MiR-584-5p potentiates vincristine and radiation response by inducing spindle defects and DNA damage in medulloblastoma

CircVDAC3 sequesters microRNA-592 and elevates EIF4E3 expression to inhibit the progression of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence has shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in gastric cancer (GC) tumorigenesis. However, specific functional circRNAs in GC remain to be discovered, and their underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

METHODS

CircRNAs that were differentially expressed between GC tissues and controls were analyzed using a circRNA microarray dataset. The expression of circVDAC3 in GC was determined using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and the structural features of circVDAC3 were validated. Cell function assays and animal experiments were conducted to explore the effects of circVDAC3 on GC. Finally, bioinformatics analysis, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and dual luciferase assays were used to analyze the downstream mechanisms of circVDAC3.

RESULTS

Our results showed that circVDAC3 was downregulated in GC and inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells. Mechanistically, circVDAC3 acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-592 and deregulates the repression of EIF4E3 by miR-592. EIF4E3 is downregulated in GC and overexpression of miR-592 or knockdown of EIF4E3 in circVDAC3-overexpressing cells weakens the anticancer effect of circVDAC3.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides evidence that circVDAC3 affects the growth and metastasis of GC cells via the circVDAC3/miR-592/EIF4E3 axis. Our findings offer valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying GC tumorigenesis and suggest novel therapeutic strategies.

Vincristine exposure impairs mouse oocyte quality by inducing spindle defects and early apoptosis

Vincristine (VCR) is a microtubule-destabilizing chemotherapeutic agent commonly administered for the treatment of cancers in patients, which can induce severe side effects including neurotoxicity. In context of the effects on female fertility, ovarian toxicity has been found in patients and mice model after VCR exposure. However, the influence of VCR exposure on oocyte quality has not been elucidated. We established VCR exposure in vitro and in vivo model. The results indicated in vitro VCR exposure contributed to failure of oocyte maturation through inducing defects in spindle assembly, activation of SAC, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and early apoptosis, which were confirmed by using in vivo exposure model. Moreover, in vivo VCR exposure caused aneuploidy, reduced oocyte-sperm binding ability, and the number of cortical granules in mouse oocyte cortex. Taken together, this study demonstrated that VCR could cause meiotic arrest and poor quality of mouse oocyte.

Cancer stem cells in brain tumors: From origin to clinical implications

Malignant brain tumors are highly heterogeneous tumors with a poor prognosis and a high morbidity and mortality rate in both children and adults. The cancer stem cell (CSC, also named tumor-initiating cell) model states that tumor growth is driven by a subset of CSCs. This model explains some of the clinical observations of brain tumors, including the almost unavoidable tumor recurrence after initial successful chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and treatment resistance. Over the past two decades, strategies for the identification and characterization of brain CSCs have improved significantly, supporting the design of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for brain tumors. Relevant studies have unveiled novel characteristics of CSCs in the brain, including their heterogeneity and distinctive immunobiology, which have provided opportunities for new research directions and potential therapeutic approaches. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of CSCs markers and stemness regulators in brain tumors. We also comprehensively describe the influence of the CSCs niche and tumor microenvironment on brain tumor stemness, including interactions between CSCs and the immune system, and discuss the potential application of CSCs in brain-based therapies for the treatment of brain tumors.

Using the Precision Lasso for gene selection in diffuse large B cell lymphoma cancer

BACKGROUND

Gene selection from gene expression profiles is the appropriate tool for diagnosing and predicting cancers. The aim of this study is to perform a Precision Lasso regression model on gene expression of diffuse large B cell lymphoma patients and to find marker genes related to DLBCL.

METHODS

In the present case-control study, the dataset included 180 gene expressions from 14 healthy individuals and 17 DLBCL patients. The marker genes were selected by fitting Ridge, Lasso, Elastic Net, and Precision Lasso regression models.

RESULTS

Based on our findings, the Precision Lasso, the Ridge, the Elastic Net, and the Lasso models choose the most marker genes, respectively. In addition, the top 20 genes are based on models compared with the results of clinical studies. The Precision Lasso and the Ridge models selected the most common genes with the clinical results, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The performance of the Precision Lasso model in selecting related genes could be considered more acceptable rather than other models.

Comprehensive multi-omics analysis reveals m7G-related signature for evaluating prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy in osteosarcoma

Background

Osteosarcoma is one of the most prevalent bone malignancies with a poor prognosis. The N7-methylguanosine (m7G) modification facilitates the modification of RNA structure and function tightly associated with cancer. Nonetheless, there is a lack of joint exploration of the relationship between m7G methylation and immune status in osteosarcoma.

Methods

With the support of TARGET and GEO databases, we performed consensus clustering to characterize molecular subtypes based on m7G regulators in all osteosarcoma patients. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method, Cox regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to construct and validate m7G-related prognostic features and derived risk scores. In addition, GSVA, ssGSEA, CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE, and gene set enrichment analysis were conducted to characterize biological pathways and immune landscapes. We explored the relationship between risk scores and drug sensitivity, immune checkpoints, and human leukocyte antigens by correlation analysis. Finally, the roles of EIF4E3 in cell function were verified through external experiments.

Results

Two molecular isoforms based on regulator genes were identified, which presented significant discrepancies in terms of survival and activated pathways. Moreover, the six m7G regulators most associated with prognosis in osteosarcoma patients were identified as independent predictors for the construction of prognostic signature. The model was well stabilized and outperformed traditional clinicopathological features to reliably predict 3-year (AUC = 0.787) and 5-year (AUC = 0.790) survival in osteosarcoma cohorts. Patients with increased risk scores had a poorer prognosis, higher tumor purity, lower checkpoint gene expression, and were in an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Furthermore, enhanced expression of EIF4E3 indicated a favorable prognosis and affected the biological behavior of osteosarcoma cells.

Conclusions

We identified six prognostic relevant m7G modulators that may provide valuable indicators for the estimation of overall survival and the corresponding immune landscape in patients with osteosarcoma.

Screening Key Pathogenic Genes and Small Molecule Compounds for PNET

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) are rare malignant tumors, but the mortality rate of the patients is extremely high. The aim of this study was to identify the hub genes and pathways involved in the pathogenesis of PNET and to screen the potential small molecule drugs for PNET. We extracted gene expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through Limma package in R. Two expression profiles (GSE14295 and GSE74195) were downloaded, including 33 and 5 cases separately. Four hundred sixty-eight DEGs (161 upregulated; 307 downregulated) were identified. Functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment of the DEGs were performed using DAVID and Kobas. Gene Ontology analysis showed the significantly enriched Gene Ontology terms included but not limited to mitosis, nuclear division, cytoskeleton, synaptic vesicle, syntaxin binding, and GABA A receptor activity. Cancer-related signaling pathways, such as DNA replication, cell cycle, and synaptic vesicle cycle, were found to be associated with these genes. Subsequently, the STRING database and Cytoscape were utilized to construct a protein-protein interaction and screen the hub genes, and we identified 5 hub genes (including CCNB1, CDC20, KIF11, KIF2C, and MAD2L1) as the key biomarkers for PNET. Finally, we identified potential small molecule drugs through CMap. Seven small molecule compounds, including trichostatin A, luteolin, repaglinide, clomipramine, lorglumide, vorinostat, and resveratrol may become potential candidates for PNET drugs.

Nanoparticles for Drug and Gene Delivery in Pediatric Brain Tumors' Cancer Stem Cells: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

Primary malignant brain tumors are the most common solid neoplasm in childhood. Despite recent advances, many children affected by aggressive or metastatic brain tumors still present poor prognosis, therefore the development of more effective therapies is urgent. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been discovered and isolated in both pediatric and adult patients with brain tumors (e.g., medulloblastoma, gliomas and ependymoma). CSCs are a small clonal population of cancer cells responsible for brain tumor initiation, maintenance and progression, displaying resistance to conventional anticancer therapies. CSCs are characterized by a specific repertoire of surface markers and intracellular specific pathways. These unique features of CSCs biology offer the opportunity to build therapeutic approaches to specifically target these cells in the complex tumor bulk. Treatment of pediatric brain tumors with classical chemotherapeutic regimen poses challenges both for tumor location and for the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Lastly, the application of chemotherapy to a developing brain is followed by long-term sequelae, especially on cognitive abilities. Novel avenues are emerging in the therapeutic panorama taking advantage of nanomedicine. In this review we will summarize nanoparticle-based approaches and the efficacy that NPs have intrinsically demonstrated and how they are also decorated by biomolecules. Furthermore, we propose novel cargoes together with recent advances in nanoparticle design/synthesis with the final aim to specifically target the insidious CSCs population in the tumor bulk.

Application of miRNA Biomarkers in Predicting Overall Survival Outcomes for Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background

With the development of research, the importance of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the occurrence, metastasis, and prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has attracted extensive attention. This study is aimed at predicting overall survival (OS) results through bioinformatics to identify novel miRNA biomarkers and hub genes.

Materials and Methods

The data of LUAD-related miRNA and mRNA samples was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Upon screening and pretreatment of initial data, TCGA data were analyzed using R platform and a series of analytical tools to identify biomarkers with high specificity and sensitivity.

Results

7 miRNAs and 13 hub genes that had strong relation to the overall surviving status were identified in patients with LUAD. The expression of seven miRNAs (hsa-miR-19a-3p, hsa-miR-126-5p, hsa-miR-556-3p, hsa-miR-671-5p, hsa-miR-937-3p, hsa-miR-4664-3p, and hsa-miR-4746-5p) could apparently improve the OS rate of patient with LUAD. The 13 hub genes, namely, CCT6A, CDK5R1, CEP55, DNAJB4, EGLN3, HDGF, HOXC8, LIMD1, MKI67, PCP4L1, PPIL1, SCAI, and STK32A, showed a correlation with the OS status.

Conclusion

7 miRNAs were identified as novel biomarkers for the prognosis of patients with LUAD. This study offered a deeper comprehension of LUAD treatment and prognosis from the molecular level and helped enhance the understanding of the pathogenesis and potential molecular events of LUAD.

Clinical predictive value of naïve and memory T cells in advanced NSCLC

Currently, there is no sensitive prognostic biomarker to screen out benefit patients from the non-benefit population in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients (aNSCLCs). The 435 aNSCLCs and 278 normal controls (NCs) were recruited. The percentages and absolute counts (AC) of circulating naïve and memory T lymphocytes of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (Tn/Tm) were measured by flow cytometry. The percentage of CD4+ naïve T (Tn), CD8+ Tn, CD8+ T memory stem cell (Tscm), and CD8+ terminal effector T cell decreased obviously. Still, all AC of Tn/Tm of aNSCLCs was significantly lower compared to NCs. Higher AC and percentage of CD4+ Tn, CD8+ Tn, and CD4+ Tscm showed markedly longer median PFS in aNSCLCs. Statistics demonstrated the AC of CD4+ Tn (≥ 3.7 cells/μL) was an independent protective factor for PFS. The analysis of the prognosis of immunotherapy showed the higher AC and percentage of CD4+ Tn and CD4+ Tscm and higher AC of CD8+ Tscm had significantly longer median PFS and the AC of CD4+ Tn (≥ 5.5 cells/μL) was an independent protective factor for PFS. Moreover, higher AC and percentages of Tn/Tm suggested higher disease control rate and lower progressive disease rate. The AC of Tn/Tm showed more regular patterns of impairment and was more relative with the disease progression than percentages in aNSCLCs. AC had a better predictive value than percentages in Tn/Tm for PFS. Notably, the AC of CD4+ Tn was a potential prognostic biomarker for the PFS and efficacy of immunotherapy.

Nonenzymatic Multiamplified Electrochemical Detection of Medulloblastoma-Relevant MicroRNAs from Cerebrospinal Fluid

The sensitive analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) holds promise for the minimally invasive early diagnosis of brain cancers such as pediatric medulloblastoma but remains challenging due partially to a lack of facile yet sensitive sensing methods. Herein, an enzyme-free triple-signal amplification electrochemical assay for miRNA was developed by integrating the target-triggered cyclic strand-displacement reaction (TCSDR), hybridization chain reaction (HCR), and methylene blue (MB) intercalation. In this assay, the presence of target miRNA (miR-9) initiated the TCSDR and produced primers that triggered the subsequent HCR amplification to generate copious double-stranded DNAs (dsDNAs) on the electrode surface. Intercalation of a large number of MB reporters into the long nicked double helixes of dsDNAs yielded a more enhanced signal of differential pulse voltammetry. The enzyme-free multiple-amplification approach allowed for highly sensitive (detection limit: 6.5 fM) and sequence-specific (single-base mismatch resolution) detection of miR-9 from tumor cells and human CSF with minimal sample consumption (10 μL). Moreover, the clinical utilization of this method was documented by accurate discrimination of five medulloblastoma patients from the nontumoral controls. In light of its sensitivity, specificity, and convenience of use, this electrochemical method was expected to facilitate the early detection of malignant brain tumors.

Ribosome Biogenesis: A Central Player in Cancer Metastasis and Therapeutic Resistance

Ribosomes are a complex ensemble of rRNA and ribosomal proteins that function as mRNA translation machines. Ribosome biogenesis is a multistep process that begins in the nucleolus and concludes in the cytoplasm. The process is tightly controlled by multiple checkpoint and surveillance pathways. Perturbations in these checkpoints and pathways can lead to hyperactivation of ribosome biogenesis. Emerging evidence suggests that cancer cells harbor a specialized class of ribosomes (onco-ribosomes) that facilitates the oncogenic translation program, modulates cellular functions, and promotes metabolic rewiring. Mutations in ribosomal proteins, rRNA processing, and ribosome assembly factors result in ribosomopathies that are associated with an increased risk of developing malignancies. Recent studies have linked mutations in ribosomal proteins and aberrant ribosomes with poor prognosis, highlighting ribosome-targeted therapy as a promising approach for treating patients with cancer. Here, we summarize various aspects of dysregulation of ribosome biogenesis and the impact of resultant onco-ribosomes on malignant tumor behavior, therapeutic resistance, and clinical outcome. Ribosome biogenesis is a promising therapeutic target, and understanding the important determinants of this process will allow for improved and perhaps selective therapeutic strategies to target ribosome biosynthesis.

Targeting aberrant replication and DNA repair events for treating breast cancers

The major limitations of DNA-targeting chemotherapy drugs include life-threatening toxicity, acquired resistance and occurrence of secondary cancers. Here, we report a small molecule, Carbazole Blue (CB), that binds to DNA and inhibits cancer growth and metastasis by targeting DNA-related processes that tumor cells use but not the normal cells. We show that CB inhibits the expression of pro-tumorigenic genes that promote unchecked replication and aberrant DNA repair that cancer cells get addicted to survive. In contrast to chemotherapy drugs, systemic delivery of CB suppressed breast cancer growth and metastasis with no toxicity in pre-clinical mouse models. Using PDX and ex vivo explants from estrogen receptor (ER) positive, ER mutant and TNBC patients, we further demonstrated that CB effectively blocks therapy-sensitive and therapy-resistant breast cancer growth without affecting normal breast tissue. Our data provide a strong rationale to develop CB as a viable therapeutic for treating breast cancers.

Exosomal-microRNA transcriptome profiling of Parental and CSC-like MDA-MB-231 cells in response to cisplatin treatment

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype with higher risk of metastasis and cancer reoccurrence. Cisplatin is one of the potential anticancer drugs for treating TNBC, where its effectiveness remains challenged by frequent occurrence of cisplatin resistance. Since acquirement of drug resistance often being associated with presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), investigation has been conducted, suggesting CSC-like subpopulation to be more resistant to cisplatin than their parental counterpart. On the other hand, plethora evidences showed the transmission of exosomal-miRNAs are capable of promoting drug resistance in breast cancers. In this study, we aim to elucidate the differential expression of exosomal-microRNAs profile and reveal the potential target genes in correlation to cisplatin resistance associated with CSC-like subpopulation by using TNBC cell line (MDA-MB-231). Utilizing next generation sequencing and Nanostring techniques, cisplatin-induced dysregulation of exosomal-miRNAs were evaluated in maximal for CSC-like subpopulation as compared to parental cells. Intriguingly, more oncogenic exosomal-miRNAs profile was detected from treated CSC-like subpopulation, which may correlate to enhancement of drug resistance and maintenance of CSCs. In treated CSC-like subpopulation, unique clusters of exosomal-miRNAs namely miR-221-3p, miR-196a-5p, miR-17-5p and miR-126-3p were predicted to target on six genes (ATXN1, LATS1, GSK3β, ITGA6, JAG1 and MYC), aligned with previous finding which demonstrated dysregulation of these genes in treated CSC-like subpopulation. Our results highlight the potential correlation of exosomal-miRNAs and their target genes as well as novel perspectives of the corresponding pathways that may be essential to contribute to the attenuated cytotoxicity of cisplatin in CSC-like subpopulation.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Differential Expression and Prognostic Value of Histone Deacetylases in Glioma

Gliomas are the most common and aggressive malignancies of the central nervous system. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are important targets in cancer treatment. They regulate complex cellular mechanisms that influence tumor biology and immunogenicity. However, little is known about the function of HDACs in glioma. The Oncomine, Human Protein Atlas, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, Broad Institute Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas, OmicShare, cBioPortal, GeneMANIA, STRING, and TIMER databases were utilized to analyze the differential expression, prognostic value, and genetic alteration of HDAC and immune cell infiltration in patients with glioma. HDAC1/2 were considerable upregulated whereas HDAC11 was significantly downregulated in cancer tissues. HDAC1/2/3/4/5/7/8/11 were significantly correlated with the clinical glioma stage. HDAC1/2/3/10 were strongly upregulated in 11 glioma cell lines. High HDCA1/3/7 and low HDAC4/5/11 mRNA levels were significantly associated with overall survival and disease-free survival in glioma. HDAC1/2/3/4/5/7/9/10/11 are potential useful biomarkers for predicting the survival of patients with glioma. The functions of HDACs and 50 neighboring genes were primarily related to transcriptional dysregulation in cancers and the Notch, cGMP-PKG, and thyroid hormone signaling pathways. HDAC expression was significantly correlated with the infiltration of B cells, CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells in glioma. Our study indicated that HDACs are putative precision therapy targets and prognostic biomarkers of survival in glioma patients.

Circulating MicroRNAs From Plasma Small Extracellular Vesicles as Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers in Pediatric Epilepsy and Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Pediatric epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes repeated and unprovoked seizures and is more common in 1–5-year-old children. Drug resistance has been indicated as a key challenge in improving the clinical outcomes of patients with pediatric epilepsy. In the present study, we aimed to identify plasma small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived microRNAs (miRNAs) from the plasma samples of children for predicting the prognosis in patients with epilepsy and drug-resistant epilepsy. A total of 90 children clinically diagnosed with epilepsy [46 antiepileptic drug (AED)-responsive epilepsy and 44 drug-resistant epilepsy] and 37 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in this study. RNA sequencing was performed to identify plasma sEVs derived miRNAs isolated from the children’s plasma samples. Differentially expressed plasma sEVs derived miRNAs were identified using bioinformatics tools and were further validated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. In the present study, 6 miRNAs (hsa-miR-125b-5p, hsa-miR-150-3p, hsa-miR-199a-3p, hsa-miR-584-5p hsa-miR-199a-5p, and hsa-miR-342-5p) were selected for further validation. hsa-miR-584-5p, hsa-miR-342-5p, and hsa-miR-150-5p with area under curve (AUC) values of 0.846, 0.835, and 0.826, respectively, were identified as promising biomarkers of epilepsy. A logistic model combining three miRNAs (hsa-miR-584-5p, hsa-miR-342-5p, and hsa-miR-199a-3p) could achieve an AUC of 0.883 and a six miRNAs model (hsa-miR-342-5p, hsa-miR-584-5p, hsa-miR-150-5p, hsa-miR-125b-5p, hsa-miR-199a-3p, and hsa-miR-199a-5p) could attain an AUC of 0.888. The predicted probability of multiple miRNA panels was evaluated for differentiating between drug-resistant children and drug-responsive children. The AUC of a six-miRNA panel (hsa-miR-342-5p, hsa-miR-584-5p, hsa-miR-150-5p, hsa-miR-125b-5p, hsa-miR-199a-3p, and hsa-miR-199a-5p) reached 0.823. We identified and confirmed plasma sEVs derived miRNA biomarkers that could be considered as potential therapeutic targets for pediatric epilepsy and drug-resistant epilepsy.

Noncoding RNAs in pediatric brain tumors: Molecular functions and pathological implications

Brain tumors are common solid pediatric malignancies and the main reason for cancer-related death in the pediatric setting. Recently, evidence has revealed that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), play a critical role in brain tumor development and progression. Therefore, in this review article, we describe the functions and molecular mechanisms of ncRNAs in multiple types of cancer, including medulloblastoma, pilocytic astrocytoma, ependymoma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, glioblastoma, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, and craniopharyngioma. We also mention the limitations of using ncRNAs as therapeutic targets because of the nonspecificity of ncRNA targets and the delivery methods of ncRNAs. Due to the critical role of ncRNAs in brain oncogenesis, targeting aberrantly expressed ncRNAs might be an effective strategy to improve the outcomes of pediatric patients with brain tumors.

Differential and Common Signatures of miRNA Expression and Methylation in Childhood Central Nervous System Malignancies: An Experimental and Computational Approach

Epigenetic modifications are considered of utmost significance for tumor ontogenesis and progression. Especially, it has been found that miRNA expression, as well as DNA methylation plays a significant role in central nervous system tumors during childhood. A total of 49 resected brain tumors from children were used for further analysis. DNA methylation was identified with methylation-specific MLPA and, in particular, for the tumor suppressor genes CASP8, RASSF1, MGMT, MSH6, GATA5, ATM1, TP53, and CADM1. miRNAs were identified with microarray screening, as well as selected samples, were tested for their mRNA expression levels. CASP8, RASSF1 were the most frequently methylated genes in all tumor samples. Simultaneous methylation of genes manifested significant results with respect to tumor staging, tumor type, and the differentiation of tumor and control samples. There was no significant dependence observed with the methylation of one gene promoter, rather with the simultaneous presence of all detected methylated genes' promoters. miRNA expression was found to be correlated to gene methylation. Epigenetic regulation appears to be of major importance in tumor progression and pathophysiology, making it an imperative field of study.

The Role of MicroRNAs in Therapeutic Resistance of Malignant Primary Brain Tumors

Brain tumors in children and adults are challenging tumors to treat. Malignant primary brain tumors (MPBTs) such as glioblastoma have very poor outcomes, emphasizing the need to better understand their pathogenesis. Developing novel strategies to slow down or even stop the growth of brain tumors remains one of the major clinical challenges. Modern treatment strategies for MPBTs are based on open surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. However, none of these treatments, alone or in combination, are considered effective in controlling tumor progression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 18-22 nucleotide long endogenous non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by interacting with 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTR) of mRNA-targets. It has been proven that miRNAs play a significant role in various biological processes, including the cell cycle, apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, etc. Over the last decade, there has been an emergence of a large number of studies devoted to the role of miRNAs in the oncogenesis of brain tumors and the development of resistance to radio- and chemotherapy. Wherein, among the variety of molecules secreted by tumor cells into the external environment, extracellular vesicles (EVs) (exosomes and microvesicles) play a special role. Various elements were found in the EVs, including miRNAs, which can be transported as part of these EVs both between neighboring cells and between remotely located cells of different tissues using biological fluids. Some of these miRNAs in EVs can contribute to the development of resistance to radio- and chemotherapy in MPBTs, including multidrug resistance (MDR). This comprehensive review examines the role of miRNAs in the resistance of MPBTs (e.g., high-grade meningiomas, medulloblastoma (MB), pituitary adenomas (PAs) with aggressive behavior, and glioblastoma) to chemoradiotherapy and pharmacological treatment. It is believed that miRNAs are future therapeutic targets in MPBTs and such the role of miRNAs needs to be critically evaluated to focus on solving the problems of resistance to therapy this kind of human tumors.

Integrated Analysis of miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Networks Associated with Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) accounts for as many as 18% of total hip arthroplasties. Knowledge of genetic changes and molecular abnormalities could help identify individuals considered to be at a higher risk of developing ONFH. In this study, we sought to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) and genes (DEGs) associated with ONFH by integrated bioinformatics analyses as well as to construct the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network involving in the pathogenesis of ONFH. We performed differential expression analysis using a gene expression profile GSE123568 and a miRNA expression profile GSE89587 deposited in the Gene Expression Omnibus and identified 47 DEmiRs (24 upregulated miRNAs and 23 downregulated miRNAs) and 529 DEGs (218 upregulated genes and 311 downregulated genes). Gene Ontology enrichment analyses of DEGs suggested that DEGs were significantly enriched in neutrophil activation, cytosol, and ubiquitin-protein transferase activity. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses of DEGs revealed that DEGs were significantly enriched in transcriptional misregulation in cancer. DEGs-based miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were obtained by searching miRNA-mRNA prediction databases, TargetScan, miTarBase, miRMap, miRDB, and miRanda databases. Then, overlapped miRNAs were selected between these putative miRNAs and DEmiRs between ONFH and non-ONFH, and pairs of the DEmiR-DEG regulatory network were finally depicted. There were 12 nodes and 64 interactions for upDEmiR-downDEG regulatory networks and 6 nodes and 16 interactions for downDEmiR-upDEG regulatory networks. Using the STRING database, we established a protein-protein interaction network based on the overlapped DEGs between ONFH and non-ONFH. C5AR1, CDC27, CDC34, KAT2B, CPPED1, TFDP1, and MX2 were identified as the hub genes. The present study characterizes the miRNA profile, gene profile, and miRNA-mRNA regulatory network in ONFH, which may contribute to the interpretation of the pathogenesis of ONFH and the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ONFH.

Recent advances in herbal combination nanomedicine for cancer: delivery technology and therapeutic outcomes

Introduction: The use of herbal compounds in cancer therapy has great potential to promote the efficacy of current cancer therapeutic strategies. Herbal compounds were successfully reported to enhance tumor cells sensitization to the action of chemo-, hormonal- and gene-therapeutic agents via different mechanisms. Herbal ingredients can affect different signaling pathways, reduce the toxic side effects or inhibit the efflux of anticancer drugs.Areas covered: This review will discuss the delivery of herbal compounds with other cancer treatments such as hormonal, small molecule inhibitors and inorganic hybrids to tumor cells. An overview of physicochemical properties of herbal components that require intelligent design of combo-nanomedicines for efficient co-delivery of those herbal-derived and other anticancer agents was discussed. Nanocarriers provide various benefits to overcome the shortcomings of the encapsulated herbal compounds including improved solubility, increased stability and enhanced tumor targeting. Different nanocarrier systems were the focus of this review.Expert opinion: Multifunctional nanocarrier systems encapsulating herbal and different anticancer drugs showed to be a wonderful approach in the treatment of cancer enabling the co-delivery of anticancer drugs with versatile modes of action in an accurate manner in an attempt to enhance the efficacy, benefit from the synergism between the drugs as well as to minimize the development of multi-drug resistance. The main challenge point is the early detection and management of any developed adverse effect.

eIF4E3 forms an active eIF4F complex during stresses (eIF4FS) targeting mTOR and re-programs the translatome

The eIF4E are a family of initiation factors that bind the mRNA 5′ cap, regulating the proteome and the cellular phenotype. eIF4E1 mediates global translation and its activity is controlled via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. mTOR down-regulation results in eIF4E1 sequestration into an inactive complex with the 4E binding proteins (4EBPs). The second member, eIF4E2, regulates the translatome during hypoxia. However, the exact function of the third member, eIF4E3, has remained elusive. We have dissected its function using a range of techniques. Starting from the observation that it does not interact with 4EBP1, we demonstrate that eIF4E3 recruitment into an eIF4F complex occurs when Torin1 inhibits the mTOR pathway. Ribo-seq studies demonstrate that this complex (eIF4F^S) is translationally active during stress and that it selects specific mRNA populations based on 5′ TL (UTR) length. The interactome reveals that it associates with cellular proteins beyond the cognate initiation factors, suggesting that it may have ‘moon-lighting’ functions. Finally, we provide evidence that cellular metabolism is altered in an eIF4E3 KO background but only upon Torin1 treatment. We propose that eIF4E3 acts as a second branch of the integrated stress response, re-programming the translatome to promote ‘stress resistance’ and adaptation.

Identification of small molecules that mitigate vincristine-induced neurotoxicity while sensitizing leukemia cells to vincristine

Vincristine (VCR) is one of the most widely prescribed medications for treating solid tumors and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children and adults. However, its major dose-limiting toxicity is peripheral neuropathy that can disrupt curative therapy. Peripheral neuropathy can also persist into adulthood, compromising quality of life of childhood cancer survivors. Reducing VCR-induced neurotoxicity without compromising its anticancer effects would be ideal. Here, we show that low expression of NHP2L1 is associated with increased sensitivity of primary leukemia cells to VCR, and that concomitant administration of VCR with inhibitors of NHP2L1 increases VCR cytotoxicity in leukemia cells, prolongs survival of ALL xenograft mice, but decreases VCR effects on human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons and mitigates neurotoxicity in mice. These findings offer a strategy for increasing VCR's antileukemic effects while reducing peripheral neuropathy in patients treated with this widely prescribed medication.

Epigenetic-Based Therapy-A Prospective Chance for Medulloblastoma Patients' Recovery

Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most frequent and malignant brain tumors in children. The prognosis depends on the advancement of the disease and the patient's age. Current therapies, which include surgery, chemotherapy, and irradiation, despite being quite effective, cause significant side effects that influence the central nervous system's function and cause neurocognitive deficits. Therefore, they substantially lower the quality of life, which is especially severe in a developing organism. Thus, there is a need for new therapies that are less toxic and even more effective. Recently, knowledge about the epigenetic mechanisms that are responsible for medulloblastoma development has increased. Epigenetics is a phenomenon that influences gene expression but can be easily modified by external factors. The best known epigenetic mechanisms are histone modifications, DNA methylation, or noncoding RNAs actions. Epigenetic mechanisms comprehensively explain the complex phenomena of carcinogenesis. At the same time, they seem to be a potential key to treating medulloblastoma with fewer complications than past therapies. This review presents the currently known epigenetic mechanisms that are involved in medulloblastoma pathogenesis and the potential therapies that use epigenetic traits to cure medulloblastoma while maintaining a good quality of life and ensuring a higher median overall survival rate.

CircPITX1 Regulates Proliferation, Angiogenesis, Migration, Invasion, and Cell Cycle of Human Glioblastoma Cells by Targeting miR-584-5p/KPNB1 Axis

Recent researches reported that several circular RNAs (circRNAs) were associated with the glioblastoma (GBM) progression, while the regulatory role of circPITX1 remains unknown in GBM. The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to quantify circPITX1, miR-584-5p, and karyopherin b1 (KPNB1) expression in GBM tissues and cells. The proliferation capability of cells was analyzed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony-forming assays. The matrigel angiogenesis assay was used to assess tube formation in GBM cells. Flow cytometry assays were conducted to evaluate the cell cycle distribution of GBM cells. The migration and invasion assays were assessed by transwell assay. The Western blot assay was employed to quantify the protein expression level in GBM tissues and cells. The targets of circPITX1 and miR-584-5p were confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. A xenograft experiment in nude mice was used to assess the functional role of circPITX1 in vivo. CircPITX1 was obviously overexpressed in GBM tissues and cells when compared with negative groups. The functional experiment implied that knockdown of circPITX1 suppressed proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, invasion, and tumor growth in vivo along with induced cell cycle arrest of GBM cells. Furthermore, miR-584-5p was a target gene of circPITX1, and knockdown of miR-584-5p could abolish circPITX1 silencing-induced effects on GBM cells. KPNB1 was a target gene of miR-584-5p, and functional experiments revealed that overexpression of miR-584-5p repressed proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, invasion, and cell cycle process in GBM cells by targeting KPNB1. Mechanistically, circPITX1/miR-584-5p/KPNB1 axis regulated GBM process via mediating proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, invasion, and cell cycle process of GBM cells.

Tumor Suppressor miR-584-5p Inhibits Migration and Invasion in Smoking Related Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells by Targeting YKT6

Simple Summary

Cigarette smoke is a major carcinogen that causes lung cancer and induces DNA methylation. DNA methylation regulates the expression of microRNA (miRNAs), which are important regulators of cancer biology. However, the association between smoking and miRNAs has not been fully elucidated in smoking-related lung carcinogenesis. In this study, we found that miR-584-5p expression was downregulated with cancer progression using a lung carcinogenesis model cell line. Moreover, we demonstrated that miR-584-5p is downregulated by the methylation of its promoter region and that it suppresses migration and invasion by targeting YKT6 in smoking-related non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Our results provide a better understanding of the underlying changes in miRNA expression in smoking-related lung carcinogenesis and suggest that miR-584-5p is a potential molecular biomarker for smoking-related NSCLC.

Abstract

Cigarette smoke (CS) affects the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are important regulators of gene expression by inducing DNA methylation. However, the effects of smoking on miRNA expression have not been fully elucidated in smoking-related lung carcinogenesis. Therefore, in this study, to investigate the change of miRNA expression pattern and to identify tumor suppressor miRNAs by smoking in lung carcinogenesis, we used lung carcinogenesis model cell lines that, derived from a murine xenograft model with human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B), exposed CS or not. The microarray analysis revealed that miR-584-5p expression was downregulated with cancer progression in lung carcinogenesis model cell lines. We confirmed by pyrosequencing that the methylation level of the miR-584-5p promoter increased with cancer progression. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that miR-584-5p suppressed migration and invasion in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells by targeting YKT6. Furthermore, we showed that high level of YKT6 was associated with a poor survival rate in NSCLC patients with a history of smoking. These results suggest that miR-584-5p acts as a tumor suppressor and is a potential molecular biomarker for smoking-related NSCLC.

Preclinical efficacy of ribavirin in SHH and group 3 medulloblastoma

OBJECTIVE

Medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric brain malignancy, has Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) and group 3 (Myc driven) subtypes that are associated with the activity of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), a critical mediator of translation, and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a histone methyltransferase and master regulator of transcription. Recent drug repurposing efforts in multiple solid and hematologic malignancies have demonstrated that eIF4E and EZH2 are both pharmacologically inhibited by the FDA-approved antiviral drug ribavirin. Given the molecular overlap between medulloblastoma biology and known ribavirin activity, the authors investigated the preclinical efficacy of repurposing ribavirin as a targeted therapeutic in cell and animal models of medulloblastoma.

METHODS

Multiple in vitro assays were performed using human ONS-76 (a primitive SHH model) and D425 (an aggressive group 3 model) cells. The impacts of ribavirin on cellular growth, death, migration, and invasion were quantified using proliferation and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, flow cytometry with annexin V (AnnV) staining, scratch wound assays, and Matrigel invasion chambers, respectively. Survival following daily ribavirin treatment (100 mg/kg) was assessed in vivo in immunodeficient mice intracranially implanted with D425 cells.

RESULTS

Compared to controls, ribavirin treatment led to a significant reduction in medulloblastoma cell growth (ONS-76 proliferation assay, p = 0.0001; D425 CCK-8 assay, p < 0.0001) and a significant increase in cell death (flow cytometry for AnnV, ONS-76, p = 0.0010; D425, p = 0.0284). In ONS-76 cells, compared to controls, ribavirin significantly decreased cell migration and invasion (Matrigel invasion chamber assay, p = 0.0012). In vivo, ribavirin significantly extended survival in an aggressive group 3 medulloblastoma mouse model compared to vehicle-treated controls (p = 0.0004).

CONCLUSIONS

The authors demonstrate that ribavirin, a clinically used drug known to inhibit eIF4E and EZH2, has significant antitumor effects in multiple preclinical models of medulloblastoma, including an aggressive group 3 animal model. Ribavirin may represent a promising targeted therapeutic in medulloblastoma.

microRNA-222-Mediated VHL Downregulation Facilitates Retinoblastoma Chemoresistance by Increasing HIF1α Expression

Purpose

Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common primary intraocular tumor in children. Chemoresistance is the major obstacle for treatment of these tumors. This study aims to determine whether or not downregulating microRNA-222 (miR-222) could serve as a potential therapeutic target for preventing chemoresistance in RB treatment.

Methods

Differentially expressed miR-222 in RB samples and its downstream target genes were predicted using bioinformatics methods. The expression of miR-222 was altered by mimic or inhibitor to examine its role in RB cell in response to the chemotherapeutic agent vincristine (VCR). Further bioinformatic analysis predicted involvement of the stability of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) protein in regulation of the von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor, followed by characterization of the effect of VHL on the ubiquitin–proteasome degradation of HIF1α. Next, VHL or HIF1α was overexpressed to determine their effects on RB cell activities after VCR treatment. In vivo assays were performed on nude mice to further verify the in vitro results.

Results

miR-222 is highly expressed in RB tissues and cells and was found to facilitate resistance of RB cells to VCR. Of note, miR-222 specifically bound to and negatively regulated VHL. VHL could inhibit the stability of HIF1α and promote the degradation of ubiquitin–proteasome, thus reducing HIF1α expression to attenuate VCR resistance in RB cells. Moreover, inhibition of miR-222 in combination with VCR suppressed tumor formation in nude mice.

Conclusions

miR-222 promotes the expression of HIF1α by targeting VHL, thus accelerating the resistance of RB cells to the chemotherapeutic agent VCR.

Emerging role of non-coding RNAs in response of cancer cells to radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is an effective method for treatment of a large proportion of human cancers. Yet, the efficacy of this method is precluded by the induction of radioresistance in tumor cells and the radiation-associated injury of normal cells surrounding the field of radiation. These restrictions necessitate the introduction of modalities for either radiosensitization of cancer cells or protection of normal cells against adverse effects of radiation. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have essential roles in the determination of radiosensitivity. Moreover, ncRNAs can modulate radiation-induced side effects in normal cells. Several microRNAs (miRNAs) such as miR-620, miR-21 and miR-96-5p confer radioresistance, while other miRNAs including miR-340/ 429 confer radiosensitivity. The expression levels of a number of miRNAs are associated with radiation-induced complications such as lung fibrosis or oral mucositis. The expression patterns of several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) such as MALAT1, LINC00630, HOTAIR, UCA1 and TINCR are associated with response to radiotherapy. Taken together, lncRNAs and miRNAs contribute both in modulation of response of cancer cells to radiotherapy and in protection of normal cells from the associated side effects. The current review provides an overview of the roles of these transcripts in these aspects.

SLC16A1-AS1 enhances radiosensitivity and represses cell proliferation and invasion by regulating the miR-301b-3p/CHD5 axis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common type of human malignancies, leads to increasing incidence and fairly high mortality. An increasing number of studies have verified that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) played key roles in the development of multiple human cancers. As a biomarker, SLC16A1-AS1 has been reported in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Thus, we decided to investigate whether SLC16A1-AS1 exerts its biological function in HCC. In this study, we discovered that SLC16A1-AS1 was obviously downregulated in HCC tissues and cells. Overexpression of SLC16A1-AS1 inhibited HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process as well as promoted cell apoptosis. Moreover, SLC16A1-AS1 was confirmed to enhance the radiosensitivity of HCC cells. Molecular mechanism exploration suggested that SLC16A1-AS1 served as a sponge for miR-301b-3p and CHD5 was the downstream target gene of miR-301b-3p in HCC cells. Rescue assays implied that CHD5 knockdown could recover the effects of SLC16A1-AS1 overexpression on HCC cellular processes. In brief, our study clarified that SLC16A1-AS1 acted as a tumor suppressor in HCC by targeting the miR-301b-3p/CHD5 axis, which may be a promising diagnostic biomarker and provide promising treatment for HCC patients.

circRNA 001306 enhances hepatocellular carcinoma growth by up-regulating CDK16 expression via sponging miR-584-5p

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been demonstrated to play important roles in cancer progress. However, the roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unclear. Here, we found has_circRNA_001306 (circ_1306) was up‐regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown the expression circ_1306 significantly suppressed HCC cell proliferation and induced the cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we identified circ_1306 could up‐regulate the expression of CDK16 by sponging miR‐584‐5p. The expression of miR‐584‐5p was decreased, and the expression of CDK16 was increased in HCC tissues and cell lines. Meanwhile, either knockdown of miR‐584‐5p or overexpression of CDK16 could suppress the HCC cell proliferation. In vivo, overexpression of miR‐584‐5p or knockdown of circ_1306 could inhibit the expression of CDK16, and suppress tumour growth. Altogether, our findings suggested that circ_1306 could promoter HCC progress by miR‐584‐5p/CDK16 axis, which provided a novel marker for HCC diagnosis and treatment.

A p53/lnc-Ip53 Negative Feedback Loop Regulates Tumor Growth and Chemoresistance

Acetylation is a critical mechanism to modulate tumor-suppressive activity of p53, but the causative roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in p53 acetylation and their biological significance remain unexplored. Here, lncRNA LOC100294145 is discovered to be transactivated by p53 and is thus designated as lnc-Ip53 for lncRNA induced by p53. Furthermore, lnc-Ip53 impedes p53 acetylation by interacting with histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and E1A binding protein p300 (p300) to prevent HDAC1 degradation and attenuate p300 activity, resulting in abrogation of p53 activity and subsequent cell proliferation and apoptosis resistance. Mouse xenograft models reveal that lnc-Ip53 promotes tumor growth and chemoresistance in vivo, which is attenuated by an HDAC inhibitor. Silencing lnc-Ip53 inhibits the growth of xenografts with wild-type p53, but not those expressing acetylation-resistant p53. Consistently, lnc-Ip53 is upregulated in multiple cancer types, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). High levels of lnc-Ip53 is associated with low levels of acetylated p53 in human HCC and mouse xenografts, and is also correlated with poor survival of HCC patients. These findings identify a novel p53/lnc-Ip53 negative feedback loop in cells and indicate that abnormal upregulation of lnc-Ip53 represents an important mechanism to inhibit p53 acetylation/activity and thereby promote tumor growth and chemoresistance, which may be exploited for anticancer therapy.

Participation of MicroRNAs in the Treatment of Cancer with Phytochemicals

Cancer is a global health concern and one of the main causes of disease-related death. Even with considerable progress in investigations on cancer therapy, effective anti-cancer agents and regimens have thus far been insufficient. There has been compelling evidence that natural phytochemicals and their derivatives have potent anti-cancer activities. Plant-based anti-cancer agents, such as etoposide, irinotecan, paclitaxel, and vincristine, are currently being applied in medical treatments for patients with cancer. Further, the efficacy of plenty of phytochemicals has been evaluated to discover a promising candidate for cancer therapy. For developing more effective cancer therapy, it is required to apprehend the molecular mechanism deployed by natural compounds. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been realized to play a pivotal role in regulating cellular signaling pathways, affecting the efficacy of therapeutic agents in cancer. This review presents a feature of phytochemicals with anti-cancer activity, focusing mainly on the relationship between phytochemicals and miRNAs, with insights into the role of miRNAs as the mediators and the regulators of anti-cancer effects of phytochemicals.

miR-5188 augments glioma growth, migration and invasion through an SP1-modulated FOXO1-PI3K/AKT-c-JUN-positive feedback circuit

The biological effect and molecular mechanism of miR-5188 have not been thoroughly investigated. The study aims at elucidating the role of miR-5188 in glioma progression. Human glioma cell lines and tissues were used for functional and expression analysis. Cellular and molecular techniques were performed to explore the functions and mechanisms of miR-5188 in glioma. In our investigation, we demonstrated that miR-5188 promoted cell proliferation, the G1/S transition of the cell cycle, migration and invasion in glioma and reduced the lifespan of glioma-bearing mice. miR-5188 directly targeted FOXO1 and activated PI3K/AKT-c-JUN signalling, which enhanced miR-5188 expression. Moreover, the c-JUN transcription factor functionally bound to the miR-5188 promoter region, forming the positive feedback loop. The feedback loop promoted glioma progression through activating the PI3K/AKT signalling, and this loop is augmented by the interaction between SP1 and c-JUN. Moreover, it was also found that the miR-5188/FOXO1 axis is facilitated by SP1-activated PI3K/AKT/c-JUN signalling. In glioma samples, miR-5188 expression was found to be an unfavourable factor and was positively associated with the mRNA levels of SP1 and c-JUN, whereas negatively associated with the mRNA levels of FOXO1. Our investigation demonstrates that miR-5188 could function as a tumour promoter by directly targeting FOXO1 and participating in SP1-mediated promotion of cell growth and tumorigenesis in glioma.

High Expression of the SH3TC2-DT/SH3TC2 Gene Pair Associated With FLT3 Mutation and Poor Survival in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: An Integrated TCGA Analysis

Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutation is one of the most common mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the effect of FLT3 mutation on survival is currently still controversial and the leukemogenic mechanisms are still under further investigation. The aim of our study is to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in FLT3-mutant AML and to find crucial DEGs whose expression level is related to prognosis for further analysis. By mining the TCGA-LAML dataset, 619 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and 1,428 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were identified between FLT3-mutant and FLT3-wildtype samples. Through weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and the following Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, we constructed the prognostic risk models to identify the hub DElncRNAs and DEmRNAs associated with AML prognosis. The presence of both SH3TC2 divergent transcript (SH3TC2-DT) and SH3TC2 in respective prognostic risk models promotes us to further study the significance of this gene pair in AML. SH3TC2-DT and SH3TC2 were identified to be coordinately high expressed in FLT3-mutant AML samples. High expression of this gene pair was associated with poor survival. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that high SH3TC2-DT/SH3TC2 expression was associated with FLT3 mutation, high WBC count, and intermediate cytogenetic and molecular–genetic risk. AML with SH3TC2-DT/SH3TC2 high expression showed enrichment of transcripts associated with stemness, quiescence, and leukemogenesis. Our study suggests that the SH3TC2-DT/SH3TC2 gene pair may be a possible biomarker to further optimize AML prognosis and may function in stemness or quiescence of FLT3-mutant leukemic stem cells (LSCs).

Early stratification of radiotherapy response by activatable inflammation magnetic resonance imaging

Tumor heterogeneity is one major reason for unpredictable therapeutic outcomes, while stratifying therapeutic responses at an early time may greatly benefit the better control of cancer. Here, we developed a hybrid nanovesicle to stratify radiotherapy response by activatable inflammation magnetic resonance imaging (aiMRI) approach. The high Pearson's correlation coefficient R values are obtained from the correlations between the T1 relaxation time changes at 24-48 h and the ensuing adaptive immunity (R = 0.9831) at day 5 and the tumor inhibition ratios (R = 0.9308) at day 18 after different treatments, respectively. These results underscore the role of acute inflammatory oxidative response in bridging the innate and adaptive immunity in tumor radiotherapy. Furthermore, the aiMRI approach provides a non-invasive imaging strategy for early prediction of the therapeutic outcomes in cancer radiotherapy, which may contribute to the future of precision medicine in terms of prognostic stratification and therapeutic planning.

Hepatocellular carcinoma cell-derived extracellular vesicles encapsulated microRNA-584-5p facilitates angiogenesis through PCK1-mediated nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal disease characterized by poor liver function with increasing morbidity and poor prognosis. Extracellular vesicles, released by different cells, have been associated with HCC development. Nevertheless, the mechanisms beyond extracellular vesicles in HCC remain uncharacterized. Therefore, the current study aimed to clarify the mechanism of pro-angiogenic microRNA-584-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma. Our results showed that miR-584-5p was highly-expressed in both cancer cells (Hep3B) and their extracellular vesicles. Hep3B and extracellular vesicles were then respectively co-cultured with human vascular endothelial cell line (Ea.hy926), and they both accelerated Ea.hy926 proliferation and migration. Ea.hy926 cells could internalize extracellular vesicles carrying microRNA-584-5p. Of note, microRNA-584-5p could bind to phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 to promote nuclear factor E2-related factor 2. Moreover, silencing microRNA-584-5p was found to decline microvessel density, vascular endothelial growth factor A, and tumor growth in vivo and in vitro. Taken altogether, our findings demonstrated that extracellular vesicles-derived microRNA-584-5p promotes angiogenesis by inhibiting PCK1 -mediating NRF2 activation, which highlights the theoretical basis for potential treatments for HCC.

The Non-coding Side of Medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common pediatric brain tumor and a primary cause of cancer-related death in children. Until a few years ago, only clinical and histological features were exploited for MB pathological classification and outcome prognosis. In the past decade, the advancement of high-throughput molecular analyses that integrate genetic, epigenetic, and expression data, together with the availability of increasing wealth of patient samples, revealed the existence of four molecularly distinct MB subgroups. Their further classification into 12 subtypes not only reduced the well-characterized intertumoral heterogeneity, but also provided new opportunities for the design of targets for precision oncology. Moreover, the identification of tumorigenic and self-renewing subpopulations of cancer stem cells in MB has increased our knowledge of its biology. Despite these advancements, the origin of MB is still debated, and its molecular bases are poorly characterized. A major goal in the field is to identify the key genes that drive tumor growth and the mechanisms through which they are able to promote tumorigenesis. So far, only protein-coding genes acting as oncogenic drivers have been characterized in each MB subgroup. The contribution of the non-coding side of the genome, which produces a plethora of transcripts that control fundamental biological processes, as the cell choice between proliferation and differentiation, is still unappreciated. This review wants to fill this major gap by summarizing the recent findings on the impact of non-coding RNAs in MB initiation and progression. Furthermore, their potential role as specific MB biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets is also highlighted.

Identification of hub genes and small-molecule compounds in medulloblastoma by integrated bioinformatic analyses

Background

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common intracranial malignant tumor in children. The genes and pathways involved in the pathogenesis of MB are relatively unknown. We aimed to identify potential biomarkers and small-molecule drugs for MB.

Methods

Gene expression profile data sets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the Limma package in R. Functional annotation, and cell signaling pathway analysis of DEGs was carried out using DAVID and Kobas. A protein-protein interaction network was generated using STRING. Potential small-molecule drugs were identified using CMap.

Result

We identified 104 DEGs (29 upregulated; 75 downregulated). Gene ontology analysis showed enrichment in the mitotic cell cycle, cell cycle, spindle, and DNA binding. Cell signaling pathway analysis identified cell cycle, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and phospholipase D signaling pathway as key pathways. SYN1, CNTN2, FAIM2, MT3, and SH3GL2 were the prominent hub genes and their expression level were verified by RT-qPCR. Vorinostat, resveratrol, trichostatin A, pyrvinium, and prochlorperazine were identified as potential drugs for MB. The five hub genes may be targets for diagnosis and treatment of MB, and the small-molecule compounds are promising drugs for effective treatment of MB.

Conclusion

In this study we obtained five hub genes of MB, SYN1, CNTN2, FAIM2, MT3, and SH3GL2 were confirmed as hub genes. Meanwhile, Vorinostat, resveratrol, trichostatin A, pyrvinium, and prochlorperazine were identified as potential drugs for MB.

MicroRNA-584 Impairs Cellular Proliferation and Sensitizes Osteosarcoma Cells to Cisplatin and Taxanes by Targeting CCN2

Background

Osteosarcoma (OS), an aggressive malignant neoplasm, exhibits osteoblastic differentiation. Cisplatin (DDP) and taxanes are among the most effective drugs for OS patients. Nevertheless, the drug resistance remains a main limitation to efficacious chemotherapy in OS. The current report sets to explore the biological function of microRNA-584 (miR-584) and the potential mechanism underlying OS cells resistance to these two drugs.

Materials and Methods

The expression profiles of miR-584 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF, CCN2) in OS tissue samples and cell lines were tested by means of reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. U2OS and MG63 cell lines were delivered with miR-584 mimic alone or plus CCN2 to excavate theirs functions by cell counting kit-8 and EdU, flow cytometric analysis, as well as transwell assay, severally. Western bot analysis was conducted to examine the expression of IκBα, pIκBα, NF-κB and pNF-κB. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was carried out to assess the targets of miR-584.

Results

The downregulation of miR-584 was identified in OS tissues and cells, which was closely linked to the dismal prognosis of OS patients. Overexpression of miR-584 repressed cell viability, migration as well as invasion, potentiated apoptosis and sensitized OS cells to DDP and taxanes. Mechanism investigation specified a direct targeting relationship between CCN2 and miR-584 in OS.

Conclusion

In conclusion, miR-584 has the potency to act as a therapeutic maneuver for OS mainly by inducing the chemosensitivity of OS cells to DDP and taxanes.

Knockdown of microRNA-584 promotes dental pulp stem cells proliferation by targeting TAZ

Proliferation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) is crucial in tooth development and damage repairing, also includes its therapy application for tissue engineering. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key players in biological processes of DPSCs, and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) also plays important roles in cell proliferation and differentiation, however, the roles of miR-584 and TAZ in DPSCs are not known. We found up-regulated miR-584 expression and down-regulated TAZ expression levels in aging dental pulp tissue compare to those in young dental pulp tissue. In proliferating DPSCs we demonstrated the decreased miR-584 expression and increased TAZ expression. miR-584 mimics suppressed DPSCs proliferation and migration, and significantly reduced TAZ production, whereas miR-584 inhibition exerted the converse effects. Knocking down of the TAZ in DPSCs had a similar effect as overexpression of miR-584. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that miR-584 could directly bind to the TAZ mRNA 3'UTR to repress its translation. Overexpression of TAZ can partly rescue miR-584 mimic-mediated the inhibition of proliferation. Additionally, miR-584 inhibited cell proliferation and downregulated expression of cell cycle proteins by AKT signaling pathway. Together, we identified that miR-584 may be a key regulator in the proliferation of DPSCs by regulating TAZ expression via AKT signaling pathway. It would be a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for pulp disease.

Aberrantly expressed microRNAs and their implications in childhood central nervous system tumors

Even though the treatment of childhood cancer has evolved significantly in recent decades, aggressive central nervous system (CNS) tumors are still a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. Consequently, the identification of molecular targets that can be incorporated into diagnostic practice, effectively predict prognosis, follow treatment response, and materialize into potential targeted therapeutic approaches are still warranted. Since the first evidence of the participation of miRNAs in cancer development and progression 20 years ago, notable progress has been made in the basic understanding of the contribution of their dysregulation as epigenetic driver of tumorigenesis. Nevertheless, among the plethora of articles in the literature, microRNA profiling of pediatric tumors are scarce. This article gives an overview of the recent advances in the diagnostic/prognostic potential of miRNAs in a selection of pediatric CNS tumors: medulloblastoma, ependymoma, pilocytic astrocytoma, glioblastoma, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors, and choroid plexus tumors.

miR-584 inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and enhances the sensitivity to cisplatin in human cervical cancer by negatively targeting GLI1

Cervical cancer is the most lethal malignancy amongst women worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) play a critical role in the progression of cervical cancer. Compelling evidence indicates that miR-584 acts as a tumor suppressor in some types of cancers. However, the function of miR-584 in cervical cancer has not been illustrated. In the present study, the effects and mechanism of miR-584 in the process of proliferation, migration and invasion, and drug sensitivity to cisplatin in cervical cancer were determined. miR-584 expression decreased markedly in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines compared with healthy control samples. Dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that glioma-associated oncogene 1 (GLI1) is a novel molecular target of miR-584. The overexpression of miR-584 inhibited the expression of GLI1, reduced cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. However, the silencing of miR-584 in CaSki cells produced the opposite effects. In addition, the overexpression of GLI1 in HeLa-cells overexpressing miR-584 markedly reversed the miR-584-induced inhibitory effect. Flow cytometry results showed that miR-584 enhanced cisplatin sensitivity by promoting chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Therefore, miR-584 acted as a tumor suppressor miRNA and might be a novel target gene for future cervical cancer treatments.

Relevance of Translation Initiation in Diffuse Glioma Biology and its Therapeutic Potential

Cancer cells are continually exposed to environmental stressors forcing them to adapt their protein production to survive. The translational machinery can be recruited by malignant cells to synthesize proteins required to promote their survival, even in times of high physiological and pathological stress. This phenomenon has been described in several cancers including in gliomas. Abnormal regulation of translation has encouraged the development of new therapeutics targeting the protein synthesis pathway. This approach could be meaningful for glioma given the fact that the median survival following diagnosis of the highest grade of glioma remains short despite current therapy. The identification of new targets for the development of novel therapeutics is therefore needed in order to improve this devastating overall survival rate. This review discusses current literature on translation in gliomas with a focus on the initiation step covering both the cap-dependent and cap-independent modes of initiation. The different translation initiation protagonists will be described in normal conditions and then in gliomas. In addition, their gene expression in gliomas will systematically be examined using two freely available datasets. Finally, we will discuss different pathways regulating translation initiation and current drugs targeting the translational machinery and their potential for the treatment of gliomas.

Sequentially Site-Specific Delivery of Apoptotic Protein and Tumor-Suppressor Gene for Combination Cancer Therapy

Nanocarrier-mediated codelivery of multiple anticancer drugs is a potential strategy for enhanced efficacy of combination cancer treatment by unifying differential pharmacokinetic properties and maintaining an optimal ratio of drug cargoes. However, a programmable codelivery system is highly desired to deliver different therapeutics to their specific sites of action to pursue maximized combinational effect. Herein a liposome-based nanoassembly (p53/C-rNC/L-FA) is developed for intracellular site-specific delivery of an apoptotic protein cytochrome c (CytoC) and a plasmid DNA encoding tumor-suppressing p53 protein (p53 DNA). p53/C-rNC/L-FA consists of an acid-activated fusogenic liposomal membrane shell modified with folic acid (L-FA) and a DNA/protein complex core assembled by the p53 DNA, protamine and CytoC-encapsulated redox-responsive nanocapsule (C-rNC). Intratumoral and intraendosomal acidities promote membrane fusion between liposome and biomembrane, resulting in release of the encapsulated p53/C-rNC complex into the cytoplasm. The cytoplasmic reduction causes degradation of C-rNC with release of CytoC that induces tumor cell apoptosis. The p53 DNA is transported into the nucleus by the aid of the cationic protamine and thus generates expression of the p53 protein that enhances apoptosis combined with CytoC. p53/C-rNC/L-FA is demonstrated to significantly induce tumor cell apoptosis and inhibit tumor growth in the orthotopic breast tumor mouse model.

miR-584-5p regulates hepatocellular carcinoma cell migration and invasion through targeting KCNE2

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer type. This study was aimed to investigate the role of microRNA-584-5p (miR-584-5p) in regulating HCC progression.

METHODS

The expression of miR-584-5p in HCC cell lines was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Effects of miR-584-5p depletion on HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro were analyzed by cell counting kit-8 assay, wound-healing assay, and transwell invasion assay. miR-584-5p targeting potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily E regulatory subunit 2 (KCNE2) was identified using bioinformatics algorithm and dual-luciferase activity reporter assay. Kaplan-Meier Plotter website was used to investigate the effect of miR-584-5p or KCNE2 expression on the overall survival of HCC patients.

RESULTS

In vitro functional assays showed miR-584-5p depletion decreased HCC cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell invasion. Moreover, miR-584-5p functions by directly targeting KCNE2, and it in turn, mediates the effects of miR-584-5p on HCC cell behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrated that miR-584-5p functions as an oncogenic miRNA in HCC.