatic metastases of renal cell carcinoma (isPMRCC) are a rare manifestation of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) characterized by two peculiarities: (1). The definite or at least long-term exclusive occurrence of metastases in the pancreas and (2). an unusual low tumour aggressiveness with slow tumour progression and consecutive, good treatment results. According to current knowledge, the exclusive occurrence of pancreatic metastases is due to a highly specific and highly selective seed and soil mechanism, which does not allow metastases settlement outside the pancreas, and whose detailed genetic/epigenetic causes are not yet elucidated. Recent studies have shed light on some of the pathways involved for the protracted course of the disease and highlighted a special genetic profile (lack of loss of 9p, lower weight genome instability index, low frequency of BAP1 alterations, and a high frequency of PBRM1 loss), which deviates from the conventional mRCC profile. Finally, the question of the reasons for the long-term relative genetic stability of the involved cell clones, which is an essential prerequisite for a favourable prognosis, remains unanswered.

miR-125a-5p promotes gastric cancer growth and invasion by regulating the Hippo pathway

OBJECTIVE

This study was carried out to explore the potential involvement of miR-125a-5p in the oncogenic effects of EphA2, TAZ, and TEAD2 and the activity of the Hippo signaling pathway in gastric cancer progression.

METHODS

In vitro transfection of miR-125a-5p mimics or inhibitors, qRT-PCR, colony formation assays, and cell invasion assays were used to assess the effect of miR-125a-5p on the growth and invasion in gastric cancer (GC). Male nude mice bearing tumors derived from human GC cells were used for evaluating the effects of miR-125a-5p on tumor growth. Luciferase reporter assay, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and immunoblotting were performed to explore the role of miR-125a-5p in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and association among miR-125a-5p, EphA2, TAZ, and TEAD2 in GC cells.

RESULTS

MiR-125a-5p enhanced GC cell viability and invasion in vitro, whereas inhibition of miR-125a-5p using a specific inhibitor and antagomir suppressed cancer cell invasion and tumor growth. Moreover, inhibition of miR-125a-5p reversed EMT in vitro. miR-125a-5p upregulated the expression of EphA2, TAZ, and TEAD2, promoted TAZ nuclear translocation, and induced changes in the activity of the Hippo pathway by enhancing the expression of TAZ target genes. Finally, miR-125a-5p was overexpressed in late-stage GCs, and positive correlations were observed with its targets EphA2, TAZ, and TEAD2.

CONCLUSION

miR-125a-5p can promote GC growth and invasion by upregulating the expression of EphA2, TAZ, and TEAD2.

Knockdown of microRNA-214-3p Promotes Tumor Growth and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Prostate Cancer

Simple Summary

Prostate Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. In this study, we analyzed a molecule known as a microRNA, which regulates the expression of genes. microRNAs are involved in processes related to cancer onset and progression. Abnormal expression of microRNAs can promote prostate cancer. This study showed that knockdown of microRNA miR-214-3p enhanced the progression and of prostate cancer. In addition, miR-214 regulated the expression of many genes. These results are useful to better understand the function of miR-214-3p in prostate cancer and can be a useful target in the treatment of the disease.

Abstract

Abnormal expression of microRNA miR-214-3p (miR-214) is associated with multiple cancers. In this study, we assessed the effects of CRISPR/Cas9 mediated miR-214 depletion in prostate cancer (PCa) cells and the underlying mechanisms. Knockdown of miR-214 promoted PCa cell proliferation, invasion, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and increased resistance to anoikis, a key feature of PCa cells that undergo metastasis. The reintroduction of miR-214 in miR-214 knockdown cells reversed these effects and significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. These in vitro studies are consistent with the role of miR-214 as a tumor suppressor. Moreover, miR-214 knockout increased tumor growth in PCa xenografts in nude mice supporting its anti-oncogenic role in PCa. Knockdown of miR-214 increased the expression of its target protein, Protein Tyrosine Kinase 6 (PTK6), a kinase shown to promote oncogenic signaling and tumorigenesis in PCa. In addition, miR-214 modulated EMT as exhibited by differential regulation of E-Cadherin, N-Cadherin, and Vimentin both in vitro and in vivo. RNA-seq analysis of miR-214 knockdown cells revealed altered gene expression related to PCa tumor growth pathways, including EMT and metastasis. Collectively, our findings reveal that miR-214 is a key regulator of PCa oncogenesis and is a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment of the disease.

MicroRNA-548m Suppresses Cell Migration and Invasion by Targeting Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Breast Cancer Cells

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women and one of the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide, in which the most severe form happens when it metastasizes to other regions of the body. Metastasis is responsible for most treatment failures in advanced breast cancer. Epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a significant role in promoting metastatic processes in breast cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved endogenous short noncoding RNAs that play a role in regulating a broad range of biological processes, including cancer initiation and development, by functioning as tumor promoters or tumor suppressors. Expression of miR-548m has been found in various types of cancers, but the biological function and molecular mechanisms of miR-548m in cancers have not been fully studied. Here we demonstrated the role of miR-548m in modulating EMT in the breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. Expression data for primary breast cancer obtained from NCBI GEO data sets showed that miR-548m expression was downregulated in breast cancer patients compared with healthy group. We hypothesize that miR-548m acts as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer. Overexpression of miR-548m in both cell lines increased E-cadherin expression and decreased the EMT-associated transcription factors SNAI1, SNAI2, ZEB1, and ZEB2, as well as MMP9 expression. Consequently, migration and invasion capabilities of both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were significantly inhibited in miR-548m-overexpressing cells. Analysis of 1,059 putative target genes of miR-548m revealed common pathways involving both tight junction and the mTOR signaling pathway, which has potential impacts on cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, this study identified aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) as a direct target of miR-548m in breast cancer cells. Taken together, our findings suggest a novel function of miR-548m in reversing the EMT of breast cancer by reducing their migratory and invasive potentials, at least in part via targeting AHR expression.

Tumour Evolution and Seed and Soil Mechanism in Pancreatic Metastases of Renal Cell Carcinoma

In metastatic renal cell carcinoma, pancreatic metastases can appear in two clinical manifestations: (a) very rarely as isolated pancreatic metastases and (b) in the context with multi-organ metastatic disease. Both courses are characterised by rare, unusual clinical features. For isolated pancreatic metastases, the literature shows no effect on survival in all 11 publications that examined the effect of singular versus multiple pancreatic metastases; a lack of effect on survival time was also present in all 8 studies on pancreatic metastases size, in 7 of 8 studies on the influence of disease-free interval (DFI), and in 6 of 7 studies on the influence of synchronous versus metachronous metastases. In multi-organ site metastases observations, on the other hand, all five available references showed significantly better results in patients with concurrent pancreatic metastases compared to those without pancreatic metastases, although the total number of affected organs in the pancreatic metastases cohort was larger. Tumour volume-dependent risk factors thus remain surprisingly ineffective in both groups, which contradicts the usual behaviour of solid tumours. The reasons for this unusual behaviour and possible relations to tumour evolution and the hypothesis of an influence of a seed and soil mechanism in the occurrence of pancreatic metastases in metastatic renal cell carcinoma are discussed.

Lumican inhibits immune escape and carcinogenic pathways in colorectal adenocarcinoma

Lumican (LUM), a small leucine-rich proteoglycan, is a component of the extracellular matrix. Abnormal LUM expression is potentially associated with cancer progression. In the present study, we confirmed high LUM mRNA expression in colorectal adenocarcinoma (COAD) through the UALCAN database. The Kaplan-Meier method, univariate, and multivariate COX analysis showed that high LUM expression is an independent determinant of poor prognosis in COAD. A COX regression model was constructed based on clinical information and LUM expression. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve indicated that this model was highly accurate in monitoring COAD prognosis. The co-expression network of LUM was determined by LinkedOmics, which showed that LUM expression was closely related to immune escape and the miR200 family. Furthermore, we studied the co-expression network of LUM and found that LUM could promote tumor metastasis and invasion. The Tumor Immune Estimation Resource website showed that LUM was closely related to immune infiltration and correlated with regulatory T cells, tumour-associated macrophages, and dendritic cells. We found that LUM cultivated cancer progression by targeting the miR200 family to promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. These findings suggest that LUM is a potential target for inhibiting immune escape and carcinogenic pathways.

CircHIPK3 Alleviates High Glucose Toxicity to Human Renal Tubular Epithelial HK-2 Cells Through Regulation of miR-326/miR-487a-3p/SIRT1

BACKGROUND

The intervention of circular RNA HIPK3 (circHIPK3) in diabetes has drawn increasing attention in recent years. However, the underlying mechanism of circHIPK3 in diabetic nephropathy (DN) has not been fully elucidated. Thus, the current study aims to investigate the role of circHIPK3 in high glucose (HG)-induced toxicity to human renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells.

METHODS

The expression of circHIPK3 in HK-2 cells induced by HG was determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The regulatory effects of circHIPK3 and miR-326/miR-487a-3p on cells proliferative and apoptosis were evaluated by CCK-8 and flow cytometry. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was applied to predict the target genes of miR-326 or miR-487a-3p.

RESULTS

Expression level of circHIPK3 in HK-2 cells was remarkably decreased after the treatment of HG. The overexpression of circHIPK3 effectively reversed the HG-induced HK-2 cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis. Furthermore, SIRT1 was confirmed to be the target gene of miR-326 and miR-487a-3p, which were showed to be the downstream genes of circHIPK3. The silencing of miR-326 or miR-487a-3p was also proved to induce proliferation and reduce apoptosis in HG-induced HK-2 cells.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that overexpression of circHIPK3 can attenuate the proliferation inhibition of HK-2 induced by HG and inhibit apoptosis through sponging miR-326 or miR-487a-3p to regulate SIRT1.

Regulators at Every Step-How microRNAs Drive Tumor Cell Invasiveness and Metastasis

Tumor cell invasiveness and metastasis are the main causes of mortality in cancer. Tumor progression is composed of many steps, including primary tumor growth, local invasion, intravasation, survival in the circulation, pre-metastatic niche formation, and metastasis. All these steps are strictly controlled by microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNA that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs can act as oncomiRs that promote tumor cell invasion and metastasis or as tumor suppressor miRNAs that inhibit tumor progression. These miRNAs regulate the actin cytoskeleton, the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) receptors including integrins and ECM-remodeling enzymes comprising matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), hence modulating cell migration and invasiveness. Moreover, miRNAs regulate angiogenesis, the formation of a pre-metastatic niche, and metastasis. Thus, miRNAs are biomarkers of metastases as well as promising targets of therapy. In this review, we comprehensively describe the role of various miRNAs in tumor cell migration, invasion, and metastasis.

Regulators at Every Step—How microRNAs Drive Tumor Cell Invasiveness and Metastasis

Tumor cell invasiveness and metastasis are the main causes of mortality in cancer. Tumor progression is composed of many steps, including primary tumor growth, local invasion, intravasation, survival in the circulation, pre-metastatic niche formation, and metastasis. All these steps are strictly controlled by microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNA that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs can act as oncomiRs that promote tumor cell invasion and metastasis or as tumor suppressor miRNAs that inhibit tumor progression. These miRNAs regulate the actin cytoskeleton, the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) receptors including integrins and ECM-remodeling enzymes comprising matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and regulate epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), hence modulating cell migration and invasiveness. Moreover, miRNAs regulate angiogenesis, the formation of a pre-metastatic niche, and metastasis. Thus, miRNAs are biomarkers of metastases as well as promising targets of therapy. In this review, we comprehensively describe the role of various miRNAs in tumor cell migration, invasion, and metastasis.

The P53/microRNA network: A potential tumor suppressor with a role in anticancer therapy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous and small non-coding RNAs that have been identified as mediators of tumor suppression as well as stress responses mediated by p53 suppressors. MiRNAs may act as tumor suppressors under certain conditions. MiRNAs regulated by p53 may control the expression of processes such as cell cycle progression, cell survival, and angiogenesis. P53 activity and expression are also controlled by miRNA; consequently alterations in the p53-miRNA network may be essential for tumor initiation and progression. Future studies on the p53-miRNA network presumably would find it helpful in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches or as tools for various cancers.

A review of computational drug repositioning: strategies, approaches, opportunities, challenges, and directions

Drug repositioning is the process of identifying novel therapeutic potentials for existing drugs and discovering therapies for untreated diseases. Drug repositioning, therefore, plays an important role in optimizing the pre-clinical process of developing novel drugs by saving time and cost compared to the traditional de novo drug discovery processes. Since drug repositioning relies on data for existing drugs and diseases the enormous growth of publicly available large-scale biological, biomedical, and electronic health-related data along with the high-performance computing capabilities have accelerated the development of computational drug repositioning approaches. Multidisciplinary researchers and scientists have carried out numerous attempts, with different degrees of efficiency and success, to computationally study the potential of repositioning drugs to identify alternative drug indications. This study reviews recent advancements in the field of computational drug repositioning. First, we highlight different drug repositioning strategies and provide an overview of frequently used resources. Second, we summarize computational approaches that are extensively used in drug repositioning studies. Third, we present different computing and experimental models to validate computational methods. Fourth, we address prospective opportunities, including a few target areas. Finally, we discuss challenges and limitations encountered in computational drug repositioning and conclude with an outline of further research directions.

Isolated Pancreatic Metastases of Renal Cell Carcinoma-A Paradigm of a Seed and Soil Mechanism: A Literature Analysis of 1,034 Observations

Previously documented arguments, in favor of the suspected impact of a seed and soil mechanism, in the development and progression of isolated pancreatic metastasis of renal cell carcinomas (isPM) are: (1) uniform and independent from the side of the primary tumor distribution of isPM within the pancreas and, (2) the similar survival rates for singular and multiple isPM. In addition, the present study adds new arguments that further confirm the importance of an seed and soil mechanism in isPM: (1) Within the singular isPM, the size of the metastasis does not affect the overall survival; (2) Within the group of multiple isPMs, the overall survival does not depend on the number of metastases; (3) For synchronous and metachronous isPM, survival rates are also not different, and (4) Within the group of metachronous isPM there is also no correlation between the overall survival and interval until metastases occurs. This unusual ineffectiveness of otherwise known risk factors of solid cancers can be explained plausibly by the hypothesis of a very selective seed and soil mechanism in isPM. It only allows embolized renal carcinoma cells in the pancreas to complete all steps required to grow into clinically manifest metastases. In all other organs, on the other hand, the body is able to eliminate the embolized tumor cells or at least put them into a dormant state for many years. This minimizes the risk of occult micrometastases in distant organs, which could later—after isPM treatment—grow into clinically manifest metastases, so that the prognosis of the isPM is only determined by an adequate therapy of the pancreatic foci, and prognostic factors, such as total tumor burden or interval until the occurrence of the isPM remain ineffective.

Tumor evolution in epidermal growth factor receptor mutated non-small cell lung cancer

As the incidence of cancer increases worldwide there is an unmet need to understand cancer evolution to improve patient outcomes. Our growing knowledge of cancer cells' clonal expansion, heterogeneity, adaptation, and relationships within the tumor immune compartment and with the tumor microenvironment has made clear that cancer is a disease that benefits from heterogeneity and evolution. This review outlines recent knowledge of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) pathogenesis and tumor progression from an evolutionary standpoint, focused on the role of oncogenic driver mutations as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Understanding lung cancer evolution during tumor development, growth, and under treatment pressures is crucial to improve therapeutic interventions and patient outcomes.

Intercalating the Role of MicroRNAs in Cancer: As Enemy or Protector

Objective:

The transformation in cells at genetic levels stimulatesthe proliferation of cancer. The current review highlights the role of miRNA in management of cancer by altering processes of body at cellular levels.

Methods:

A deep research on the literature available till date for miRNA in cancer was conducted using various medical sites like PubMed, MEDLINE from internet and data was collected. The articles were majorly preferred in English language.

Results:

The development of normal cells into cancerous cells is a multivalent procedure highlighting numerous responsible factors. During the progression of cancer, the role of oncogene and tumor suppressor genes outshines at different levels of tumorogenesis. Metastasis poses highest threat in cancer progression and fabricates obstacles to clinicians and researchers in preventing formation of tumor on secondary sites. The mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) induce dissemination and ultimately progression of cancer.

Conclusion:

A comprehensive knowledge of the altered genes and the mechanism by which they induce formation of tumor is essential as they contribute in proliferating cancer at various stages, aggravating clinical symptoms. Hence miRNAs can be efficiently employed as an emerging treatment therapy for cancer.

High-throughput screening identified miR-7-2-3p and miR-29c-3p as metastasis suppressors in gallbladder carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is one of the most aggressive and lethal tumors, with extremely high metastatic activity and poor prognosis. Previously we have studied miRNAs that promote metastasis and progression of GBC, the aim of present study was to systematically elucidate the metastasis suppressor miRNAs in GBC.

METHODS

A novel designed high-throughput screening method that combined high content screening (HCS) and miRNA microarray analysis was conducted to filter out anti-metastatic miRNAs of GBC. Frozen samples were analyzed for the expression of goal miRNAs by real-time PCR. The biological functions of miRNAs were studied by transwell, immunoblot. Liver metastasis model via spleen injection was further examined in nude mice. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to analyze the effect of goal miRNAs on overall survival. The target genes and interaction network of goal miRNAs were determined by whole transcriptome genome sequencing.

RESULTS

Out of the miRNAs library, a series of prominent metastatic suppressor miRNA candidates were filtered out. Among them, miR-7-2-3p and miR-29c-3p were discovered downregulated in GBC, and upregulation of them could reverse epithelial-mesenchymal transition and decrease the metastasis ability of GBC cells in vitro and in vivo, which was dominated by the miRNA-mRNA-lncRNA co-expression network. And DCLK1 and SLC36A1 are the direct target genes of miR-7-2-3p and miR-29c-3p. Moreover, the deficiency of miR-7-2-3p and miR-29c-3p was closely associated with poor prognosis of GBC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that miR-7-2-3p and miR-29c-3p play crucial roles in the pathogenesis and worse prognosis of GBCs, which may serve as prognosis biomarkers and promise potential therapeutic targets in the future.

Nanotechnology, in silico and endocrine-based strategy for delivering paclitaxel and miRNA: Prospects for the therapeutic management of breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent and reoccurring cancers and the second most common reason of death in women. Despite advancements in therapeutic strategies for breast cancer, early tumor recurrence and metastasis in patients indicate resistance to chemotherapeutic medicines, such as paclitaxel due to the abnormal expression of ER and EGF2 in breast cancer cells. Therefore, the development of alternatives to paclitaxel is urgently needed to overcome challenges involving drug resistance. An increasing number of studies has revealed miRNAs as novel natural alternative substances that play a crucial role in regulating several physiological processes and have a close, adverse association with several diseases, including breast cancer. Due to the therapeutic potential of miRNA and paclitaxel in cancer research, the current review focuses on the differential roles of various miRNAs in breast cancer development and treatment. miRNA delivery to a specific target site, the development of paclitaxel and miRNA formulations, and nanotechnological strategies for the delivery of nanopaclitaxel in the management of breast cancer are discussed. These strategies involve improving the cellular uptake and bioavailability and reducing the toxicity of free paclitaxel to achieve accumulation tumor site. Furthermore, a molecular docking study was performed to ascertain the enhanced anticancer activity of the nanoformulation of ANG1005 and Abraxane. An in silico analysis revealed that ANG1005 and Abraxane nanoformulations have superior and significantly enhanced interactions with the proteins α-tubulin and Bcl-2. Therefore, ANG1005 and Abraxane may be more suitable in the therapeutic management of breast cancer than the existing free paclitaxel. miRNAs can revert abnormal gene expression to normalcy; since miRNAs serve as tumor suppressors. Therefore, restoration of particular miRNAs levels as a replacement therapy may be an effective endocrine potential strategy for treating ER positive/ negative breast cancers.

Expression Profiles of the Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN), CDH1, and CDH2 Genes, and the Cell Membrane Protein, CD133, in the Ishikawa Human Endometrial Adenocarcinoma Cell Line

Background

This study aimed to investigate the expression profile of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene, the cadherin genes, CDH1 and CDH2, and the cell membrane glycoprotein, CD133, in the Ishikawa human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line.

Material/Methods

The Ishikawa endometrial carcinoma cell groups included cells transfected with the pLVX-puro lentiviral expression vector (the Ishikawa-puro group) and cells transfected with the pLVX-puro-PTEN lentiviral expression vector (the Ishikawa-PTEN group). The mRNA expression of the cadherin genes, CDH1 and CDH2, was detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The expression levels of the transmembrane glycoprotein CD133, a cancer stem cell marker, was detected by flow cytometry.

Results

The expression of CDH1 and CDH2 mRNA in the Ishikawa-PTEN cells was lower than in the control cells. CD133 expression was lower in the Ishikawa-PTEN cells compared with the control cells.

Conclusions

This in vitro study showed that in Ishikawa endometrial carcinoma cells, downregulation of PTEN was associated with the expression of the CDH1 and CDH2 genes and upregulated expression of the cell membrane glycoprotein, CD133, which are associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in malignancy. These findings support the need for further studies to investigate the potential role of PTEN in invasion and metastasis in endometrial carcinoma.

MicroRNA-145 Inhibits Cell Migration and Invasion in Colorectal Cancer by Targeting TWIST

Introduction

MicroRNAs function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in the development of various human cancers. We investigated the effect of microRNA-145 (miR-145) on colorectal cancer (CRC) cell invasion and migration.

Methods

The levels of miR-145 in CRC cells were examined by quantitative PCR; Western blotting was used to detect TWIST1 (twist family bHLH transcription factor 1) protein and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins (E-cadherin, vimentin). Then, we transfected miR-145 mimics or inhibitor into CRC cells and used the wound healing and Transwell invasion assays to investigate their migration and invasive capability, respectively.

Results

The miR-145 mimics suppressed CRC cell invasion and migration significantly; in contrast, miR-145 downregulation had the opposite effect. Furthermore, miR-145 regulated TWIST1 levels negatively at transcriptional level. TWIST1 knockdown significantly inhibited the CRC cell migration ability and the number of CRC cells that crossed the Transwell membrane. There was no significant difference in terms of migration and invasive capability after the cells had been transfected with miR-145 mimics or inhibitor plus TWIST1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) as compared to the TWIST1 siRNA–only group. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the inhibition of miR-145 could enhance the capability for lung metastasis in vivo.

Conclusion

Taken together, these findings indicate that miR-145 acts as a new tumor suppressor by regulating TWIST1 and plays a vital role in the invasive and migration ability of CRC cells.

LINC01413/hnRNP-K/ZEB1 Axis Accelerates Cell Proliferation and EMT in Colorectal Cancer via Inducing YAP1/TAZ1 Translocation

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial molecules in tumorigenesis and tumor growth in various human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Studies have revealed that lncRNAs can regulate cellular processes in cancers by interacting with proteins, for example RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). In this study, we recognize a novel lncRNA called LINC01413 that is upregulated in CRC tissues through lncRNAs microarray. Subsequently, we confirmed that an elevated level of LINC01413 expression in CRC tissues was strongly correlated to clinicopathological features, such as tumor size, tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis, and its association with poor overall survival was also revealed. Additionally, LINC01413 facilitates cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro. Also, silenced LINC01413 restrains tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, LINC01413 binds with hnRNP-K and induces YAP1 (yes-associated protein 1)/TAZ1 (tafazzin) nuclear translocation to regulate the expression of ZEB1 in CRC cells. Taken together, this research suggested LINC01413 as a positive regulator in CRC progression through the LINC01413/hnRNP-K/TAZ1/YAP1/ZEB1 axis, broadening a new view on CRC treatment.

miRNA expression changes during the course of neoadjuvant bevacizumab and chemotherapy treatment in breast cancer

One of the hallmarks of cancer is sustained angiogenesis. Favorable results have been reported in some breast cancer (BC) patients receiving antiangiogenic therapy with bevacizumab (Bev) in combination with chemotherapy, and further knowledge on how Bev can be optimally combined with conventional treatment to increase efficacy is strongly needed. In this randomized, neoadjuvant phase II clinical trial, 132 patients with HER2-negative, nonmetastatic BC were treated with Bev in combination with sequential chemotherapy. Biopsies were sampled before treatment, after 12 weeks with anthracycline and after taxane therapy at week 25. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression profiling was performed on biopsies from each time point. Altogether, 241 biopsies were analyzed with the aim of identifying miRNA-based biomarkers of response to therapy. Results from the miRNA analyses were reported for the ER-positive cohort, which were previously demonstrated to benefit from antiangiogenic therapy in this study. For both treatment arms of this cohort, significantly different expression was observed for 217 miRNAs between objective responding and nonresponding patients before treatment initiation. These miRNAs have been linked to regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, and tumor growth, among other processes. Bev in combination with chemotherapy resulted in similar miRNA changes to chemotherapy alone. However, the deregulation of miRNA expression occurred earlier in the Bev arm. In both arms, tumor suppressor miRNAs were found upregulated after treatment, while oncogenic miRNAs were downregulated in the Bev arm. Patients responding to Bev showed a strong correlation between deregulated miRNAs and decreased proliferation score during the course of treatment, with downregulation of miR-4465 as the strongest indicator of reduced proliferation. Integrative analyses at miRNA-, gene-, and protein expression further indicated a longitudinal decrease in proliferation. Altogether, the results indicate that proliferation might represent a predictive factor for increased Bev sensitivity, which may aid in the identification of patients who could potentially benefit from Bev.

Observations on Solitary Versus Multiple Isolated Pancreatic Metastases of Renal Cell Carcinoma: Another Indication of a Seed and Soil Mechanism?

Isolated pancreas metastases are a rare type of metastasis of renal cell carcinoma, characterized by the presence of pancreatic metastases, while all other organs remain unaffected. In a previous study, we determined arguments from the literature which (a) indicate a systemic-haematogenic metastasis route (uniform distribution of the metastases across the pancreas and independence of the metastatic localization in the pancreas of the side of the renal carcinoma); and (b) postulate a high impact of a seed and soil mechanism (SSM) on isolated pancreatic metastasis of renal cell carcinoma (isPM) as an explanation for exclusive pancreatic metastases, despite a systemic haematogenous tumor cell embolization. The objective of the study presented was to search for further arguments in favor of an SSM with isPM. For that purpose, the factor's histology, grading, and singular/multiple pancreas metastases were analyzed on the basis of 814 observations published up to 2018. While histology and grading allowed for no conclusions regarding the importance of an SSM, the comparison of singular/multiple pancreas metastases produced arguments in favor of an SSM: 1. The multiple pancreas metastases observed in 38.1% prove that multiple tumor cell embolisms occur with isPM, the exclusive "maturation" of which in the pancreas requires an SSM; 2. The survival rates (SVR), which are consistent with singular and multiple pancreas metastases (despite the higher total tumor load with the latter), prove that the metastasized tumor cells are not able to survive in all other organs because of an SSM, which results in identical SVR when the pancreatic foci are treated adequately.

EPA attenuates epithelial-mesenchymal transition and fibrosis through the TGF-β1/Smad3/ILK pathway in renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells by up-regulating miR-541

BACKGROUND

It was reported that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) could prevent tubulointerstitial injury in kidney. EPA could also inhibit the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HK-2 cells stimulated by albumin (Alb) in vitro. However, the regulating molecular mechanism of EPA remains to be elucidated.

METHODS

An immortalized human proximal tubular cell line (human kidney-2 (HK-2) cells) was used in all experiments. MTT assay was employed to determine the effect of Alb or EPA on the cell viability of HK-2 cells. The miR-541 expression, the mRNA levels of EMT markers E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and fibrogenesis markers Collagen I and fibronectin (FN) were examined by RT-qPCR assay. The protein levels of E-cadherin, α-SMA and Collagen I, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad3/integrin-linked kinase (ILK) pathway-related protein TGF-β1, pSmad2/3, Smad7 and ILK were measured by western blot. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect FN expression. The target relationship between miR-541 and TGF-β1 was confirmed by bioinformatics, luciferase reporter assay and western blot.

RESULTS

Low doses of Alb had no effect on the cell viability of HK-2 cells, while EPA repressed the cell viability of HK-2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. EPA could inhibit EMT and fibrosis and increase the miR-541 expression of HK-2 cells exposed to Alb. Interestingly, introduction of miR-541 effectively abolished the EMT and fibrosis of HK-2 cells stimulated by Alb. Bioinformatics analysis predicted TGF-β1 as a target gene of miR-541, and subsequent luciferase reporter assay and western blot further supported the prediction. miR-541 counter-regulated TGF-β1 expression, and inhibited the TGF-β1/Smad3/ILK pathway. Alb treatment activated the TGF-β1/Smad3/ILK pathway, while EPA inhibited the activation of the pathway. miR-541 inhibitors reversed the effects of EPA on EMT, fibrosis, and TGF-β1/Smad3/ILK pathway-related protein expression induced by Alb.

CONCLUSION

EPA attenuates EMT and renal fibrosis through the TGF-β1/Smad3/ILK pathway in renal epithelial cells by targeting miR-541.

Disregulation of miR-216a and miR-217 in Gastric Cancer and Their Clinical Significance

OBJECTIVE

The majority of gastric cancer (GC) diagnoses occur at the middle or late stage of the disease, indicating that finding novel biomarkers that could be detectable at earlier stage is urgently needed. Accumulating studies have shown that microRNAs, a class of tiny single-stranded RNAs, play important roles in multiple biological processes including cancer development. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of miR-216a and miR-217 in GC.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The real-time quantitative reverse-transcription PCR was exploited to identify and compare the expression levels of miR-216a and miR-217 in 37 pairs of samples of gastric cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue. Superimposed on this, the potential relationship between miR-216a/217 levels and clinicopathological parameters in patients suffering GC was explored.

RESULTS

The results obtained from this study showed that the miR-216a is significantly upregulated in gastric cancer tissues, compared with adjacent normal tissues, but the altered expression of miR-217 was not significant. For miR-216a/217, no significant correlations were detected between expression levels of these miRNAs and clinical and pathological characteristics of patients.

CONCLUSION

This prospective study proposes that upregulation of miR-216a might represent an important mechanism for the development of gastric cancer.

The full recovery of mice (Mus Musculus C57BL/6 strain) from virus-induced sarcoma after treatment with a complex of DDMC delivery system and sncRNAs

BACKGROUND

Virus-induced cellular genetic modifications result in the development of many human cancers.

METHODS

In our experiments, we used the RVP3 cell line, which produce primary mouse virus-induced sarcoma in 100% of cases. Inbreed 4-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were injected subcutaneously in the interscapular region with RVP3 cells. Three groups of mice were used. For treatment, one and/or two intravenous injections of a complex of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) a-miR-155, piR-30074, and miR-125b with a 2-diethylaminoethyl-dextran methyl methacrylate copolymer (DDMC) delivery system were used. The first group consisted of untreated animals (control). The second group was treated with one injection of complex DDMC/sncRNAs (1st group). The third group was treated with two injections of complex DDMC/sncRNAs (2nd group). The tumors were removed aseptically, freed of necrotic material, and used with spleen and lungs for subsequent RT-PCR and immunofluorescence experiments, or stained with Leishman-Romanowski dye.

RESULTS

As a result, the mice fully recovered from virus-induced sarcoma after two treatments with a complex including the DDMC vector and a-miR-155, piR-30074, and miR-125b. In vitro studies showed genetic and morphological transformations of murine cancer cells after the injections.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of virus-induced sarcoma of mice with a-miR-155, piR-30074, and miR-125b as active component of anti-cancer complex and DDMC vector as delivery system due to epigenetic-regulated transformation of cancer cells into cells with non-cancerous physiology and morphology and full recovery of disease.

MicroRNA hsa-miR-623 directly suppresses MMP1 and attenuates IL-8-induced metastasis in pancreatic cancer

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) participates in the metastasis of pancreatic cancer, and its expression can be regulated by endogenous microRNAs (miRs/miRNAs) and exogenous inflammatory factors. Whether miRNAs that potentially modulate MMP1 expression can also attenuate the pro-metastatic effects of its inducer on pancreatic cancer is yet to be completely elucidated. In the present study, a systematic analysis including in silico and bioinformatics analyses, a luciferase reporter assay and an RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), were used to investigate the interaction between miRNAs and MMP1 mRNA. In addition, wound-healing assays, Transwell assays and xenograft nude mouse models were implemented to investigate the antitumor activities exerted by candidate miRNAs. As a result, hsa-miR-623 was screened as a candidate miRNA that interacts with the MMP1 transcript, and an inverse correlation between the expression of hsa-miR-623 and MMP1 was observed in human pancreatic cancer tissue samples. The EMSA confirmed that hsa-miR-623 was able to directly bind to its cognate target within the 3′-untranslated region of the MMP1 transcript. In addition, transfection of hsa-miR-623 mimics into PANC-1 and BXPC-3 cell lines markedly inhibited the expression of MMP1 at the mRNA and protein levels, and attenuated IL-8-induced MMP1 expression. hsa-miR-623 also decreased IL-8-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in PANC-1 and BXPC-3 cells via the underlying mechanism of inhibition of ERK phosphorylation. Consequently, hsa-miR-623 inhibited pancreatic cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo. The results of the present study suggest that hsa-miR-623 represents a novel adjuvant therapeutic target to prevent metastasis in pancreatic cancer.

New Insights into the Implication of Epigenetic Alterations in the EMT of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide, encompassing a wide heterogeneity of subtypes with different clinical features. During the last two decades, the use of targeted therapies has emerged in clinical research in order to increase treatment efficiency, improve prognosis and reduce recurrence. However, the triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype remains a clinical challenge, with poor prognosis since no therapeutic targets have been identified. This aggressive breast cancer entity lacks expression of oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), and it does not overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). The major reason for TNBC poor prognosis is early therapeutic escape from conventional treatments, leading to aggressive metastatic relapse. Metastases occur after an epithelial-mesenchymal transition EMT of epithelial cells, allowing them to break free from the primary tumour site and to colonize distant organs. Cancer-associated EMT consists not only of acquired migration and invasion ability, but involves complex and comprehensive reprogramming, including changes in metabolism, expression levels and epigenetic. Recently, many studies have considered epigenetic alterations as the primary initiator of cancer development and metastasis. This review builds a picture of the epigenetic modifications implicated in the EMT of breast cancer. It focuses on TNBC and allows comparisons with other subtypes. It emphasizes the role of the main epigenetic modifications lncRNAs, miRNAs, histone and DNA- modifications in tumour invasion and appearance of metastases. These epigenetic alterations can be considered biomarkers representing potential diagnostic and prognostic factors in order to define a global metastatic signature for TNBC.

Epigenetic inactivation of miR-203 as a key step in neural crest epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

miR-203 is a tumor-suppressor microRNA with known functions in cancer metastasis. Here, we explore its normal developmental role in the context of neural crest development. During the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of neural crest cells to emigrate from the neural tube, miR-203 displays a reciprocal expression pattern with key regulators of neural crest delamination, Phf12 and Snail2, and interacts with their 3'UTRs. We show that ectopic maintenance of miR-203 inhibits neural crest migration in chick, whereas its functional inhibition using a 'sponge' vector or morpholinos promotes premature neural crest delamination. Bisulfite sequencing further shows that epigenetic repression of miR-203 is mediated by the de novo DNA methyltransferase DNMT3B, the recruitment of which to regulatory regions on the miR-203 locus is directed by SNAIL2 in a negative-feedback loop. These findings reveal an important role for miR-203 in an epigenetic-microRNA regulatory network that influences the timing of neural crest delamination.

Clinical significance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related molecules in lung adenocarcinoma

Background

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (emt) refers to the biologic process in which epithelial cells are transformed into interstitial phenotypes by specific pathways. This transition plays an important biologic role in the process by which epithelium-derived malignant tumour cells acquire the ability to migrate and invade. We explored the relationship between emt-associated molecules and patient-related clinical factors to determine whether any clinical characteristics could be used as biomarkers for emt-related protein alterations in lung cancer-especially lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods

Tumour specimens were collected from 80 patients with lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery or lung biopsy, with 4 patients being evaluated a 2nd time after re-biopsy. Expression of emt-related proteins, including E-cadherin and vimentin, was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. We analyzed the relationship between clinicopathologic characteristics and expression level of the emt markers.

Results

Positive expression of E-cadherin was observed in 63 patients (79%), and vimentin, in 46 patients (57.5%). No significant relationships between E-cadherin or vimentin expression and smoking history, sex, age, driving gene mutations, or cell differentiation were identified. A significant correlation was observed between vimentin expression and pathologic stage. Of the 4 patients who were evaluated a 2nd time after re-biopsy, 3 showed the same emt-related protein expression status as in the first analysis. In the remaining patient, E-cadherin had changed completely.

Conclusions

Clinicopathologic factors in cancer patients did not help to diagnose emt status in lung adenocarcinoma; however, TNM stage might be associated with vimentin expression.

Silencing of long noncoding RNA LINC00958 prevents tumor initiation of pancreatic cancer by acting as a sponge of microRNA-330-5p to down-regulate PAX8

Pancreatic cancer (PC) represents a relatively rare but severe malignancy worldwide. Accumulated studies have emphasized the potential of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) as therapeutic strategies for several human cancers. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether a novel non-coding RNA regulatory circuitry involved in PC. Aberrantly expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs were screened out of microarray database. Following the determination of RNA expression, PANC-1 and BxPC-3 PC cells were adopted, after which the expression of miR-330-5p, PAX8 and LINC00958 were subsequently altered. RNA crosstalk was validated by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. In order to detect whether LINC00958 could act as ceRNA to competitively sponge miR-330-5p and regulate PAX8, subcellular location of LINC00958 and interaction between LINC00958 and miR-330-5p were measured by FISH and RNA pull down respectively. The epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, cell invasion, and tumor growth were determined in vitro and in vivo. LINC00958 and PAX8 were up-regulated, while miR-330-5p was down-regulated during PC. LINC00958 mainly expressed in the cytoplasm and LINC00958 competitively sponged miR-330-5p. Upregulated miR-330-5p or downregulated PAX8 inhibited the EMT process as well as the invasion and metastasis ability of the PC cells. Moreover, the results indicated that miR-330-5p negatively targeted PAX8, and LINC00958 ultimately showcasing its ability to bind to miR-330-5p through its interaction with AGO2. Therefore, silencing of LINC00958 may bind to miR-330-5p to inhibit PAX8 in a competitive fashion, thereby preventing the progression of PC.

Up-Regulation of hsa-miR-210 Promotes Venous Metastasis and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the potential biomarkers for venous metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and briefly discuss their target genes and the signaling pathways they are involved in.

Materials and Method: The dataset GSE6857 was downloaded from GEO. Significantly differentially expressed miRNAs were identified using the R package “limma,” After that, the survival analysis was conducted to discover the significance of these up-regulated miRNAs for the prognosis of HCC patients. Additionally, miRNAs which were up-regulated in venous metastasis positive HCC tissues and were significant for the prognosis of HCC patients were further verified in clinical samples using RT-qPCR. The miRNAs were then analyzed for their correlations with clinical characteristics including survival time, AFP level, pathological grade, TNM stage, tumor stage, lymph-node metastasis, distant metastasis, child-pugh score, vascular invasion, liver fibrosis and race using 375 HCC samples downloaded from the TCGA database. The target genes of these miRNAs were obtained using a miRNA target gene prediction database, and their functions were analyzed using the online tool DAVID.

Results: 15 miRNAs were differentially expressed in samples with venous metastasis, among which 7 were up-regulated in venous metastasis positive HCC samples. As one of the up-regulated miRNAs, hsa-miR-210 was identified as an independent prognostic factor for HCC. Using RT-qPCR, it was evident that hsa-miR-210 expression was significantly higher in venous metastasis positive HCC samples (p = 0.0036). Further analysis indicated that hsa-miR-210 was positively associated with AFP level, pathological grade, TNM stage, tumor stage and vascular invasion. A total of 168 hsa-miR-210 target genes, which are mainly related to tumor metastasis and tumor signaling pathways, were also predicted in this study.

Conclusion: hsa-miR-210 might promote vascular invasion of HCC cells and could be used as a prognostic biomarker.

Inhibition of microRNA‑939 suppresses the development of human non‑small cell lung cancer via the upregulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2

Numerous microRNAs (miRNA/miRs) have been reported to be associated with the initiation and progression of non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of the present study was to examine the expression and biological role of miR‑939 in human NSCLC, in vitro. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to evaluate the expression of miR‑939 in NSCLC tissues. Cell Counting Kit‑8, 5‑ethynyl‑29‑deoxyuridine and Transwell assays were also used to determine the effects of miR‑939 on tumor cell proliferation and invasion in two human NSCLC cell lines (H1299 and SPCA1). Furthermore, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2) was confirmed to be a target of miR‑939 by luciferase reporter assay, western blotting and bioinformatics analysis. Following downregulation of miR‑939 expression, cell proliferative and invasive abilities were significantly suppressed. Collectively, these findings indicated that the knockdown of miR‑939 may inhibit cell proliferation and invasion by regulating the expression of TIMP2 in NSCLC cells. Thus, miR‑939 may be a potential target in the treatment of NSCLC, although this requires further investigation.

MicroRNAs and signaling networks involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a phenomenon in which epithelial cells lose their cell-to-cell connection and are detached from the base membrane. EMT is fundamental for many biological processes such as embryonic development and neurogenesis. It also plays a significant role in cancer progression and metastasis. EMT regulation occurs through a sophisticated network of transcription regulations that include many signaling pathways. The exact mechanism of cancer gene regulation has not been understood yet. However, it is interesting to study the role of microRNAs and epigenetics mechanism in the cancer development. In this review, the transcription regulation of EMT and the analysis of possible overlap between microRNAs and their targets which are involved in the cancer development are scrutinized.

FAT10 promotes the invasion and migration of breast cancer cell through stabilization of ZEB2

FAT10, an ubiquitin-like protein, functions as a potential tumor promoter in several caners. However, the function and clinical significance of FAT10 in breast cancer (BC) remains unclear. Here, we found that high FAT10 expression was detected frequently in primary BC tissues, and was closely associated with malignant phenotype and shorter survival among the BC patients. Multivariate analyses also revealed that FAT10 overexpression was independent prognostic factors for poor outcome of patients with BC. Function assay demonstrated that FAT10 knockdown significantly inhibited the metastasis abilities and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of breast cancer cell. Further investigation revealed that FAT10 directly bound ZEB2 and decreased its ubiquitination to enhance the protein stability of ZEB2 in BC cells. Moreover, our data shown that the pro-metastasis effect of FAT10 in BC is partially dependent on ZEB2 enhancement. Collectively, our data suggest that FAT10 plays a crucial oncogenic role in BC metastasis, and we provide a novel evidence that FAT10 may be serve as a prognostic and therapeutic target for BC patients.

Promising Antineoplastic Actions of Melatonin

Melatonin is an endogenous indoleamine with an incredible variety of properties and activities. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have investigated this indoleamine’s interaction with cancerous cells. In particular, it seems that melatonin not only has the ability to improve the efficacy of many drugs used in chemotherapy but also has a direct inhibitory action on neoplastic cells. Many publications underlined the ability of melatonin to suppress the proliferation of various cancer cells or to modulate the expression of membrane receptors on these cells, thereby reducing tumor aggressiveness to metastasize. In addition, while melatonin has antiapoptotic actions in normal cells, in many cancer cells it has proapoptotic effects; these dichotomous actions have gained the interest of researchers. The increasing focus on melatonin in the field of oncology and the growing number of studies on this topic require a deep understanding of what we already know about the antineoplastic actions of melatonin. This information would be of value for potential use of melatonin against neoplastic diseases.

LPS promote Osteosarcoma invasion and migration through TLR4/HOTAIR

OBJECTIVES

Osteosarcoma is one of common malignant tumors worldwide in the metaphysis of teenagers. The role of lncRNAs in Osteosarcoma has become an emerging area of research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell migration and invasion were analyzed in Osteosarcoma cell following knockdown or overexpression by transfection with small interfering RNA (siRNA) or treated with LPS. Western blotting and Real-time RT-PCR methods were used to analyze the effects of LPS on EMT.

RESULTS

We discovered that LPS could regulate cell migration and invasion and promote EMT. At the same time, LPS could regulate the expression of TLR4 and HOTAIR. In addition, knockdown of the expression of TLR4 partially reverses the promotion of cell invasion induced by LPS.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that LPS coordinate the Osteosarcoma through TLR4/HOTAIR.

Isolated pancreatic metastases from renal cell carcinoma: an outcome of a special metastatic pathway or of specific tumor cell selection?

Isolated pancreatic metastases (isPM) are a rare metastasizing pattern in the natural history of renal cell cancer. Their clinical hallmark is that they are confined to a single organ, the pancreas, while all other organs are unaffected for a long time. Almost all workers in the field suggested that mechanical tumor cell propagation to the pancreas may be the mechanism underlying this metastasizing pattern. In 2006 our group, by contrast, proposed an alternative mechanism, i.e. a special affinity of the tumor cells for the pancreas. In the present study an attempt was made to shed more light on the settlement of isPM by reviewing recent literature data. 666 observations of isPM reported in the literature were reviewed. The analyses showed that local lymphatic spread does not play a major role because the lymphatic system is, in general, rarely involved in isPM. This also applies to a local venous spread, because the site of pancreatic metastases is independent of the side affected by the primary renal cancer. But the results are compatible with a systemic metastatic pathway. That metastases in other organs, which would be expected given a systemic spread, are absent can plausibly be explained by a seed and soil mechanism: only the pancreas offers the tumor cell emboli an environment which is conducive to the growth of clinically manifest metastases, while settlement of metastatic tumor cells is prevented in all other organs.

MicroRNA-508 suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells through the MAPK1/ERK signaling pathway

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the sixth most common cancer in women worldwide. Despite advances in detection and therapies, it still represents the most lethal gynecologic malignancy in the industrialized countries. Unfortunately, the molecular events that lead to the development of this highly aggressive disease remain largely unknown. The study explored the ability of microRNA-508 (miR-508) to influence proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in OC cells. We quantified the level of miR-508 cancer tissues with corresponding adjacent normal tissues collected from 84 patients with OC. Human OC cells SKOV3 and A2780 were treated with negative control (NC), miR-508 mimics, miR-508 inhibitors, and miR-508 inhibitors + a specific MAPK/ERK kinase inhibitor (PD98059) to validate the interaction between miR-508 and MAPK/ERK signaling. The miR-508 expression level was lower while MAPK1 and ERK expression levels were higher in the cancer tissues than in the adjacent normal tissues. Dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated MAPK1 as a target gene of miR-508. The miR-508 mimics reduced the expression of MAPK1, p-MAPK1, ERK, p-ERK and Vimentin, inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and increased the expression of E-cadherin, while the miR-508 inhibitors resulted in an opposed trend in OC cells. The effects of miR-508 inhibitors on OC cells were lost when the MAPK1/ERK signaling pathway was inhibited by PD98059. Collectively, our data indicate that miR-508 plays a tumor suppressor role in the development and progression of OC and may be a novel therapeutic target against OC.

miR-488 inhibits cell growth and metastasis in renal cell carcinoma by targeting HMGN5

Purpose

microRNAs are thought to play crucial roles in tumorigenesis. Dysregulation of miR-488 has been implicated to be involved in several cancer progressions. However, the biological functions of miR-488 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism underlying the role of miR-488 in RCC development.

Materials and methods

The expression levels of miR-488 were detected in 38 paired RCC tumor samples and cell lines by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method. miR-488 was upregulated by mimics transfection in RCC cell lines. MTT, colony formation, transwell assay, flow cytometry assay, and a xenograft model were performed to determine cell proliferation, invasion, migration, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the potential target of miR-488 was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot. The correlation between miR-488 expression and its target gene expression was confirmed by Spearman’s correlation analysis in 38 selected RCC tissue samples.

Results

We found that miR-488 was remarkably downregulated in human RCC samples and cell lines compared with paired normal tissues and cell lines. Functional investigations revealed that overexpression of miR-488 significantly suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and promoted cell apoptosis in RCC cells. Nucleosome binding protein 1 (high-mobility group nucleosome binding domain 5 [HMGN5]) was identified as a direct target of miR-488, and an inverse relationship was found between miR-488 expression and HMGN5 mRNA levels in RCC specimens. Rescue experiments suggested that restoration of HMGN5 partially abolished miR-488-mediated cell proliferation and invasion inhibition in RCC cells through regulating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/the mammalian target of rapamycin and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition signaling pathways.

Conclusion

These data indicated that miR-488 acted as a tumor suppressor in RCC proliferation and invasion by targeting HMGN5, which might provide potential therapeutic biomarker for RCC patients.