Role of microRNAs in lung cancer: microRNA signatures in cancer prognosis

Cell cycle associated miRNAs as target and therapeutics in lung cancer treatment

Lung cancer is the primary cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. Limited therapeutic options and resistance to existing drugs are the major hindrances to the clinical success of this cancer. In the past decade, several studies showed the role of microRNA (miRNA) driven cell cycle regulation in lung cancer progression. Therefore, these small nucleotide molecules could be utilized as promising tools in lung cancer therapy. In this review, we highlighted the recent advancements in lung cancer therapy using cell cycle linked miRNAs. By highlighting the roles of the specific cell cycle core regulators affiliated miRNAs in lung cancer, we further outlined how these miRNAs can be explored in early diagnosis and treatment strategies to prevent lung cancer. With the provided information from our review, more medical efforts can ensure a potential breakthrough in miRNA-based lung cancer therapy.

Impact of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening on lung cancer-related mortality

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in the world, however lung cancer screening has not been implemented in most countries at a population level. A previous Cochrane Review found limited evidence for the effectiveness of lung cancer screening with chest radiography (CXR) or sputum cytology in reducing lung cancer-related mortality, however there has been increasing evidence supporting screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT).  OBJECTIVES: To determine whether screening for lung cancer using LDCT of the chest reduces lung cancer-related mortality and to evaluate the possible harms of LDCT screening.

SEARCH METHODS

We performed the search in collaboration with the Information Specialist of the Cochrane Lung Cancer Group and included the Cochrane Lung Cancer Group Trial Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, the Cochrane Library, current issue), MEDLINE (accessed via PubMed) and Embase in our search. We also searched the clinical trial registries to identify unpublished and ongoing trials. We did not impose any restriction on language of publication. The search was performed up to 31 July 2021.  SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of lung cancer screening using LDCT and reporting mortality or harm outcomes.  DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors were involved in independently assessing trials for eligibility, extraction of trial data and characteristics, and assessing risk of bias of the included trials using the Cochrane RoB 1 tool. We assessed the certainty of evidence using GRADE. Primary outcomes were lung cancer-related mortality and harms of screening. We performed a meta-analysis, where appropriate, for all outcomes using a random-effects model. We only included trials in the analysis of mortality outcomes if they had at least 5 years of follow-up. We reported risk ratios (RRs) and hazard ratios (HRs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and used the I2 statistic to investigate heterogeneity.  MAIN RESULTS: We included 11 trials in this review with a total of 94,445 participants. Trials were conducted in Europe and the USA in people aged 40 years or older, with most trials having an entry requirement of ≥ 20 pack-year smoking history (e.g. 1 pack of cigarettes/day for 20 years or 2 packs/day for 10 years etc.). One trial included male participants only. Eight trials were phase three RCTs, with two feasibility RCTs and one pilot RCT. Seven of the included trials had no screening as a comparison, and four trials had CXR screening as a comparator. Screening frequency included annual, biennial and incrementing intervals. The duration of screening ranged from 1 year to 10 years. Mortality follow-up was from 5 years to approximately 12 years.  None of the included trials were at low risk of bias across all domains. The certainty of evidence was moderate to low across different outcomes, as assessed by GRADE. In the meta-analysis of trials assessing lung cancer-related mortality, we included eight trials (91,122 participants), and there was a reduction in mortality of 21% with LDCT screening compared to control groups of no screening or CXR screening (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.87; 8 trials, 91,122 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). There were probably no differences in subgroups for analyses by control type, sex, geographical region, and nodule management algorithm. Females appeared to have a larger lung cancer-related mortality benefit compared to males with LDCT screening. There was also a reduction in all-cause mortality (including lung cancer-related) of 5% (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91 to 0.99; 8 trials, 91,107 participants; moderate-certainty evidence).  Invasive tests occurred more frequently in the LDCT group (RR 2.60, 95% CI 2.41 to 2.80; 3 trials, 60,003 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). However, analysis of 60-day postoperative mortality was not significant between groups (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.94; 2 trials, 409 participants; moderate-certainty evidence).  False-positive results and recall rates were higher with LDCT screening compared to screening with CXR, however there was low-certainty evidence in the meta-analyses due to heterogeneity and risk of bias concerns. Estimated overdiagnosis with LDCT screening was 18%, however the 95% CI was 0 to 36% (risk difference (RD) 0.18, 95% CI -0.00 to 0.36; 5 trials, 28,656 participants; low-certainty evidence). Four trials compared different aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using various measures. Anxiety was pooled from three trials, with participants in LDCT screening reporting lower anxiety scores than in the control group (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.43, 95% CI -0.59 to -0.27; 3 trials, 8153 participants; low-certainty evidence). There were insufficient data to comment on the impact of LDCT screening on smoking behaviour.  AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence supports a reduction in lung cancer-related mortality with the use of LDCT for lung cancer screening in high-risk populations (those over the age of 40 with a significant smoking exposure). However, there are limited data on harms and further trials are required to determine participant selection and optimal frequency and duration of screening, with potential for significant overdiagnosis of lung cancer. Trials are ongoing for lung cancer screening in non-smokers.

A Cross-Comparison of High-Throughput Platforms for Circulating MicroRNA Quantification, Agreement in Risk Classification, and Biomarker Discovery in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background

Circulating microRNAs (ct-miRs) are promising cancer biomarkers. This study focuses on platform comparison to assess performance variability, agreement in the assignment of a miR signature classifier (MSC), and concordance for the identification of cancer-associated miRs in plasma samples from non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Methods

A plasma cohort of 10 NSCLC patients and 10 healthy donors matched for clinical features and MSC risk level was profiled for miR expression using two sequencing-based and three quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qPCR)-based platforms. Intra- and inter-platform variations were examined by correlation and concordance analysis. The MSC risk levels were compared with those estimated using a reference method. Differentially expressed ct-miRs were identified among NSCLC patients and donors, and the diagnostic value of those dysregulated in patients was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The downregulation of miR-150-5p was verified by qPCR. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) lung carcinoma dataset was used for validation at the tissue level.

Results

The intra-platform reproducibility was consistent, whereas the highest values of inter-platform correlations were among qPCR-based platforms. MSC classification concordance was >80% for four platforms. The dysregulation and discriminatory power of miR-150-5p and miR-210-3p were documented. Both were significantly dysregulated also on TCGA tissue-originated profiles from lung cell carcinoma in comparison with normal samples.

Conclusion

Overall, our studies provide a large performance analysis between five different platforms for miR quantification, indicate the solidity of MSC classifier, and identify two noninvasive biomarkers for NSCLC.

The expression of miRNA-216b is negatively correlated with 18F-FDG uptake in non-small cell lung cancer

Background

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between miRNA-216b expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake by PET/CT and to explore the clinical application value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in miRNA-216b based on therapy for NSCLC.

Methods

Eighty patients with NSCLC and 40 healthy subjects were enrolled in our study. The SUVmax of the lesion area by PET/CT imaging was calculated. SUVmax represented the highest concentration of 18F-FDG in the lesion. The expression of miRNA-216b in the plasma and fiber bronchoscopic puncture of NSCLC patients was detected by RT qPCR. Then Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between miRNA-216b expression and 18F-FDG uptake in patients with different types of NSCLC.

Results

Compared with healthy subjects, SUVmax of early adenocarcinoma and advanced adenocarcinoma were increased. Compared with healthy subjects, SUVmax of early squamous and advanced squamous were increased. And the SUVmax content of advanced adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma was higher than that of early adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Compared with healthy subjects, the expression of miRNA-216b in the plasma of patients with early and advanced adenocarcinoma was reduced, and the expression of miRNA-216b in the plasma of patients with early and advanced squamous cell carcinoma was reduced. Compared with adjacent tissues, the expression of miRNA-216b in early adenocarcinoma tissues and advanced adenocarcinoma tissues was reduced, and the expression in early squamous cell carcinoma and advanced squamous cell carcinoma was reduced. Pearson correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between SUVmax and miRNA-216b (plasma and tissue) in patients with four types of NSCLC.

Conclusion

miRNA-216b expression was negatively correlated with ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in NSCLC. miRNA-216b could be used for the classification and staging of non-small cell lung cancer. ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT may be used to evaluate the therapeutic response in application of miRNA-216b-based cancer treatment.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-021-02376-2.

Effects of miR-132-3p on progress and epithelial mesenchymal transition of non-small cell lung cancer via regulating KLF7

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) often appear as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. The aim of this research was to examine miR-132-3p and Kruppel-like factor 7 (KLF7) effects in the development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

We used quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to determine miR-132-3p expression in tissue specimens and 6 cells (A549, H1650, H292, H1299, H1944, BEAS-2b). Luciferase report forecasted the targeting relationship between miR-132-3p and KLF7. The expression of KLF7 and interstitial protein was determined by western blot. Proliferation test and Transwell assay were adopted for examining cell development. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) colorimetric method was used to observe the effects of miR-132-3p and KLF7 on the proliferation, metastasis, and invasion of NSCLC tumor cells. In order to determine whether the metastasis of NSCLC tumor cells was epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-mediated, supplementary experiments with E-cadherin and vimentin were performed.

Results

An increased expression of miR-132-3p was detected in NSCLC. Its mimic promoted the proliferation of tumor cells. As an immediate site of miR-132-3p, KLF7 was reversely adjusted via miR-132-3p and restrained the development of tumor cells in NSCLC, the effects of which were attenuated via KLF7 over-expression. Besides, the presence of EMT-related diversions was confirmed in NSCLC.

Conclusions

By targeting KLF7, miR-132-3p was capable of promoting the proceeding of NSCLC tumor cells. We discovered miR-132-3p/KLF7 route may exhibit curative target for NSCLC.

Molecular biomarkers in early stage lung cancer

Low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening, together with the recent advances in targeted and immunotherapies, have shown to improve non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survival. Furthermore, screening has increased the number of early stage-detected tumors, allowing for surgical resection and multimodality treatments when needed. The need for improved sensitivity and specificity of NSCLC screening has led to increased interest in combining clinical and radiological data with molecular data. The development of biomarkers is poised to refine inclusion criteria for LDCT screening programs. Biomarkers may also be useful to better characterize the risk of indeterminate nodules found in the course of screening or to refine prognosis and help in the management of screening detected tumors. The clinical implications of these biomarkers are still being investigated and whether or not biomarkers will be included in further decision-making algorithms in the context of screening and early lung cancer management still needs to be determined. However, it seems clear that there is much room for improvement even in early stage lung cancer disease-free survival (DFS) rates; thus, biomarkers may be the key to refine risk-stratification and treatment of these patients. Clinicians’ capacity to register, integrate, and analyze all the available data in both high risk individuals and early stage NSCLC patients will lead to a better understanding of the disease’s mechanisms, and will have a direct impact in diagnosis, treatment, and follow up of these patients. In this review, we aim to summarize all the available data regarding the role of biomarkers in LDCT screening and early stage NSCLC from a multidisciplinary perspective. We have highlighted clinical implications, the need to combine risk stratification, clinical data, radiomics, molecular information and artificial intelligence in order to improve clinical decision-making, especially regarding early diagnostics and adjuvant therapy. We also discuss current and future perspectives for biomarker implementation in routine clinical practice.

MicroRNA‑103 modulates tumor progression by targeting KLF7 in non‑small cell lung cancer

Numerous studies have identified that microRNAs (miRs) play a crucial role in the tumorigenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, to the best of our knowledge, the physiological function of miR-103 in NSCLC is not fully understood. Experiments in the present study revealed that miR-103 expression was increased in NSCLC cell lines. In addition, a series of methods, including MTT, colony formation, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine, Transwell, wound healing, flow cytometric, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot assays, were performed, which revealed that overexpression of miR-103 enhanced cell growth, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and suppressed apoptosis of A549 and H1299 cells. Additionally, a dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-103 directly targets the 3′-untranslated region of Kruppel-like factor 7 (KLF7), and KLF7 expression was negatively regulated by miR-103 expression. Furthermore, the present findings demonstrated that miR-103 promoted EMT via regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in NSCLC. Collectively, the current results demonstrated that miR-103 serves a tumorigenesis role in NSCLC development by targeting KLF7, at least partly via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Consequently, these findings indicated that miR-103/KLF7/Wnt/β-catenin may provide a novel insight into underlying biomarkers for improving the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC.

The Fas/FasL Signaling Pathway: Its Role in the Metastatic Process and as a Target for Treating Osteosarcoma Lung Metastases

Understanding how the tumor microenvironment participates in inhibiting or supporting tumor growth is critical for the development of novel therapies. Osteosarcoma (OS) metastasizes almost exclusively to the lung, an organ where Fas ligand (FasL) is constitutively expressed. This chapter focuses on our studies dedicated to the interaction of OS cells with the lung microenvironment. We will summarize our studies conducted over the past 20 years showing the importance of the Fas/FasL signaling pathway to the establishment and progression of OS metastases in the lung. We demonstrated that the FasL⁺ lung microenvironment eliminates Fas-positive (Fas⁺) OS cells that metastasize to the lungs, through apoptosis induced by Fas signaling following interaction of Fas on the tumor cell surface with FasL on the lung epithelial cells. Expression of the Fas receptor on OS cells inversely correlated with the ability of OS cells to form lung metastases. Blocking this pathway interferes with this process, allowing Fas⁺ cells to grow in the lung. By contrast, upregulation of Fas on Fas^- OS cells inhibited their ability to metastasize to the lung. We demonstrated how the FasL⁺ lung microenvironment can be leveraged for therapeutic intent through the upregulation of Fas expression. To this end, we demonstrated that the histone deacetylase inhibitor entinostat upregulated Fas expression on OS cells, reduced their ability to form lung metastases, and induced regression of established micrometastases. Fas expression in OS cells is regulated epigenetically by the microRNA miR-20a. We showed that expressions of Fas and miR-20a are inversely correlated, and that delivery of anti-miR-20a in vivo to mice with established osteosarcoma lung metastases resulted in upregulation of Fas and tumor regression. Therefore, targeting the Fas signaling pathway may present therapeutic opportunities, which target the lung microenvironment for elimination of OS lung metastases. We have also shown that in addition to being critically involved in the metastatic potential, the Fas signaling pathway may also contribute to the efficacy of chemotherapy. We demonstrated that the chemotherapeutic agent gemcitabine (GCB) increased Fas expression in both human and mouse OS cells in vitro. In vivo, aerosol GCB therapy induced upregulation of Fas expression and the regression of established osteosarcoma lung metastases. The therapeutic efficacy of GCB was contingent upon a FasL⁺ lung microenvironment as aerosol GCB had no effect in FasL-deficient mice. Manipulation of Fas expression and the Fas pathway should be considered, as this concept may provide additional novel therapeutic approaches for treating patients with OS lung metastases.

Anticancer innovative therapy: Highlights from the ninth annual meeting

The Ninth Annual Conference of "Anticancer Innovative Therapy", organized by Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano (Fondazione IRCCS INT) and hosted by Hotel Michelangelo, was held in Milan on 25 January 2019. Cutting-edge science was presented in two main scientific sessions: i) pre-clinical evidences and new targets, and ii) clinical translation. The Keynote lecture entitled "Cancer stem cells (CSCs): metabolic strategies for their identification and eradication" presented by M. Lisanti, was one of the highlights of the conference. One key concept of the meeting was how the continuous advances in our knowledge about molecular mechanisms in various fields of research (cancer metabolism reprogramming, epigenetic regulation, transformation/invasiveness, and immunology, among others) are driving cancer research towards more effective personalized antineoplastic strategies. Specifically, recent preclinical data on the following topics were discussed: 1. Polycomb group proteins in cancer; 2. A d16HER2 splice variant is a flag of HER2 addiction across HER2-positive cancers; 3. Studying chromatin as a nexus between translational and basic research; 4. Metabolomic analysis in cancer patients; 5. CDK4-6 cyclin inhibitors: clinical activity and future perspectives as immunotherapy adjuvant; and 6. Cancer stem cells (CSCs): metabolic strategies for their identification and eradication. In terms of clinical translation, several novel approaches were presented: 1. Developing CAR-T cell therapies: an update of preclinical and clinical development at University of North Carolina; 2. Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell activation and immune suppression in multiple myeloma; 3. Predictive biomarkers for real-world immunotherapy: the cancer immunogram model in the clinical arena; and 4. Mechanisms of resistance to immune checkpoint blockade in solid tumors. Overall, the pre-clinical and clinical findings presented could pave the way to identify novel actionable therapeutic targets to significantly enhance the care of persons with cancer.

Noncoding RNAs and Liquid Biopsy in Lung Cancer: A Literature Review

Lung cancer represents a genetically heterogeneous disease with low survival rates. Recent data have evidenced key roles of noncoding RNAs in lung cancer initiation and progression. These functional RNA molecules that can act as both oncogenes and tumor suppressors may become future biomarkers and more efficient therapeutic targets. In the precision medicine era, circulating nucleic acids have the potential to reshape the management and prognosis of cancer patients. Detecting genomic alterations and level variations of circulating nucleic acids in liquid biopsy samples represents a noninvasive method for portraying tumor burden. Research is currently trying to validate the potential role of liquid biopsy in lung cancer screening, prognosis, monitoring of disease progression, and treatment response. However, this method requires complex detection assays, and implementation of plasma genotyping in clinical practice continues to be hindered by discrepancies that arise when compared to tissue genotyping. Understanding the genomic landscape of lung cancer is essential in order to provide useful and innovative research in the age of patient-tailored therapy. In this landscape, the noncoding RNAs play a crucial role due to their target genes that dramatically influence the tumor microenvironment and the response to therapy. This article addresses present and future possible roles of liquid biopsy in lung cancer. It also discusses how the complex role of noncoding RNAs in lung tumorigenesis could influence the management of this pathology.

microRNA-612 suppresses the malignant development of non-small-cell lung cancer by directly targeting bromodomain-containing protein 4

Background: Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been reported. Dysregulation of miRNAs exerts tumor-suppressing or tumor-promoting actions on the pathology and biological behaviors of NSCLC. miR-612 is associated with many types of human cancer; however, the expression, potential roles, and regulatory mechanisms of miR-612 in NSCLC remain unclear.

Material and methods: Here, the expression level of miR-612 in NSCLC tissue specimens and a panel of cell lines were evaluated by RT-qPCR. Cell-Counting Kit 8, flow cytometry, Transwell migration and invasion, and in vivo tumor growth assays were performed to determine the functional role of miR-612 in malignant phenotypes of NSCLC cells. The molecular mechanism underlying the tumor-suppressive roles of miR-612 in NSCLC was investigated.

Results: miR-612 was expressed at low levels in NSCLC, and low miR-612 expression was significantly correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. NSCLC patients with low miR-612 expression had shorter overall survival rate than those with high levels. Exogenous miR-612 expression decreased proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promoted apoptosis of NSCLC cells in vitro. miR-612 upregulation hindered NSCLC tumor growth in vivo. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) was confirmed as a direct target gene of miR-612 in NSCLC cells. BRD4 was obviously overexpressed in human NSCLC tissues and inverse correlated with miR-612 expression. Inhibition of BRD4 expression simulated the tumor-suppressive functions of miR-612 overexpression in NSCLC cells. Reintroduction of miR-612 expression abrogated the miR-612-mediated suppressive effects on NSCLC cells. BRD4 upregulation inhibited activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway in NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion: This study supports the first evidence that miR-612 exerts tumor-suppressive roles in the aggressive behaviors of NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo through direct targeting BRD4 and deactivating the PI3K/Akt pathway. Thus, miR-612 might be a promising target for anticancer therapies in patients with NSCLC.

microRNA-605 inhibits the oncogenicity of non-small-cell lung cancer by directly targeting Forkhead Box P1

Background and aims: microRNA-605 (miR-605) is dysregulated in multiple cancers and plays crucial roles in regulating cancer progression. However, little is known about the expression pattern and detailed roles of miR-605 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thus, in this study, we evaluated miR-605 expression in NSCLC along with its clinical significance. More importantly, the detailed roles and the underlying molecular mechanisms of miR-605 in NSCLC were explored.

Material and methods: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was employed to detect miR-605 expression in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. A series of experiments were performed to determine the effects of miR-605 upregulation on NSCLC cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. In addition, the downstream regulatory mechanisms of miR‐605 action in NSCLC cells were explored.

Results: Decreased expression of miR-605 was frequently detected in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Low expression of miR-605 was significantly correlated with the tumor size, TNM stage, and distane metastasis in NSCLC patients. Exogenous miR-605 expression inhibited proliferation, increased apoptosis, and inhibited metastasis of NSCLC cells in vitro. Additionally, miR-605 overexpression hindered the growth of NSCLC cells in vivo. Furthermore, Forkhead Box P1 (FOXP1) was identified as a direct target gene of miR-605 in NSCLC cells. Moreover, FOXP1 was highly expressed in NSCLC cells and showed an inverse correlation with miR-605 expression levels. Besides, silencing of FOXP1 simulated roles similar to miR-605 upregulation in NSCLC cells. FOXP1 reintroduction partially abolished the anticancer effects of miR-605 in NSCLC cells.

Conclusion: Our results revealed that miR-605 inhibited the oncogenicity of NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo by directly targeting FOXP1, suggesting the importance of the miR-605/FOXP1 pathway in the malignant development of NSCLC.

MicroRNA‑629 inhibition suppresses the viability and invasion of non‑small cell lung cancer cells by directly targeting RUNX3

Dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) directly modulate the biological functions of non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and contribute to the initiation and progression of NSCLC; however, the specific roles and underlying mechanisms of the dysregulated miRNAs in NSCLC require further investigation. The present study reported that miRNA‑629‑5p (miR‑629) was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. High miR‑629 expression levels were significantly associated with tumour size, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis in patients with NSCLC. Functional experiments indicated that miR‑629 inhibition suppressed the viability and invasion NSCLC cells in vitro. Furthermore, bioinformatics prediction, luciferase reporter assay, reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis demonstrated that runt‑related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) was a direct target gene of miR‑629 in NSCLC. Restoration of RUNX3 expression suppressed the effects of miR‑629 inhibition in NSCLC cells. Rescue experiments revealed that RUNX3 knockdown partially abrogated the effects of miR‑629 inhibition on NSCLC cells. In summary, miR‑629 directly targeted RUNX3 to inhibit the progression of NSCLC, suggesting that this miRNA may be considered as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for patients with NSCLC.

A SERS nano-tag-based magnetic-separation strategy for highly sensitive immunoassay in unprocessed whole blood

Assay technologies capable of detecting biomarker concentrations in unprocessed whole blood samples are fundamental for applications in medical diagnostics. SERS nano-tags integrated magnetic-separation biosensor (MSB) was realized for the first time for immunoassay in whole blood. The reliability and sensitivity of this method rely, in a large extent, on the quality and properties of the SERS nano-tags. The constructed silicacoated Ag SERS nano-tags as labels were used in a rapid and specific MSB immune sensor to detect Matrix Metalloproteinases 9 (MMP-9) in unprocessed blood samples. With fast screening ability and outstanding sensitivity, we anticipate that this method would greatly promote practical application of stroke-based early-stage cancer diagnosis.

Multiplexed electrochemical and SERS dual-mode detection of stroke biomarkers: rapid screening with high sensitivity

In this work, a real-time assay for a highly sensitive, label-free, multiplexed electrochemical and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) detection of stroke biomarkers by neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100-β protein was developed using lateral flow devices.

FBXL3 is regulated by miRNA-4735-3p and suppresses cell proliferation and migration in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of primary lung cancer and regarded as cancer killer. The aim of this study was to discover the detailed function and molecular mechanism of F-box and leucine rich repeat protein 3 (FBXL3) in NSCLC. In this study, the expression level of FBXL3 in NSCLC tissues and cell lines was firstly examined and identified. Moreover, the relationship between FBXL3 and the overall survival rate of NSCLC patients was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Functionally, MTT, colony formation assay and transwell assays were performed to determine the role of FBXL3 in regulating NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. The proliferation and migration were suppressed by overexpression of FBXL3, indicating the potential tumor suppressive role of FBXL3 in NSCLC. In addition, the dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays revealed that miR-4735-3p was a novel upstream modulator of FBXL3. Further study showed that miR-4735-3p was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Finally, rescue assays and function assays revealed that miR-4735-3p exerted oncogenic function in NSCLC, and this function can be attenuated by FBXL3. Taken together, FBXL3 was regulated by miR-4735-3p and suppressed cell proliferation and invasion in non-small cell lung cancer.

Inhibitory Effect of MiR-449b on Cancer Cell Growth and Invasion through LGR4 in Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma

Non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies worldwide. Previous studies have shown that microRNA-449b (miR-449b) functions as a tumor suppressor in many cancers. However, the role of miR-449b in NSCLC is still unknown. In the present study, miR-449b was significantly downregulated in NSCLC samples and cell lines. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that 3'-UTR region of leucine rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4) mRNA had putative complementary sequences to miR-449b,which was further confirmed by the luciferase assay. Western blotting showed that restoration of miR-449b in NSCLC cells decreased the expression of LGR4. Interestingly, over-expression of miR-449b inhibited growth and invasion of NSCLC cells in vitro. Furthermore, ectopic expression of LGR4 reversed miR-449b-suppressed proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells. Therefore, the data of the present study demonstrate that miR-449b inhibits tumor cell growth and invasion by targeting LGR4 in NSCLC.

MicroRNA-216b regulated proliferation and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer by targeting SOX9

Micro (mi)RNAs are small, evolutionarily conserved and endogenous noncoding RNA molecules between 19 and 24 nucleotides in length. The potential roles of miRNAs in the carcinogenesis and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been studied previously. In the present study, it was revealed that miRNA-216b (miR-216b) expression was lower in NSCLC tissue and cell lines compared with that in adjacent healthy lung tissue samples and the normal bronchial epithelial 16HBE cell line, respectively. The ectopic expression of miR-216b inhibited the proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells in vitro. SRY-Box 9 (SOX9) was identified as a direct target of miR-216b in NSCLC. In addition, SOX9 small interfering RNA was able to mimic the effects of miR-216b overexpression on cell proliferation and invasion in NSCLC. Therefore, the data reported in the present study demonstrate that miR-216b is an important tumor suppressor in NSCLC. These data may contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the carcinogenesis and progression of NSCLC, and provide novel therapies for patients with NSCLC.

miR-885-5p suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis and inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) inhibit or improve the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We previously reported that compared to health controls, patients with liver cirrhosis present the highest levels of circulating miR-885-5p, followed by those with chronic hepatitis B and those with HCC. However, the molecular involvement of miR-885-5p in HCC metastasis is presently unclear. Here, we demonstrated that the expression of miR-885-5p negatively correlated with the invasive and metastatic capabilities of human HCC tissue samples and cell lines. We found that miR-885-5p expression levels correlated with the survival of patients with HCC. Overexpression of miR-885-5p decreased metastasis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of miR-885-5p improved proliferation of non-metastatic HCC cells. Furthermore, we disclosed that miR-885-5p targeted gene encoding β-catenin CTNNB1, leading to decreased activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The present study indicates that miR-885-5p suppresses the metastasis of HCC and inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by its CTNNB1 target, which suggests that miR-885-5p to be a promising negative regulator of HCC progression and as a novel therapeutic agent to treat HCC.

MicroRNA-454 inhibits non‑small cell lung cancer cells growth and metastasis via targeting signal transducer and activator of transcription-3

Lung cancer is one of the most common type of cancers and the leading cause of cancer‑related mortality worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for >80% of lung cancer cases. Emerging studies have suggested that microRNAs are dysregulated in NSCLC and serve important roles in NSCLC initiation and development. However, to the best of our knowledge, the expression, roles and molecular mechanism of microRNA‑454 (miR‑454) have not been investigated in NSCLC. In the present study, miR‑454 was demonstrated to be significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, as assessed by western blot analysis and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Reduced miR‑454 expression was significantly correlated with aggressive clinicopathological features in NSCLC. In addition, upregulation of miR‑454 suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion NSCLC cells, as assessed by Cell Counting Kit‑8 and in vitro migration and invasion assays, respectively. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis identified STAT3 as a direct target gene of miR‑454, and STAT3 knockdown was demonstrated to simulate the effects of miR‑454 overexpression in NSCLC. In conclusion, the present study provided convincing evidence that miR‑454 is downregulated in NSCLC, and regulates growth and metastasis by directly targeting STAT3, which suggests that miR‑454 may be an efficient therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Four-miRNA signature as a prognostic tool for lung adenocarcinoma

Purpose

The aim of this study was to generate a novel miRNA expression signature to accurately predict prognosis for patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Patients and methods

Using expression profiles downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database, we identified multiple miRNAs with differential expression between LUAD and paired healthy tissues. We then evaluated the prognostic values of the differentially expressed miRNAs using univariate/multivariate Cox regression analysis. This analysis was ultimately used to construct a four-miRNA signature that effectively predicted patient survival. Finally, we analyzed potential functional roles of the target genes for these four miRNAs using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses.

Results

Based on our cutoff criteria (P<0.05 and |log2FC| >1.0), we identified a total of 187 differentially expressed miRNAs, including 148 that were upregulated in LUAD tissues and 39 that were downregulated. Four miRNAs (miR-148a-5p, miR-31-5p, miR-548v, and miR-550a-5p) were independently associated with survival based on Kaplan–Meier analysis. We generated a signature index based on the expression of these four miRNAs and stratified patients into low- and high-risk groups. Patients in the high-risk group had significantly shorter survival times than those in the low-risk group (P=0.002). A functional enrichment analysis suggested that the target genes of these four miRNAs were involved in protein phosphorylation and the Hippo and sphingolipid signaling pathways.

Conclusion

Taken together, our results suggest that our four-miRNA signature can be used as a prognostic tool for patients with LUAD.

Role of microRNA-33a in regulating the expression of PD-1 in lung adenocarcinoma

Background

MiRNAs are vital in functioning as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors in the cell cycle. Target transcripts for immune checkpoint molecules such as PD-1/PD-L1 and (programmed cell death-1/its ligand and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4) have proven to be beneficial against several solid tumors, including lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods

Simultaneous quantification of the expression level of miR-33a and PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA4 mRNAs with NanoString technology was performed in 88 lung adenocarcinoma specimens. A cohort of 323 lung adenocarcinoma patients from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database was further analyzed, in order to test our hypothesis. Potential interference of PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA4 gene expression by miR-33a was predicted using the microRNA target prediction program RNA22.

Results

High miR-33a expression was significantly associated with younger (p = 0.005), female (p = 0.04), patients with low grade (p < 0.0001), early stage (p = 0.03) tumors, and better survival. The hypothesis of the involvement of miR-33a in PD-1/PD-L1/CTLA4 mechanisms was corroborated by the finding of putative miR-33a binding sites in all three genes using the RNA22 method. We found an inverse correlation between miR-33a and PD-1 levels (p = 0.01), as well as for PD-L1 (p = 0.01) and CTLA4 (p = 0.03) expression, and a significant better prognosis for patients with high miR-33a/low PD-1. TCGA database analysis confirmed that miR-33a high levels were associated with low PD-1 expression and with longer survival on a larger population.

Conclusions

Our study emphasizes the notion of a potential value of miR-33a as a favorable prognostic marker through PD-1 regulation.

Translating cancer epigenomics into the clinic: focus on lung cancer

Epigenetic deregulation is increasingly being recognized as a hallmark of cancer. Recent studies have identified many new epigenetic biomarkers, some of which are being introduced into clinical practice for diagnosis, molecular classification, prognosis or prediction of response to therapies. O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase gene is the most clinically advanced epigenetic biomarker as it predicts the response to temozolomide and carmustine in gliomas. Therefore, epigenomics may represent a novel and promising tool for precision medicine, and in particular, the detection of epigenomic biomarkers in liquid biopsies will be of great interest for monitoring diseases in patients. Of particular relevance is the identification of epigenetic biomarkers in lung cancer, one of the most prevalent and deadly types of cancer. DNA methylation of SHOX2 and RASSF1A could be used as diagnostic markers to differentiate between normal and tumor samples. MicroRNA and long noncoding RNA signatures associated with lung cancer development or tobacco smoke have also been identified. In addition to the field of biomarkers, therapeutic approaches using DNA methylation and histone deacetylation inhibitors are being tested in clinical trials for several cancer types. Moreover, new DNA editing techniques based on zinc finger and CRISPR/Cas9 technologies allow specific modification of aberrant methylation found in oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. We envision that epigenomics will translate into the clinical field and will have an impact on lung cancer diagnosis/prognosis and treatment.

miR-20a Regulates FAS Expression in Osteosarcoma Cells by Modulating FAS Promoter Activity and Can be Therapeutically Targeted to Inhibit Lung Metastases

The metastatic potential of osteosarcoma cells is inversely correlated to cell surface FAS expression. Downregulation of FAS allows osteosarcoma cells to escape FAS ligand-mediated apoptosis when they enter a FAS ligand-positive microenvironment such as the lung. We have previously demonstrated that miR-20a, encoded by the miR-17-92 cluster, downregulates FAS expression in osteosarcoma. We further demonstrated an inverse correlation between FAS expression and miR-20a expression. However, the mechanism of FAS regulation by miR-20a was still unclear. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the mechanism of FAS regulation by miR-20a in vitro and test the effect of targeting miR-20a in vivo We investigated whether miR-20a's downregulation of FAS was mediated by binding to the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of FAS mRNA with the consequent induction of mRNA degradation or translational suppression. We identified and mutated two miR-20a binding sites on the FAS mRNA 3'-UTR. Using luciferase reporter assays, we demonstrated that miR-20a did not bind to either the wild-type or mutated FAS 3'-UTR. In contrast, overexpression of miR-20a resulted in downregulation of FAS promoter activity. Similarly, the inhibition of miR-20a increased FAS promoter activity. The critical region identified on the FAS promoter was between -240 bp and -150 bp. Delivery of anti-miR-20a in vivo using nanoparticles in mice with established osteosarcoma lung metastases resulted in upregulation of FAS and tumor growth inhibition. Taken together, our data suggest that miR-20a regulates FAS expression through the modulation of the FAS promoter and that targeting miR-20a using anti-miR-20a has therapeutic potential. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(1); 130-9. ©2017 AACR.

MicroRNA Based Liquid Biopsy: The Experience of the Plasma miRNA Signature Classifier (MSC) for Lung Cancer Screening

The development of a minimally invasive test, such as liquid biopsy, for early lung cancer detection in its preclinical phase is crucial to improve the outcome of this deadly disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are tissue specific, small, non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression, which may act as extracellular messengers of biological signals derived from the cross-talk between the tumor and its surrounding microenvironment. They could thus represent ideal candidates for early detection of lung cancer. In this work, a methodological workflow for the prospective validation of a circulating miRNA test using custom made microfluidic cards and quantitative Real-Time PCR in plasma samples of volunteers enrolled in a lung cancer screening trial is proposed. In addition, since the release of hemolysis-related miRNAs and more general technical issues may affect the analysis, the quality control steps included in the standard operating procedures are also presented. The protocol is reproducible and gives reliable quantitative results; however, when using large clinical series, both pre-analytical and analytical features should be cautiously evaluated.

Analysis of miRNA profiles identified miR-196a as a crucial mediator of aberrant PI3K/AKT signaling in lung cancer cells

Hyperactivation of the PI3K/AKT pathway is observed in most human cancer including lung carcinomas. Here we have investigated the role of miRNAs as downstream targets of activated PI3K/AKT signaling in Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). To this aim, miRNA profiling was performed in human lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) expressing active AKT1 (BEAS-AKT1-E17K), active PI3KCA (BEAS-PIK3CA-E545K) or with silenced PTEN (BEAS-shPTEN).

Twenty-four differentially expressed miRNAs common to BEAS-AKT1-E17K, BEAS-PIK3CA-E545K and BEAS-shPTEN cells were identified through this analysis, with miR-196a being the most consistently up-regulated miRNA. Interestingly, miR-196a was significantly overexpressed also in human NSCLC-derived cell lines (n=11) and primary lung cancer samples (n=28).

By manipulating the expression of miR-196a in BEAS-2B and NCI-H460 cells, we obtained compelling evidence that this miRNA acts downstream the PI3K/AKT pathway, mediating some of the proliferative, pro-migratory and tumorigenic activity that this pathway exerts in lung epithelial cells, possibly through the regulation of FoxO1, CDKN1B (hereafter p27) and HOXA9.

Identification of microRNA differentially expressed in three subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer and in silico functional analysis

Emerging studies demonstrated that miRNAs played fundamental roles in lung cancer. In this study, we attempted to explore the clinical significance of the miRNA signature in different histological subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Three miRNome profiling datasets (GSE19945, GSE25508 and GSE51853) containing lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) and large cell lung cancer (LCLC) samples were obtained for bioinformatics and survival analysis. Moreover, pathway enrichment and coexpression network were performed to explore underlying molecular mechanism. MicroRNA-375 (miR-375), miR-203 and miR-205 were identified as differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) which distinguished SCC from other NSCLC subtypes. Pathway enrichment analysis suggested that Hippo signaling pathway was combinatorically affected by above mentioned three miRNAs. Coexpression analysis of three miRNAs and the Hippo signaling pathway related genes were conducted based on another dataset, GSE51852. Four hub genes (TP63, RERE, TJP1 and YWHAE) were identified as the candidate targets of three miRNAs, and three of them (TP63, TJP1 and YWHAE) were validated to be downregulated by miR-203 and miR-375, respectively. Finally, survival analysis further suggested the prognostic value of three-miRNA signature in SCC patients. Taken together, our study compared the miRNA profiles among three histological subtypes of NSCLC, and suggested that a three-miRNA signature might be potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for SCC patients.

MicroRNA Expression in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma and Asbestosis: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

The identification of diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers for asbestos-related diseases is relevant for early diagnosis and patient survival and may contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease development and progression.

AIMS

To identify a pattern of miRNAs as possible diagnostic biomarkers for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and asbestosis (ASB) and as prognostic biomarkers for MPM patients.

METHODS

miRNA-16, miRNA-17, miRNA-126, and miRNA-486 were quantified in plasma and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples to evaluate their diagnostic and prognostic roles compared to patients with other noncancerous pulmonary diseases (controls). Results. The expression of all the miRNAs was significantly lower in patients with MPM and ASB than that in controls. miRNA-16, miRNA-17, and miRNA-486 in plasma and tissue of MPM patients were significantly correlated. Furthermore, the expression of miRNA-16 in plasma and tissue, and miRNA-486 only in tissue, was positively related with cumulative survival in MPM patients.

CONCLUSIONS

All the miRNA levels were decreased in patients with MPM or ASB, supporting the role of circulating miRNAs as a potential tool for diseases associated with exposure to asbestos fibers. miRNA-16 was directly related to MPM patient prognosis, suggesting its possible use as a prognostic marker in MPM patients.

Mutational Profile from Targeted NGS Predicts Survival in LDCT Screening-Detected Lung Cancers

Background:

The issue of overdiagnosis in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening trials could be addressed by the development of complementary bio-markers able to improve detection of aggressive disease. The mutation profile of LDCT screening–detected lung tumors is currently unknown.

Methods:

Targeted next-generation sequencing was performed on 94 LDCT screening–detected lung tumors. Associations with clinicopathologic features, survival, and the risk profile of a plasma microRNA signature classifier were analyzed.

Results:

The mutational spectrum and frequency observed in screening series was similar to that reported in public data sets, although a larger number of tumors without mutations in driver genes was detected. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of patients with and without mutations in the tumors were 66% and 100%, respectively (p = 0.015). By combining the mutational status with the microRNA signature classifier risk profile, patients were stratified into three groups with 5-year OS rates ranging from 42% to 97% (p < 0.0001) and the prognostic value was significant after controlling for stage (p = 0.02).

Conclusion:

Tumor mutational status along with a microRNA-based liquid biopsy can provide additional information in planning clinical follow-up in lung cancer LDCT screening programs.

MiR-199a-5p suppresses tumorigenesis by targeting clathrin heavy chain in hepatocellular carcinoma

The deregulation of microRNA (miRNA) is frequently associated with a variety of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we investigated the expression and possible role of miR-199a-5p in HCC. The expression of miR-199a-5p was measured by quantitative RT-PCR in HCC. The effect of miR-199a-5p was evaluated by cell viability and colony formation assays in HCC cell lines and tumor cell growth assay in xenograft nude mice. Quantitative real time PCR results showed that miR-199a-5p was down-regulated in 77.9 % (67/86) of HCC tissues compared with adjacent nontumor tissues. MiR-199a-5p mimic reduced cell viability and colony formation by induction of cell arrest in HCC cell lines and inhibited tumor cell growth in xenograft nude mice, but miR-199a-5p inhibitor increased cell viability and colony formation in HCC cell lines and tumor cell growth in xenograft nude mice. Furthermore, CLTC was defined as a potential direct target of miR-199a-5p by MiRanda and TargetScan predictions. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay results showed that CLTC was a direct target of miR-199a-5p. The use of miR-199a-5p mimic or inhibitor could decrease or increase CLTC protein levels in HCC cell lines. We conclude that the frequently down-regulated miR-199a-5p can regulate CLTC and might function as a tumor suppressor in HCC. Therefore, miR-199a-5p may serve as a useful therapeutic agent for miRNA-based HCC therapy.

Blood-Based Nucleic Acid Biomarkers as a Potential Tool to Determine Radiation Therapy Response in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with smoking as the main risk factor. The use of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) as a screening method has shown a 20% lung cancer specific mortality benefit; however, widespread implementation is estimated to add $1.3-$2.0 billion in annual national health care expenditures. Blood-based microRNAs (miRNAs) have been investigated in detail and found to be potentially useful biomarkers indicating the presence of lung cancer, especially when used as a companion test to LDCT. Testing for miRNAs and circulating tumor DNA (ct-DNA) in the blood are anticipated to become more affordable in the near future, and therefore these potentially sensitive methods could serve as first-line screening modalities prior to obtaining LDCT and definitive diagnostic tests for lung cancer. Furthermore, miRNAs may shed light not only on the tumor burden, but also perhaps on tumor aggressiveness, histology, treatment response and the patient's overall survival. In the near future, analysis of ct-DNA may reveal somatic mutations beyond EGFR, tumor burden and the presence of occult progression of disease. In theory, these biomarkers may also help oncologists to elucidate the tumor response to radiotherapy, and in the future, may assist the radiation oncologist in making data-driven treatment decisions and providing patients with quantitative information regarding their treatment response.

Multiplexed detection of lung cancer biomarkers in patients serum with CMOS-compatible silicon nanowire arrays

In this work, a real-time assay for highly sensitive, label-free, multiplexed electrical detection of lung cancer biomarkers was developed by using silicon nanowire field-effect (SiNW-FET) devices. Highly responsive SiNW arrays were fabricated using a CMOS-compatible anisotropic self-stop etching technique with mass reproducibility and low cost character. The SiNW nanosensor was integrated with PDMS microfluidic device, which allows rapid analyte delivery, makes the analysis to be conducted using exceedingly small samples and enables potential multiplexed detection. The nanowire arrays allowed highly selective and sensitive multiplexed detection of microRNA (miRNA)-126 and CEA. Due to high surface-to-volume ratio that the nanowire dimensions confer, the detection floor of single molecule was achieved. The potential utility in identifying clinical samples for early diagnosis of cancer was demonstrated by analyzing biomarkers in clinical related samples. The developed nanosensor with capability for multiplexed real-time monitoring of biomarkers with high sensitivity and selectivity in clinically relevant samples is highly attractive for diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases.

Role of Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapy in Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

On the basis of several randomized trials and meta-analyses, adjuvant chemotherapy is the accepted standard of care for certain patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with stage II, IIIA, or large (≥ 4 cm) IB tumors are candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy. The survival improvement with adjuvant chemotherapy is approximately 5% at 5 years, though certain trials have suggested that it can be 8% to 10%. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy also has shown a survival advantage, though the volume of data with this approach is far less than that of adjuvant chemotherapy. The combination of cisplatin and vinorelbine is the most well-studied regimen, but current consensus is to use four cycles of any of the platinum-based chemotherapy regimens commonly used as front-line therapy for patients with advanced-stage NSCLC. Trials to define biomarkers that can predict benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy have not been successful, but results of other such trials are still awaited. On the basis of the benefit observed with targeted agents in patients with advanced-stage disease and driver genetic alterations in their tumors, ongoing trials are evaluating the utility of these targeted agents as adjuvant therapy. Similarly, clinical benefit observed with checkpoint inhibitors has prompted assessment of these drugs in patients with early-stage NSCLC. It is very likely, in the future, that factors other than the anatomy of the tumor will be used to select patients with early-stage NSCLC for systemic therapy and that the choice of systemic therapy will extend beyond platinum-based chemotherapy.

Identification of miRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of lung cancers

Current clinical diagnostic methods lack the specificity in detecting lung cancer patients. The issue is particularly critical for stage I and II patients. Considerable evidence showed microRNA plays a very important role in lung carcinogenesis. Here, we identified a panel of 41 miRNAs significantly elevated in patients with lung cancer, of which eight miRNAs were further validated in an independent sample cohort. Classification analysis using the panel of eight miRNAs generated a discriminatory power of 93.3 % sensitivity and 93.8 % specificity in separating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients from normal controls, indicating the miRNAs have a potential clinical utility in discriminating NSCLC. Interestingly, miR-1244 was found significantly elevated in the serum samples of lung cancer patients, and the test characteristics of the single miRNA were area under the curve (AUC) of 0.832 in NSCLC vs healthy controls, and 0.861 in NSCLC vs patients with unidentified pulmonary nodules. This is the first study showing serum miR-1244 could be a biomarker to screen lung cancer patients from the high-risk population.

Identification and characterization of microRNAs expressed in the African malaria vector Anopheles funestus life stages using high throughput sequencing

BACKGROUND

Over the past several years, thousands of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified in the genomes of various insects through cloning and sequencing or even by computational prediction. However, the number of miRNAs identified in anopheline species is low and little is known about their role. The mosquito Anopheles funestus is one of the dominant malaria vectors in Africa, which infects and kills millions of people every year. Therefore, small RNA molecules isolated from the four life stages (eggs, larvae, pupae and unfed adult females) of An. funestus were sequenced using next generation sequencing technology.

RESULTS

High throughput sequencing of four replicates in combination with computational analysis identified 107 mature miRNA sequences expressed in the An. funestus mosquito. These include 20 novel miRNAs without sequence identity in any organism and eight miRNAs not previously reported in the Anopheles genus but are known in non-anopheles mosquitoes. Finally, the changes in the expression of miRNAs during the mosquito development were determined and the analysis showed that many miRNAs have stage-specific expression, and are co-transcribed and co-regulated during development.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents the first direct experimental evidence of miRNAs in An. funestus and the first profiling study of miRNA associated with the maturation in this mosquito. Overall, the results indicate that miRNAs play important roles during the growth and development. Silencing such molecules in a specific life stage could decrease the vector population and therefore interrupt malaria transmission.

Circulating microRNA signature as liquid-biopsy to monitor lung cancer in low-dose computed tomography screening

Liquid biopsies can detect biomarkers carrying information on the development and progression of cancer. We demonstrated that a 24 plasma-based microRNA signature classifier (MSC) was capable of increasing the specificity of low dose computed tomography (LDCT) in a lung cancer screening trial. In the present study, we tested the prognostic performance of MSC, and its ability to monitor disease status recurrence in LDCT screening-detected lung cancers.Between 2000 and 2010, 3411 heavy smokers enrolled in two screening programmes, underwent annual or biennial LDCT. During the first five years of screening, 84 lung cancer patients were classified according to one of the three MSC levels of risk: high, intermediate or low. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed according to MSC and clinico-pathological information. Follow-up MSC analysis was performed on longitudinal plasma samples (n = 100) collected from 31 patients before and after surgical resection.Five-year survival was 88.9% for low risk, 79.5% for intermediate risk and 40.1% for high risk MSC (p = 0.001). The prognostic power of MSC persisted after adjusting for tumor stage (p = 0.02) and when the analysis was restricted to LDCT-detected cases after exclusion of interval cancers (p < 0.001). The MSC risk level decreased after surgery in 76% of the 25 high-intermediate subjects who remained disease free, whereas in relapsing patients an increase of the MSC risk level was observed at the time of detection of second primary tumor or metastatic progression.These results encourage exploiting the MSC test for lung cancer monitoring in LDCT screening for lung cancer.

Long Noncoding RNAs in Lung Cancer

Despite great progress in research and treatment options, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Oncogenic driver mutations in protein-encoding genes were defined and allow for personalized therapies based on genetic diagnoses. Nonetheless, diagnosis of lung cancer mostly occurs at late stages, and chronic treatment is followed by a fast onset of chemoresistance. Hence, there is an urgent need for reliable biomarkers and alternative treatment options. With the era of whole genome and transcriptome sequencing technologies, long noncoding RNAs emerged as a novel class of versatile, functional RNA molecules. Although for most of them the mechanism of action remains to be defined, accumulating evidence confirms their involvement in various aspects of lung tumorigenesis. They are functional on the epigenetic, transcriptional, and posttranscriptional level and are regulators of pathophysiological key pathways including cell growth, apoptosis, and metastasis. Long noncoding RNAs are gaining increasing attention as potential biomarkers and a novel class of druggable molecules. It has become clear that we are only beginning to understand the complexity of tumorigenic processes. The clinical integration of long noncoding RNAs in terms of prognostic and predictive biomarker signatures and additional cancer targets could provide a chance to increase the therapeutic benefit. Here, we review the current knowledge about the expression, regulation, biological function, and clinical relevance of long noncoding RNAs in lung cancer.

MicroRNA Profile of Lung Tumor Tissues Is Associated with a High Risk Plasma miRNA Signature

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. Many studies have reported that alterations in miRNA expression are involved in several human tumors. We have previously identified a circulating miRNA signature classifier (MSC) able to discriminate lung cancer with more aggressive features. In the present work, microarray miRNA profiling of tumor tissues collected from 19 lung cancer patients with an available MSC result were perform in order to find a possible association between miRNA expression and the MSC risk level. Eleven tissue mature miRNAs and six miRNA precursors were observed to be associated with the plasma MSC risk level of patients. Not one of these miRNAs was included in the MSC algorithm. A pathway enrichment analysis revealed a role of these miRNA in the main pathways determining lung cancer aggressiveness. Overall, these findings add to the knowledge that tissue and plasma miRNAs behave as excellent diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, which may find rapid application in clinical settings.

miR-154 inhibits migration and invasion of human non-small cell lung cancer by targeting ZEB2

Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRs) play critical roles in the development and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In a previous study, the present authors demonstrated that miR-154 acts as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC; however, its underlying molecular mechanism and target in NSCLC remain poorly understood. In the present study, ectopic expression of miR-154 remarkably suppressed cell migration and invasion in NSCLC cells. Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) was identified as a direct target of miR-154 in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-154 could decrease the expression of ZEB2 at the messenger RNA and protein levels. Ectopic expression of miR-154 also increased the levels of E-cadherin, an epithelial marker, and decreased the levels of vimentin, a mesenchymal marker, which contributed to suppress epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and to inhibit cell migration and invasion. In addition, downregulation of ZEB2 exerted similar effects to those caused by miR-154 overexpression on NSCLC cell migration and invasion, while upregulation of ZEB2 could significantly reverse the inhibitory effects on migration and invasion caused by miR-154 on NSCLC cells. These findings demonstrated that miR-154 inhibited migration and invasion of NSCLC cells by regulating EMT through targeting ZEB2, suggesting that miR-154 may be a potential anticancer therapeutic target for NSCLC.

MicroRNA-455 suppresses non-small cell lung cancer through targeting ZEB1

MicroRNA-455 (miRNA-455), which is downregulated in human cancer, potently mediates the multiple steps of carcinogenesis. However, the role of miR-455 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) carcinogenesis remains unclear. In present study, we determined the mature miRNA-455 expression in NSCLC tissues and cells by real-time PCR. Follow-up studies examined the effects of a miR-455 mimic (gain of function) on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Our data indicate that miR-455 was significantly down-regulated in NSCLC cell lines and tissues. In functional assays, overexpression of miR-455 suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC cell lines. Data from reporter assays showed that miR-455 directly binds to 3'UTR of ZEB1 and suppresses the endogenous level of ZEB1 protein expression. Furthermore, overexpression of ZEB1 reverses miR-455-suppressed malignant phenotype of NSCLC cells. Moreover, we found that upregulation of ZEB1 expression is inversely associated with miR-455 expression in NSCLC tissues. Taken together, miR-455 as an anti-oncogene in non-small cell lung cancer through up-regulation of ZEB1 and serve as a potential therapeutic target in NSCLC.

Differential expression of microRNAs in aortic tissue and plasma in patients with acute aortic dissection

Background

Biomarker-assisted diagnosis of acute aortic dissection (AAD) is important for diagnosis and treatment. However, identification of biomarkers for AAD in blood is a challenging task. The aim of this study is to search for new potentially microRNA (miRNAs) biomarkers in AAD.

Methods

The miRNAs expression profiles in ascending aortic tissue and plasma were examined by microarray analysis in two sets or groups. The tissue group was composed of four patients with AAD and four controls of healthy male organ donors. The plasma group included 20 patients with AAD and 20 controls without cardiovascular disease. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the potential targets of the differentially expressed miRNAs.

Results

Our study revealed that in AAD patients, the aortic tissue had 30 differentially expressed miRNAs with 13 up-regulated and 17 down-regulated, and plasma had 93 differentially expressed miRNAs, of which 33 were up-regulated and 60 were down-regulated. Four miRNAs were found to be up-regulated in both aortic tissue and plasma in AAD patients. The predicted miRNA targets indicated the four dysregulated miRNAs mainly targeted genes that were associated with cell-cell adhesion, extracellular matrix metabolism, cytoskeleton organization, inflammation, and multiple signaling pathways related to cellular cycles.

Conclusions

Four miRNAs, which are up-regulated both in aortic tissue and in plasma in AAD patients, have been identified in this study. These miRNAs might be potential diagnostic biomarkers for AAD. Larger sample investigations are needed for further verification.

Low expression of miR-192 in NSCLC and its tumor suppressor functions in metastasis via targeting ZEB2

Objectives

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for more than 80% of all lung cancer cases. The aim of this study was to investigate the function and underlying mechanism of microRNA-192 (miR-192) in metastasis of NSCLC cells.

Methods

Real-time PCR was applied to quantify the expression of miR-192 in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, matched with their corresponding controls. The biological roles of miR-192 were studied in NSCLC cells using the wound healing and trans well invasion assays. Real-time PCR and western blot were used to evaluate the regulation of ZEB2 by miR- 192.

Results

MiR-192 was expressed significantly lower in NSCLC tissues/cells when compared with controls. Ectopic expression of miR-192 strongly inhibited cell migration and invasion in NSCLC A549 cells. Further investigation revealed ZEB2, an EMT regulator, was one of the downstream targets regulated by miR-192.

Conclusion

These results suggested that miR-192 inhibits the metastasis of NSCLC cells by targeting ZEB2, and thus is an important tumor suppressor.

Identification of a microRNA signature associated with risk of distant metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Purpose

Despite significant improvement in locoregional control in the contemporary era of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment, patients still suffer from a significant risk of distant metastasis (DM). Identifying those patients at risk of DM would aid in personalized treatment in the future. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play many important roles in human cancers; hence, we proceeded to address the primary hypothesis that there is a miRNA expression signature capable of predicting DM for NPC patients.

Methods and results

The expression of 734 miRNAs was measured in 125 (Training) and 121 (Validation) clinically annotated NPC diagnostic biopsy samples. A 4-miRNA expression signature associated with risk of developing DM was identified by fitting a penalized Cox Proportion Hazard regression model to the Training data set (HR 8.25; p < 0.001), and subsequently validated in an independent Validation set (HR 3.2; p = 0.01). Pathway enrichment analysis indicated that the targets of miRNAs associated with DM appear to be converging on cell-cycle pathways.

Conclusions

This 4-miRNA signature adds to the prognostic value of the current “gold standard” of TNM staging. In-depth interrogation of these 4-miRNAs will provide important biological insights that could facilitate the discovery and development of novel molecularly targeted therapies to improve outcome for future NPC patients.

Serum level of microRNA-147 as diagnostic biomarker in human non-small cell lung cancer

Objectives In this study, we intended to examine the gene expression level and the clinical significance of microRNA-147 (miR-147) in cancer tissues and sera of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to investigate the expression levels of miR-147 in 32 paired NSCLC tissues and their adjacent normal lung tissues, sera of 122 control and 87 NSCLC patients. The correlation of serum miR-147 expression level with clinicopathological characteristics, and the prognosis of NSCLC patients was statistically evaluated. Results MiR-147 was significantly down-regulated in NSCLC tissues than in paired adjacent normal tissues, and in sera of NSCLC patients than in sera of control patients. In addition, serum miR-147 was markedly down-regulated in advanced NSCLC patients and the patients with lymph node metastasis (LNM). Low serum miR-147 expression level was found to be significantly correlated with tumor, lymph node, metastasis stage, LNM, and tumor size. Statistical analysis showed that patients with low serum miR-147 had much worse overall survival, and low serum miR-147 expression level was an independent prognostic factor for poor prognosis for NSCLC. Conclusion Low serum miR-147 expression level may be a useful biomarker for patients with NSCLC.

Biomarkers in early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer: current concepts and future directions

Advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics have resulted in the identification of a number of potential biomarkers that could be relevant in the management of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although there is an increasing amount of literature related to these biomarkers, major issues need to be resolved including validity and reproducibility of results. Additionally, in order to interpret the existing literature accurately, a clear distinction must be made between the prognostic and predictive value of biomarkers. The practical applicability of biomarker discovery for patients with lung cancer includes the identification of patients with early-stage NSCLC who are most likely to benefit from adjuvant therapy. Information gleaned from biomarkers has the potential to help in evaluating the role of targeted therapies including immunotherapy in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant setting. The role of gene signatures and the use of newer platforms such as RNA, methylation, and protein signatures is being explored in patients with early-stage NSCLC. This review focuses on the applications of biomarker discovery in patients with early-stage NSCLC.

MiR-181b regulates cisplatin chemosensitivity and metastasis by targeting TGFβR1/Smad signaling pathway in NSCLC

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as important post-transcriptional regulators involved in various biological and pathological processes of cells, but their underlying mechanisms in chemosensitivity and metastasis have not been fully elucidated. The objective of this study was to identify miR-181b and its mechanism in the chemosensitivity and metastasis of NSCLC. We found that miR-181b expression levels were lower in A549/DDP cells compared with A549 cells. Functional assays showed that the overexpression of miR-181b inhibited proliferation, enhanced chemosensitivity to DDP, attenuated migration and metastatic ability in NSCLC cell lines in vitro and in vivo. TGFβR1 was subsequently identified as a novel functional target of miR-181b. TGFβR1 knockdown revealed similar effects as that of ectopic miR-181b expression, whereas overexpression of TGFβR1 rescued the function of miR-181b-mediated growth, chemosensitivity and metastasis in NSCLC cells. In addition, miR-181b could inactivate the TGFβR1/Smad signaling pathway. We also observed that decreased miR-181b expression and increased TGFβR1 expression were significantly associated with chemosensitivity to DDP and tumor metastasis in NSCLC patients. Consequently, miR-181b functions as a tumor suppressor and has an important role in proliferation, chemosensitivity to DDP and metastasis of NSCLC by targeting TGFβR1/Smad signaling pathway.

Recent advances of microRNA-based molecular diagnostics to reduce false-positive lung cancer imaging

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. Advances in early detection crucial to enable timely curative surgery have been made in recent years. Cost-benefit profiles of lung cancer screening in smokers by low-dose computed tomography are still under evaluation. In particular, the high false-positive rates of low-dose computed tomography, together with the issue of overdiagnosis and the overall costs of screening, prompted a focus on the development of noninvasive complementary biomarkers to implement lung cancer screening. MicroRNA are a new class of blood-based biomarkers useful for early lung cancer detection and prognosis definition. Here, we discuss the seminal publications that reported circulating microRNA signatures with the greatest potential to impact clinical activity and patient care.

MiR-205 and miR-218 expression is associated with carboplatin chemoresistance and regulation of apoptosis via Mcl-1 and Survivin in lung cancer cells

Lung cancer chemoresistance is the most frequent barrier in lung cancer therapy. Recent studies have indicated that microRNAs play a significant role in this mechanism and can function as either tumor suppressor or tumor promoters. However the effect of miRNA in lung cancer chemoresistance is poorly understood. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the role of two distinct miR members, the miR-205 and the tumor suppressor miR-218 in the proliferation, invasion and induction of apoptosis in lung cancer cells after carboplatin treatment. The results showed that miR-205 overexpression in A549 and H1975 lung cancer cells is concurrent with the down regulation of miR-218 and in linked with carboplatin sensitivity and chemoresistance. Interestingly, ectopic miR-218 overexpression reduced cell proliferation, invasion and migration of lung cancer cells, whereas miR-205 rescued the suppressive effect of miR-218 by altering the expression levels of the pro-apoptotic proteins PARP, Caspase 3, Bax and upregulating the anti-apoptotic markers Mcl-1 and Survivin. Taken together our findings imply that the miRNAs miR-205 and miR-218 play a key role in the development of lung cancer acquired chemoresistance and the tumor suppressor role of miR-218 in inhibiting lung cancer cell tumorigenesis and overcoming platinum chemoresistance is significant for future cancer therapeutic approaches.