LINC01311 exerts an inhibitory effect in thyroid cancer progression by targeting the miR-146b-5p/IMPA2 axis

Dual roles of long non-coding RNAs in thyroid cancer: regulation of programmed cell death pathways

Thyroid cancer (TC) represents the most common endocrine malignancy; however, the intricacies of its carcinogenesis pose significant challenges to therapeutic interventions. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive TC progression is crucial for the development of effective treatment strategies, especially considering the increasingly recognized role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in oncogenesis. Notwithstanding recent advancements, the regulatory functions of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and their interactions with microRNAs (miRNAs) in the context of TC are not yet fully elucidated. This review aims to address this knowledge deficiency by investigating the dual roles of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of TC, specifically their regulation of programmed cell death (PCD) pathways. Current literature indicates that disrupted competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks are involved in drug resistance, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as well as tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis in TC. The basis of cancer therapy-induced tumor cell elimination is programmed cell death (PCD), which includes well-studied processes such as apoptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis as well as novel pathways, such as cuproptosis, immunogenic cell death (ICD), and PANoptosis. Recent research has shown the critical function of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in modifying these several PCD pathways, impacting TC growth and therapy response. This review synthesizes evidence on how lncRNAs regulate PCD to influence TC progression and therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, we examine the clinical relevance of lncRNAs in TC, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, therapeutic targets, and contributors to drug resistance, while emphasizing recent advancements in this field.

Lomibuvir sensitizes radioiodine-resistant thyroid cancer cell lines to radioiodine treatment by targeting hTERT RNA-dependent polymerase activity

Radioactive iodine (RAI) is selectively used in the treatment of residual or recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer for over fifty years. However, radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAIR-DTC) is difficult to treat with radioactive iodine because of the decreased sodium iodide symporter (NIS) activity. Patients with RAIR-DTC derive limited benefit from RAI therapy, necessitating the exploration of new treatment options. In the current study, we aimed to explore the mechanism underlying thyroid cancer dedifferentiation and to provide new targets for RAIR therapy. We established a RAIR thyroid cancer cell line which was verified by the colony formation ability under radioiodine-131 treatment at doses up to 100 µCi. As expected, higher expressions of cancer stem cell genes, SOX2, CD133, and OCT4 A were found in RAIR cells compared to non-RAIR cells. Correspondingly, the expression of iodine-handling genes such as NIS, TPO, and Pendrin were downregulated. Interestingly, we discovered that the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) activity of TERT was also upregulated in RAIR cells, evidenced by the upregulation of phosphorylated telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), BRG1 and CDK1. Moreover, miR-146b-5p, transcribed by TERT gene, was likewise upregulated. RdRP inhibitor lomibuvir treatment downregulated miR-146b-5p level in RAIR cells, resulting in the upregulation of NIS gene expression. Lomibuvir not only restored the expressions of TPO and NIS but also downregulated the elevated ALDH1A1 and CD133 in RAIR cells. Consequently, the uptake of radioiodine-131 was significantly enhanced in these RAIR cells. Taken together, our research identifies novel therapeutic targets and provides new insights into the management of RAIR-DTC.

Development of a disulfidptosis-related lncRNA prognostic signature for enhanced prognostic assessment and therapeutic strategies in lung squamous cell carcinoma

Limited treatment options and poor prognosis present significant challenges in the treatment of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). Disulfidptosis impacts cancer progression and prognosis. We developed a prognostic signature using disulfidptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) to predict the prognosis of LUSC patients. Gene expression matrices and clinical information for LUSC were downloaded from the TCGA database. Co-expression analysis identified 209 disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs. LASSO-Cox regression analysis identified nine key lncRNAs, forming the basis for establishing a prognostic model. The model's validity was confirmed by Kaplan-Meier and ROC curves. Cox regression analysis identified the risk score (RS) as an independent prognostic factor inversely correlated with overall survival. A nomogram based on the RS demonstrated good predictive performance for LUSC patient prognosis. The relationship between RS and immune function was explored using ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, and ssGSEA algorithms. According to the TIDE database, a negative correlation was found between RS and immune therapy responsiveness. The GDSC database revealed that 49 drugs were beneficial for the low-risk group and 25 drugs for the high-risk group. Silencing C10orf55 expression in SW900 cells reduced invasiveness and migration potential. In summary, this lncRNA model based on TCGA-LUSC data effectively predicts prognosis and assists clinical decision-making.

Targeting lncRNAs of colorectal cancers with natural products

Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is one of the functional classes of RNA that has a regulatory role in various cellular processes, such as modulation of disease onset, progression, and prognosis. ncRNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have been actively studied in recent years. The change in ncRNA levels is being actively studied in numerous human diseases, especially auto-immune disorders and cancers; however, targeting and regulating ncRNA with natural products to cure cancer has not been fully established. Recently many groups reported the relationship between ncRNA and natural products showing promising effects to serve as additional therapeutic approaches to cure cancers. This mini-review summarizes the aspects of lncRNAs related to cancer biology focusing on colorectal cancers that natural products can target.