HMGA2 regulates lung cancer proliferation and metastasis

Investigating the role of HMGA2 plasma level as a diagnostic marker in bladder urothelial carcinoma patients

BACKGROUND

Bladder Cancer (BC) is an environmental cancer caused by exposure to a globally widespread carcinogen, which is smoking, and it is characterized by high rates of recurrence and mortality. High Mobility Group A2 (HMGA2) protein is an oncofetal protein that belongs to the HMG family proteins. It is involved in various stages of carcinogenesis and cancer progression. This study investigated the presence and levels of the HMGA2 protein in bladder urothelial carcinoma patients' plasma and in healthy individuals and their association with the clinicopathological features of bladder urothelial carcinoma.

METHODS

This case-control study included 80 individuals divided into two groups: a healthy group (n = 22) and a patient group with bladder urothelial carcinoma (n = 58). There were 16 patients with Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC) and 42 patients with Non-Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) in the patients' cohort according to the European Association of Urology (EAU) classification. HMGA2 plasma levels were measured by Sandwich Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA). The statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS statistics (version 25) software. The t-test and the Mann-Whitney test were used.

RESULTS

Plasma HMGA2 protein levels were higher in the BC group than in the healthy group (P < 0.001), they also were higher in MIBC (pT2-pT3) than in NMIBC (pTa-pT1) (P < 0.001). HMGA2 plasma levels were higher in high grade BC patients than in low grade BC patients (P = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed that the plasma HMGA2 protein level was higher in bladder cancer patients than in healthy individuals and that its elevated plasma levels were correlated with advanced stage and grade of BC; thus, the plasma HMGA2 protein level represents a potential non-invasive marker that could be included in bladder cancer diagnosis approach.

Non-genotoxic carcinogens (TPA and mezerein) activate tumourous transformation through miR let-7-mediated Hmga2 expression in Bhas42 cells

A Bhas42 cell transformation assay is a method used to detect the tumour-promoting activities of chemicals. However, the mechanisms underlying tumour transformations mediated by non-genotoxic carcinogens (NGCs) are poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the correlation between 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) or mezerein and the initiation of tumourous transformations by epigenetic regulation in Bhas42 cells. We found that TPA and mezerein prompted tumourous transformations by stimulating cell proliferation and migration in Bhas42 cells. Furthermore, we observed alterations in the expression levels of 134 genes, with 87 genes being upregulated and 47 genes being downregulated, following exposure to either TPA or mezerein. Among the differentially regulated genes, we identified 17 upregulated genes and 8 downregulated genes corresponding to differentially expressed genes in TNM [primary tumour (T), regional nodes (N), and metastasis (M)]. Importantly, we found that TPA and mezerein triggered the expression of Hmga2 and Ezh2 by loss of miRNA let-7 (miR let-7) in Bhas42 cells. Finally, the microRNA (miRNA) mimic of let-7 prevented the TPA- and mezerein-induced activation of Hmga2 and Ezh2 in Bhas42 cells. Our findings reveal a connection between tumourous transformations and the epigenetic regulator miR let-7 in NGCs, such as TPA and mezerein in Bhas42 cells. This highlights miR let-7 as a promising therapeutic target for mitigating tumourous transformations induced by NGCs.

HMGA2 Expression Predicts Subtype, Survival, and Treatment Outcome in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to establish HMGA2 as a marker of basal-like disease in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and explore its use as a biomarker for prognosis and treatment resistance.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We identified high-mobility group A2 (HMGA2) protein expression in basal PDAC cells in a single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) atlas of 172 patient samples. We then analyzed HMGA2 expression, along with expression of the classic marker GATA-binding factor 6 (GATA6), in a cohort of 580 PDAC samples with multiplex IHC. We further supplemented these data with an additional 30 diverse patient samples and multiple independent single-cell RNA-seq databases.

RESULTS

We found that expression of HMGA2, but not previously described basal markers cytokeratins 5 or 17, predicted overall survival in our cohort. Combining HMGA2 and GATA6 statuses allowed for the identification of two key study groups: an HMGA2+/GATA6- cohort with worse survival, low tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, increased FAP+ fibroblasts, and poorer response to gemcitabine-based chemotherapies (n = 94, median survival = 11.2 months after surgery) and an HMGA2-/GATA6+ cohort with improved survival, increased CD8+ T-cell infiltrate, decreased FAP+ fibroblasts, and improved survival with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy (n = 198, median survival = 21.7 months after surgery). HMGA2 was also prognostic for overall survival in RNA-seq from an independent cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

IHC stratification of primary tumors by HMGA2 and GATA6 statuses in pancreatic cancer is associated with differential outcomes, survival following chemotherapy, and tumor microenvironments. As a nuclear marker for basal disease, HMGA2 complements GATA6 to identify disease subtypes in PDAC.

Decoding high mobility group A2 protein expression regulation and implications in human cancers

High Mobility Group A2 (HMGA2) oncofetal proteins are a distinct category of Transcription Factors (TFs) known as "architectural factors" due to their lack of direct transcriptional activity. Instead, they modulate the three-dimensional structure of chromatin by binding to AT-rich regions in the minor grooves of DNA through their AT-hooks. This binding allows HMGA2 to interact with other proteins and different regions of DNA, thereby regulating the expression of numerous genes involved in carcinogenesis. Consequently, multiple mechanisms exist to finely control HMGA2 protein expression at various transcriptional levels, ensuring precise concentration adjustments to maintain cellular homeostasis. During embryonic development, HMGA2 protein is highly expressed but becomes absent in adult tissues. However, recent studies have revealed its re-elevation in various cancer types. Extensive research has demonstrated the involvement of HMGA2 protein in carcinogenesis at multiple levels. It intervenes in crucial processes such as cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cancer cell stemness, and DNA damage repair mechanisms, ultimately promoting cancer cell survival. This comprehensive review provides insights into the HMGA2 protein, spanning from the genetic regulation to functional protein behavior. It highlights the significant mechanisms governing HMGA2 gene expression and elucidates the molecular roles of HMGA2 in the carcinogenesis process.

The IGF2BP2-lncRNA TRPC7-AS1 axis promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and invasion

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the most common tumors in the world. Human insulin-like growth factor 2(IGF2) mRNA binding protein 2(IGF2BP2) plays an important role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. Additionally, long non-coding RNA(lncRNA) has been confirmed as a key regulator of hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence. However, the function of TRPC7-AS1 has not been verified in hepatocellular carcinoma. The research results revealed that high IGF2BP2 expression was associated with a decreased survival rate in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, IGF2BP2 knockdown inhibited and IGF2BP2 overexpression promoted the cell proliferation and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The research illuminated that IGF2BP2 regulated the expression of TRPC7-AS1, and a correlation was observed between IGF2BP2 and TRPC7-AS1 expression. TRPC7-AS1 silencing repressed and its overexpression promoted the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. After silencing or overexpressing TRPC7-AS1, the expression of the high-mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) gene decreased or increased, respectively. IGF2BP2 enhanced the expression of TRPC7-AS1 and thus affected the expression of HMGA2, thereby promoting hepatocellular carcinoma progression.

Revealing molecular and cellular heterogeneity in hypopharyngeal carcinogenesis through single-cell RNA and TCR/BCR sequencing

Introduction

Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) is one of the malignant tumors with the worst prognosis in head and neck cancers. The transformation from normal tissue through low-grade and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia to cancerous tissue in HSCC is typically viewed as a progressive pathological sequence typical of tumorigenesis. Nonetheless, the alterations in diverse cell clusters within the tissue microenvironment (TME) throughout tumorigenesis and their impact on the development of HSCC are yet to be fully understood.

Methods

We employed single-cell RNA sequencing and TCR/BCR sequencing to sequence 60,854 cells from nine tissue samples representing different stages during the progression of HSCC. This allowed us to construct dynamic transcriptomic maps of cells in diverse TME across various disease stages, and experimentally validated the key molecules within it.

Results

We delineated the heterogeneity among tumor cells, immune cells (including T cells, B cells, and myeloid cells), and stromal cells (such as fibroblasts and endothelial cells) during the tumorigenesis of HSCC. We uncovered the alterations in function and state of distinct cell clusters at different stages of tumor development and identified specific clusters closely associated with the tumorigenesis of HSCC. Consequently, we discovered molecules like MAGEA3 and MMP3, pivotal for the diagnosis and treatment of HSCC.

Discussion

Our research sheds light on the dynamic alterations within the TME during the tumorigenesis of HSCC, which will help to understand its mechanism of canceration, identify early diagnostic markers, and discover new therapeutic targets.

HMGA2 overexpression activates IGF2BP2 to stabilize APLP2 via m6A modification and promote pancreatic cancer progression

Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy of the digestive system, with occult onset, rapid progression, and poor prognosis. The genetic heterogeneity of pancreatic cancer contributes to its highly malignant biological behavior. HMGA2 is overexpressed in tumors and is known to regulate tumor progression in various cancers through the HMGA2-IGF2BP2 axis, but its role and mechanism in pancreatic cancer remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that HMGA2 promotes pancreatic cancer progression. We further revealed that HMGA2 upregulates IGF2BP2, which stabilizes APLP2 mRNA via m6A modification, thereby promoting pancreatic cancer progression. These results indicate that HMGA2/IGF2BP2/APLP2 signaling axis regulates the progression of pancreatic cancer.

Genomic and transcriptomic profiling of combined small-cell lung cancer through microdissection: unveiling the transformational pathway of mixed subtype

BACKGROUND

Combined small-cell lung carcinoma (cSCLC) represents a rare subtype of SCLC, the mechanisms governing the evolution of cancer genomes and their impact on the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) within distinct components of cSCLC remain elusive.

METHODS

Here, we conducted whole-exome and RNA sequencing on 32 samples from 16 cSCLC cases.

RESULTS

We found striking similarities between two components of cSCLC-LCC/LCNEC (SCLC combined with large-cell carcinoma/neuroendocrine) in terms of tumor mutation burden (TMB), tumor neoantigen burden (TNB), clonality structure, chromosomal instability (CIN), and low levels of immune cell infiltration. In contrast, the two components of cSCLC-ADC/SCC (SCLC combined with adenocarcinoma/squamous-cell carcinoma) exhibited a high level of tumor heterogeneity. Our investigation revealed that cSCLC originated from a monoclonal source, with two potential transformation modes: from SCLC to SCC (mode 1) and from ADC to SCLC (mode 2). Therefore, cSCLC might represent an intermediate state, potentially evolving into another histological tumor morphology through interactions between tumor and TIME surrounding it. Intriguingly, RB1 inactivation emerged as a factor influencing TIME heterogeneity in cSCLC, possibly through neoantigen depletion.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these findings delved into the clonal origin and TIME heterogeneity of different components in cSCLC, shedding new light on the evolutionary processes underlying this enigmatic subtype.

CircTHSD4 promotes the malignancy and docetaxel (DTX) resistance in prostate cancer by regulating miR-203/HMGA2 axis

Objective

Circular ribose nucleic acids (circRNAs) are implicated in tumor progression and drug resistance of prostate cancer (PCa). The current work explored the function of circ_0005203 (circTHSD4) in the malignancy and docetaxel (DTX) resistance of PCa.

Methods

circTHSD4 expression within PCa as well as matched non-carcinoma samples was measured through real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In addition, a subcellular fraction assay was conducted to determine circTHSD4 subcellular localization within PCa cells. In addition, we performed a Western blot (WB) assay to detect high-mobility-group A2 protein (HMGA2) levels. Besides, functional associations of two molecules were investigated through dual luciferase reporter assay. Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8, colony formation together with Transwell assay was conducted to assess malignant phenotypes of PCa cells, whereas flow cytometry was performed to determine cell apoptosis. Furthermore, a xenograft mouse model was constructed to verify the effect of circTHSD4 on the carcinogenesis of PCa cells.

Results

According to RT-qPCR results, circTHSD4 was up-regulated within PCa tissues and cells, which predicted the dismal prognostic outcome of PCa cases. circTHSD4 silencing within PCa cells markedly suppressed cell growth, migration, and colony formation. circTHSD4 silencing remarkably elevated PCa cell apoptosis and carcinogenesis within the xenograft model. Further, circTHSD4 silencing enhanced docetaxel (DTX) sensitivity in PCa cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that circTHSD4 modulated the malignancy of PCa cells by regulating HMGA2 expression through sponging miR-203.

Conclusion

Together, our findings suggest that circTHSD4 overexpression could promote the malignant phenotype and DTX resistance in PCa through the regulation of the miR-203/HMGA2 axis.

HMGA2 promotes cancer metastasis by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex physiological process that transforms polarized epithelial cells into moving mesenchymal cells. Dysfunction of EMT promotes the invasion and metastasis of cancer. The architectural transcription factor high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is highly overexpressed in various types of cancer (e.g., colorectal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, uterine leiomyomas) and significantly correlated with poor survival rates. Evidence indicated that HMGA2 overexpression markedly decreased the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin (CDH1) and increased that of vimentin (VIM), Snail, N-cadherin (CDH2), and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) by targeting the transforming growth factor beta/SMAD (TGFβ/SMAD), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and WNT/beta-catenin (WNT/β-catenin) signaling pathways. Furthermore, a new class of non-coding RNAs (miRNAs, circular RNAs, and long non-coding RNAs) plays an essential role in the process of HMGA2-induced metastasis and invasion of cancer by accelerating the EMT process. In this review, we discuss alterations in the expression of HMGA2 in various types of cancer. Furthermore, we highlight the role of HMGA2-induced EMT in promoting tumor growth, migration, and invasion. More importantly, we discuss extensively the mechanism through which HMGA2 regulates the EMT process and invasion in most cancers, including signaling pathways and the interacting RNA signaling axis. Thus, the elucidation of molecular mechanisms that underlie the effects of HMGA2 on cancer invasion and patient survival by mediating EMT may offer new therapeutic methods for preventing cancer progression.

HMGA2 promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression and is associated with tumor resistance and poor prognosis

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), as one of the most prevalent malignancies in the head and neck region, still lacks a complete understanding of its pathogenesis. Presently, radiotherapy, concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and targeted therapy stand as the primary modalities for treating NPC. With advancements in medicine, the cure rates for nasopharyngeal carcinoma have been steadily increasing. Nevertheless, recurrence and metastasis persist as the primary reasons for treatment failure. Consequently, a profound exploration of the molecular mechanisms underlying the occurrence and progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, along with the exploration of corresponding therapeutic approaches, becomes particularly imperative in the quest for comprehensive solutions to combat this disease. High mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is a pivotal protein capable of altering chromatin structure, regulating gene expression, and influencing transcriptional activity. In the realm of cancer research, HMGA2 exhibits widespread dysregulation, playing a crucial role in nearly all malignant tumors. It is implicated in various tumorigenic processes, including cell cycle regulation, cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, tumor invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. Additionally, HMGA2 serves as a molecular marker and an independent prognostic factor in certain malignancies. Recent studies have increasingly unveiled the critical role of HMGA2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), particularly in promoting malignant progression, correlating with tumor resistance, and serving as an independent adverse prognostic factor. This review focuses on elucidating the oncogenic role of HMGA2 in NPC, suggesting its potential association with chemotherapy resistance in NPC, and proposing its candidacy as an independent factor in nasopharyngeal carcinoma prognosis assessment.

From LncRNA to metastasis: The MALAT1-EMT axis in cancer progression

Cancer is a complex disease that causes abnormal genetic changes and unchecked cellular growth. It also causes a disruption in the normal regulatory processes that leads to the creation of malignant tissue. The complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and epigenetic variables influences its etiology. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) have emerged as pivotal contributors within the intricate landscape of cancer biology, orchestrating an array of multifaceted cellular processes that substantiate the processes of carcinogenesis and metastasis. Metastasis is a crucial driver of cancer mortality. Among these, MALAT1 (Metastasis-Associated Lung Adenocarcinoma Transcript 1) has drawn a lot of interest for its function in encouraging metastasis via controlling the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) procedure. MALAT1 exerts a pivotal influence on the process of EMT, thereby promoting metastasis to distant organs. The mechanistic underpinning of this phenomenon involves the orchestration of an intricate regulatory network encompassing transcription factors, signalling cascades, and genes intricately associated with the EMT process by MALAT1. Its crucial function in transforming tumor cells into an aggressive phenotype is highlighted by its capacity to influence the expression of essential EMT effectors such as N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and Snail. An understanding of the MALAT1-EMT axis provides potential therapeutic approaches for cancer intervention. Targeting MALAT1 or its downstream EMT effectors may reduce the spread of metastatic disease and improve the effectiveness of already available therapies. Understanding the MALAT1-EMT axis holds significant clinical implications. Therefore, directing attention towards MALAT1 or its downstream mediators could present innovative therapeutic strategies for mitigating metastasis and improving patient prognosis. This study highlights the importance of MALAT1 in cancer biology and its potential for cutting back on metastatic disease with novel treatment strategies.

Circular RNA in Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma: Identification of Targets and New Treatment Modalities

Despite availability of several treatment options for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy and immunotherapy, the survival rate of patients for five years is in the range of 22%. Therefore, identification of new targets and treatment modalities for this disease is an important issue. In this context, we screened the PubMed database for up-regulated circular RNAs (circRNAs) which promote growth of NSCLC in preclinical models in vitro as well as in vivo xenograft models in immuno-compromised mice. This approach led to potential targets for further validation and inhibition with small molecules or antibody-derived entities. In case of preclinical validation, the corresponding circRNAs can be inhibited with small interfering RNAs (siRNA) or short hairpin RNAs (shRNA). The identified circRNAs act by sponging microRNAs (miRs) preventing cleavage of the mRNA of the corresponding targets. We identified nine circRNAs up-regulating transmembrane receptors, five circRNAs increasing expression of secreted proteins, nine circRNAs promoting expression of components of signaling pathways, six circRNAs involved in regulation of splicing and RNA processing, six circRNAs up-regulating actin-related and RNA processing components, seven circRNAs increasing the steady-state levels of transcription factors, two circRNAs increasing high-mobility group proteins, four circRNAs increasing components of the epigenetic modification system and three circRNAs up-regulating protein components of additional systems.

Circular RNA circ_KIAA1429 accelerates hepatocellular carcinoma progression via the miR-133a-3p/high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) axis in an m6A-dependent manner

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer worldwide with high mortality rate, and the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) epigenetic modifications have been reported to be closely associated with the pathogenesis of HCC, but the detailed molecular mechanisms by which m6A regulates HCC progression have not been fully delineated. In this study, we evidenced that the m6A methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3)-mediated m6A modification contributed to HCC aggressiveness through modulating a novel circ_KIAA1429/miR-133a-3p/HMGA2 axis. Specifically, circ_KIAA1429 was aberrantly overexpressed in HCC tissues and cells, and the expression levels of circ_KIAA1429 was positively regulated by METTL3 in HCC cells in a m6A-dependent manner. Then, functional experiments confirmed that deletion of both circ_KIAA1429 and METTL3 suppressed HCC cell proliferation, migration and cell mitosis in vitro and in vivo, and conversely, circ_KIAA1429 overexpression had opposite effects to accelerate HCC development. Furthermore, the downstream mechanisms by which circ_KIAA1429 regulated HCC progression were uncovered, and we validated that silencing of circ_KIAA1429 restrained the malignant phenotypes in HCC cells through modulating the miR-133a-3p/high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) axis. To summarize, our study firstly investigated the involvement of a novel METTL3/m6A/circ_KIAA1429/miR-133a-3p/HMGA2 axis in regulating HCC development, which provided novel indicators for HCC diagnosis, therapy and prognosis.

Non-coding RNAs and exosomal non-coding RNAs in pituitary adenoma

Pituitary adenoma (PA) is the third most common primary intracranial tumor in terms of overall disease incidence. Although they are benign tumors, they can have a variety of clinical symptoms, but are mostly asymptomatic, which often leads to diagnosis at an advanced stage when surgical intervention is ineffective. Earlier identification of PA could reduce morbidity and allow better clinical management of the affected patients. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) do not generally code for proteins, but can modulate biological processes at the post-transcriptional level through a variety of molecular mechanisms. An increased number of ncRNA expression profiles have been found in PAs. Therefore, understanding the expression patterns of different ncRNAs could be a promising method for developing non-invasive biomarkers. This review summarizes the expression patterns of dysregulated ncRNAs (microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs) involved in PA, which could one day serve as innovative biomarkers or therapeutic targets for the treatment of this neoplasia. We also discuss the potential molecular pathways by which the dysregulated ncRNAs could cause PA and affect its progression.

Integrated Multi-omics Analysis of Early Lung Adenocarcinoma Links Tumor Biological Features with Predicted Indolence or Aggressiveness

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a heterogeneous group of tumors associated with different survival rates, even when detected at an early stage. Here, we aim to investigate the biological determinants of early LUAD indolence or aggressiveness using radiomics as a surrogate of behavior. We present a set of 92 patients with LUAD with data collected across different methodologies. Patients were risk-stratified using the CT-based Score Indicative of Lung cancer Aggression (SILA) tool (0 = least aggressive, 1 = most aggressive). We grouped the patients as indolent (x ≤ 0.4, n = 14), intermediate (0.4 > x ≤ 0.6, n = 27), and aggressive (0.6 > x ≤ 1, n = 52). Using Cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF), we identified subpopulations with high HLA-DR expression that were associated with indolent behavior. In the RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) dataset, pathways related to immune response were associated with indolent behavior, while pathways associated with cell cycle and proliferation were associated with aggressive behavior. We extracted quantitative radiomics features from the CT scans of the patients. Integrating these datasets, we identified four feature signatures and four patient clusters that were associated with survival. Using single-cell RNA-seq, we found that indolent tumors had significantly more T cells and less B cells than aggressive tumors, and that the latter had a higher abundance of regulatory T cells and Th cells. In conclusion, we were able to uncover a correspondence between radiomics and tumor biology, which could improve the discrimination between indolent and aggressive LUAD tumors, enhance our knowledge in the biology of these tumors, and offer novel and personalized avenues for intervention.

Significance

This study provides a comprehensive profiling of LUAD indolence and aggressiveness at the biological bulk and single-cell levels, as well as at the clinical and radiomics levels. This hypothesis generating study uncovers several potential future research avenues. It also highlights the importance and power of data integration to improve our systemic understanding of LUAD and to help reduce the gap between basic science research and clinical practice.

Establishment, characterization, and drug screening of low-passage patient individual non-small cell lung cancer in vitro models including the rare pleomorphic subentity

INTRODUCTION

For pre-clinical drug development and precision oncology research, robust cancer cell models are essential. Patient-derived models in low passages retain more genetic and phenotypic characteristics of their original tumors than conventional cancer cell lines. Subentity, individual genetics, and heterogeneity greatly influence drug sensitivity and clinical outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Here, we report on the establishment and characterization of three patient-derived cell lines (PDCs) of different subentities of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): adeno-, squamous cell, and pleomorphic carcinoma. The in-depth characterization of our PDCs included phenotype, proliferation, surface protein expression, invasion, and migration behavior as well as whole-exome and RNA sequencing. Additionally, in vitro drug sensitivity towards standard-of-care chemotherapeutic regimens was evaluated.

RESULTS

The pathological and molecular properties of the patients' tumors were preserved in the PDC models HROLu22, HROLu55, and HROBML01. All cell lines expressed HLA I, while none were positive for HLA II. The epithelial cell marker CD326 and the lung tumor markers CCDC59, LYPD3, and DSG3 were also detected. The most frequently mutated genes included TP53, MXRA5, MUC16, and MUC19. Among the most overexpressed genes in tumor cells compared to normal tissue were the transcription factors HOXB9, SIM2, ZIC5, SP8, TFAP2A, FOXE1, HOXB13, and SALL4; the cancer testis antigen CT83; and the cytokine IL23A. The most downregulated genes on the RNA level encode the long non-coding RNA LANCL1-AS1, LINC00670, BANCR, and LOC100652999; the regulator of angiogenesis ANGPT4; the signaling molecules PLA2G1B and RS1; and the immune modulator SFTPD. Furthermore, neither pre-existing therapy resistances nor drug antagonistic effects could be observed.

CONCLUSION

In summary, we successfully established three novel NSCLC PDC models from an adeno-, a squamous cell, and a pleomorphic carcinoma. Of note, NSCLC cell models of the pleomorphic subentity are very rare. The detailed characterization including molecular, morphological, and drug-sensitivity profiling makes these models valuable pre-clinical tools for drug development applications and research on precision cancer therapy. The pleomorphic model additionally enables research on a functional and cell-based level of this rare NCSLC subentity.

Circular RNAs as the pivotal regulators of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gastrointestinal tumor cells

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, as the most common human malignancies are always considered one of the most important health challenges in the world. Late diagnosis in advanced tumor stages is one of the main reasons for the high mortality rate and treatment failure in these patients. Therefore, investigating the molecular pathways involved in GI tumor progression is required to introduce the efficient markers for the early tumor diagnosis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the main cellular mechanisms involved in the GI tumor metastasis. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are one of the main regulatory factors in EMT process. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a group of covalently closed loop ncRNAs that have higher stability in body fluids compared with other ncRNAs. Considering the importance of circRNAs in regulation of EMT process, in the present review we discussed the role of circRNAs in EMT process during GI tumor invasion. It has been reported that circRNAs mainly affect the EMT process through the regulation of EMT-specific transcription factors and signaling pathways such as WNT, PI3K/AKT, TGF-β, and MAPK. This review can be an effective step in introducing a circRNA/EMT based diagnostic panel marker for the early tumor detection among GI cancer patients.

HMGA2 regulation by miRNAs in cancer: affecting cancer hallmarks and therapy response

High mobility group A 2 (HMGA2) is a protein that modulates the structure of chromatin in the nucleus. Importantly, aberrant expression of HMGA2 occurs during carcinogenesis, and this protein is an upstream mediator of cancer hallmarks including evasion of apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance. HMGA2 targets critical signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin and mTOR in cancer cells. Therefore, suppression of HMGA2 function notably decreases cancer progression and improves outcome in patients. As HMGA2 is mainly oncogenic, targeting expression by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is crucial to take into consideration since it affects HMGA2 function. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to ncRNAs and are master regulators of vital cell processes, which affect all aspects of cancer hallmarks. Long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), other members of ncRNAs, are upstream mediators of miRNAs. The current review intends to discuss the importance of the miRNA/HMGA2 axis in modulation of various types of cancer, and mentions lncRNAs and circRNAs, which regulate this axis as upstream mediators. Finally, we discuss the effect of miRNAs and HMGA2 interactions on the response of cancer cells to therapy. Regarding the critical role of HMGA2 in regulation of critical signaling pathways in cancer cells, and considering the confirmed interaction between HMGA2 and one of the master regulators of cancer, miRNAs, targeting miRNA/HMGA2 axis in cancer therapy is promising and this could be the subject of future clinical trial experiments.

Has_circ_0048764 promotes breast cancer progression by sponging miR-578 and regulating HMGA2 expression

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) function as important regulators in the progression of cancers. The role of circRNA_0048764 (circ_0048764) in the development of breast cancer (BC) remains inconclusive. This work investigates the biological function and molecular mechanism of circ_0048764 in BC.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was conducted to measure the expression levels of circ_0048764, microRNA-578 (miR-578) and high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) mRNA. The viability of BC cells was examined by cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay. Besides, cyclin D1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and HMGA2 expression levels were detected by western blot. The migrative and invasive capability of BC cells were probed by transwell assay. The relationships between miR-578 and circ_0048764 or HMGA2 3'-UTR were validated by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.

RESULTS

Circ_0048764 was highly expressed in BC tissues and cells, which was significantly associated with tumor size (≥2 cm), lymph node status (positive), and higher TNM stage of BC patients. Circ_0048764 depletion suppressed the proliferative, migrative, and invasive abilities of BC cells, which was rescued by transfection of miR-578 inhibitors. The binding sites were verified between circ_0048764 and miR-578. HMGA2 was identified to be a target of miR-578 in BC cells, and circ_0048764 positively regulated HMGA2 expression in BC cells via repressing miR-578.

CONCLUSION

Circ_0048764 promotes BC cell growth, migration and invasion via absorbing miR-578 and up-regulating HMGA2.

A novel zinc metabolism-related gene signature to predict prognosis and immunotherapy response in lung adenocarcinoma

Background

Zinc is a key mineral element in regulating cell growth, development, and immune system. We constructed the zinc metabolism-related gene signature to predict prognosis and immunotherapy response for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods

Zinc metabolism-associated gene sets were obtained from Molecular Signature Database. Then, the zinc metabolism-related gene signature (ZMRGS) was constructed and validated. After combining with clinical characteristics, the nomogram for practical application was constructed. The differences in biological pathways, immune molecules, and tumor microenvironment (TME) between the different groups were analyzed. Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion algorithm (TIDE) and two immunotherapy datasets were used to evaluate the immunotherapy response.

Results

The signature was constructed according to six key zinc metabolism-related genes, which can well predict the prognosis of LUAD patients. The nomogram also showed excellent prediction performance. Functional analysis showed that the low-risk group was in the status of immune activation. More importantly, the lower risk score of LUAD patients showed a higher response rate to immunotherapy.

Conclusion

The state of zinc metabolism is closely connected to prognosis, tumor microenvironment, and response to immunotherapy. The zinc metabolism-related signature can well evaluate the prognosis and immunotherapy response for LUAD patients.

Knockdown circTRIM28 enhances tamoxifen sensitivity via the miR-409-3p/HMGA2 axis in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Tamoxifen (TAM) is a frequently-used treatment for breast cancer (BC). But the TAM resistance seriously affects the patient therapeutic effect. Previous research indicated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) might participate in the regulatory processes of BC. Here, we discovered the parts of circular RNA tripartite motif-containing 28 (circTRIM28) in BC.

METHODS

CircTRIM28, microRNA-409-3p (miR-409-3p), and high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) levels were perceived by qRT-PCR and western blot. Moreover, the biological functions of the cells were examined. Furthermore, dual-luciferase report was employed to reconnoiter the targeted relationship between miR-409-3p and circTRIM28 or HMGA2.

RESULTS

CircTRIM28 and HMGA2 were augmented, and the miR-409-3p was repressed in BC. Silencing circTRIM28 enhanced tamoxifen sensitivity and cell apoptosis, whereas hampered cell development in BC cells. In mechanism, circTRIM28 could sponge miR-409-3p to increase HMGA2. In addition, silencing circTRIM28 impeded tumor growth.

CONCLUSION

CircTRIM28 facilitated the BC via miR-409-3p/HMGA2.

HMGA2 expression defines a subset of human AML with immature transcriptional signature and vulnerability to G2/M inhibition

High-mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is a nonhistone chromatin-binding protein that is normally expressed in stem cells of various tissues and aberrantly detected in several tumor types. We recently observed that one-fourth of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) specimens express HMGA2, which associates with a very poor prognosis. We present results indicating that HMGA2+ AMLs share a distinct transcriptional signature representing an immature phenotype. Using single-cell analyses, we showed that HMGA2 is expressed in CD34+ subsets of stem cells and early progenitors, whether normal or derived from AML specimens. Of interest, we found that one of the strongest gene expression signatures associated with HMGA2 in AML is the upregulation of G2/M checkpoint genes. Whole-genome CRISPR/Cas9 screening in HMGA2 overexpressing cells further revealed a synthetic lethal interaction with several G2/M checkpoint genes. Accordingly, small molecules that target G2/M proteins were preferentially active in vitro and in vivo on HMGA2+ AML specimens. Together, our findings suggest that HMGA2 is a key functional determinant in AML and is associated with stem cell features, G2/M status, and related drug sensitivity.

Nitrogen Metabolism Disorder Accelerates Occurrence and Development of Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Bioinformatic Analysis and In Vitro Experiments

Background

Nitrogen metabolism (NM) plays a pivotal role in immune regulation and the occurrence and development of cancers. The aim of this study was to construct a prognostic model and nomogram using NM-related genes for the evaluation of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods

The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to NM were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Consistent clustering analysis was used to divide them into different modules, and differentially expressed genes and survival analysis were performed. The survival information of patients was combined with the expressing levels of NM-related genes that extracted from TCGA and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Subsequently, univariate Cox analysis and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression were used to build a prognostic model. GO and KEGG analysis were elaborated in relation with the mechanisms of NM disorder (NMD). Meanwhile, immune cells and immune functions related to NMD were discussed. A nomogram was built according to the univariate and multivariate Cox analysis to identify independent risk factors. Finally, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) and Western bolt (WB) were used to verify the expression level of hub genes.

Results

There were 138 differential NM-related genes that were divided into two gene modules. Sixteen NM-related genes were used to build a prognostic model and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) showed that the efficiency was reliable. GO and KEGG analysis suggested that NMD accelerated development of LUAD through the Wnt signaling pathway. The level of activated dendritic cells (aDCs) and type II interferon response in the low-risk group was higher than that of the high-risk group. A nomogram was constructed based on ABCC2, HMGA2, and TN stages, which was identified as four independent risk factors. Finally, RT-PCR and WB showed that CDH17, IGF2BP1, IGFBP1, ABCC2, and HMGA2 were differently expressed between human lung fibroblast (HLF) cells and cancer cells.

Conclusions

High NM levels were revealed as a poor prognosis of LUAD. NMD regulates immune system through affecting aDCs and type II interferon response. The prognostic model with NM-related genes could be used to effectively evaluate the outcomes of patients.

Bimodal gene expression in cancer patients provides interpretable biomarkers for drug sensitivity

Identifying biomarkers predictive of cancer cell response to drug treatment constitutes one of the main challenges in precision oncology. Recent large-scale cancer pharmacogenomic studies have opened new avenues of research to develop predictive biomarkers by profiling thousands of human cancer cell lines at the molecular level and screening them with hundreds of approved drugs and experimental chemical compounds. Many studies have leveraged these data to build predictive models of response using various statistical and machine learning methods. However, a common pitfall to these methods is the lack of interpretability as to how they make predictions, hindering the clinical translation of these models. To alleviate this issue, we used the recent logic modeling approach to develop a new machine learning pipeline that explores the space of bimodally expressed genes in multiple large in vitro pharmacogenomic studies and builds multivariate, nonlinear, yet interpretable logic-based models predictive of drug response. The performance of this approach was showcased in a compendium of the three largest in vitro pharmacogenomic data sets to build robust and interpretable models for 101 drugs that span 17 drug classes with high validation rates in independent datasets. These results along with in vivo and clinical validation, support a better translation of gene expression biomarkers between model systems using bimodal gene expression.

Circular RNA CircSHKBP1 accelerates the proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and stem cell-like properties via modulation of microR-766-5p/high mobility group AT-hook 2 axis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common malignancy in head and neck. Circular SHKBP1 (circSHKBP) exerts momentous functions in the occurrence of many cancers including LSCC. Thus, we investigated the oncogenic capacities of circSHKBP1 in LSCC, and revealed the underlying mechanism as a competing endogenous RNA. The expression levels of circSHKBP1, miR-766-5p, and high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) were examined by quantitative real-time PCR and their influences on the overall survival were measured by Kaplan–Meier method. The correlations between circSHKBP1 and miR-766-5p or HMGA2 were detected by Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. In vitro, the influences of circSHKBP1/miR-766-5p/HMGA2 axis on the tumorigenesis of LSCC were examined by CCK-8, transwell, sphere formation, and angiogenesis assays, respectively. circSHKBP1 expression was up-regulated in the LSCC specimens and cell lines. And elevated circSHKBP1 expression was closely linked to poor prognosis. Silencing circSHKBP1 expression restrained cell proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, stem cell-like properties and tumor growth. We observed that miR-766-5p was down-regulated and negatively correlated to circSHKBP1 in LSCC samples. However, HMGA2 was highly expressed and positively associated with circSHKBP1 in these specimens. Importantly, the levels of circSHKBP1, miR-766-5p, and HMGA2 were closely associated with patients’ clinical parameters including lymph nodes metastasis and TNM stages. Mechanistic analysis clarified that circSHKBP1 sponged miR-766-5p to regulate HMGA2, the target of miR-766-5p. Moreover, miR-766-5p inhibition and overexpression of HMGA2 rescued the tumor-suppressing roles of circSHKBP1 downregulation in LSCC. In conclusion, circSHKBP1 accelerated the tumorigenesis of LSCC via modulating HMGA2 by targeting miR-766-5p.

Expression and Clinical Significance of High-Mobility Group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) in Osteosarcoma

Objective

Although high‐mobility group AT‐hook 2 (HMGA2) has been shown to have crucial roles in the pathogenesis and metastasis of various malignancies, its expression and significance in osteosarcoma remain unknown. Here we evaluate the expression, clinical prognostic value, and overall function of HMGA2 in osteosarcoma.

Methods

Sixty‐nine osteosarcoma patient specimens within a tissue microarray (TMA) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for HMGA2 expression. Demographics and clinicopathological information including age, gender, tumor location, metastasis, recurrence, chemotherapy response, follow‐up time, and disease status were also collected. After validation of expression, we determined whether there was a correlation between HMGA2 expression and patient clinicopathology. HMGA2 expression was also evaluated in osteosarcoma cell lines and patient tissues by Western blot, we analyzed the expression of HMGA2 in the human osteosarcoma cell lines MG63, 143B, U2OS, Saos‐2, MNNG/HOS, and KHOS. HMGA2‐specific siRNA and clonogenic assays were then used to determine the effect of HMGA2 inhibition on osteosarcoma cell proliferation, growth, and chemosensitivity.

Results

HMGA2 expression was elevated in the osteosarcoma patient specimens and human osteosarcoma cell lines. HMGA2 was differentially expressed in human osteosarcoma cell lines. Specifically, a relatively high expression of HMGA2 was present in KHOS, MNNG/HOS, 143B and a relatively low expression was in MG63, U2OS as well as Saos‐2. HMGA2 expression is correlated with metastasis and shorter overall survival. High HMGA2 expression is an independent predictor of poor osteosarcoma prognosis. There was no significant correlation between HMGA2 expression and the age, gender, or tumor site of the patient. HMGA2 expression is predominantly within the nucleus. The expression of HMGA2 also directly correlated to neoadjuvant chemoresistance. There was a significant reduction of HMGA2 expression in the siRNA transfection group. After the use of siRNA, the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells is decreased and the chemosensitivity of osteosarcoma cells is significantly increased.

Conclusion

Our study supports HMGA2 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in osteosarcoma.

Analysis of lung cancer-related genetic changes in long-term and low-dose polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-p) treated human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells

BACKGROUND

Lung injury elicited by respiratory exposure to humidifier disinfectants (HDs) is known as HD-associated lung injury (HDLI). Current elucidation of the molecular mechanisms related to HDLI is mostly restricted to fibrotic and inflammatory lung diseases. In our previous report, we found that lung tumors were caused by intratracheal instillation of polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-p) in a rat model. However, the lung cancer-related genetic changes concomitant with the development of these lung tumors have not yet been fully defined. We aimed to discover the effect of long-term exposure of PHMG-p on normal human lung alveolar cells.

METHODS

We investigated whether PHMG-p could increase distorted homeostasis of oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes, with long-term and low-dose treatment, in human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (HPAEpiCs). Total RNA sequencing was performed with cells continuously treated with PHMG-p and harvested after 35 days.

RESULTS

After PHMG-p treatment, genes with transcriptional expression changes of more than 2.0-fold or less than 0.5-fold were identified. Within 10 days of exposure, 2 protein-coding and 5 non-coding genes were selected, whereas in the group treated for 27-35 days, 24 protein-coding and 5 non-coding genes were identified. Furthermore, in the long-term treatment group, 11 of the 15 upregulated genes and 9 of the 14 downregulated genes were reported as oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in lung cancer, respectively. We also found that 10 genes of the selected 24 protein-coding genes were clinically significant in lung adenocarcinoma patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that long-term exposure of human pulmonary normal alveolar cells to low-dose PHMG-p caused genetic changes, mainly in lung cancer-associated genes, in a time-dependent manner.

Screening key prognostic factors and constructing survival prognostic risk prediction model based on ceRNA network in early lung adenocarcinoma

Background

We aim to discover some prognostic factors, provide a basis for discovering molecular markers, and provide a basis for molecular features of early lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) to predict patient prognosis.

Methods

Sequence data of LUAD were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to screen out differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs (DERs). DERs were identified using R software’s limma package. The competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed based on these RNAs. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis on the RNAs in the ceRNA screened out independent prognostic-related RNAs to construct a prognostic risk score (PS) model. Combined with clinical data, we can calculate the survival rate of patients with early LUAD.

Results

There were 2,701 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs), 47 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs), and 161 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) identified in early LUAD. Based on these RNAs, 32 lncRNAs, 87 miRNAs, and 174 mRNAs participated in the ceRNA network. Twelve independently prognostic-related RNAs form an optimized combination. We developed a PS model based on these RNAs. Age, tumor recurrence and PS model status were independent survival prognostic clinical factors. Nomogram was established to predict the 3-year and 5-year survival rates.

Conclusions

We successfully constructed a ceRNA regulatory network based on the DERs in early LUAD. It can help us clarify the molecular mechanism of early LUAD. Simultaneously, the prognostic-related RNAs in early LUAD were also screened out. This network could provide new bases for diagnoses and prognoses of patients with LUAD.

Down-Regulating HAUS6 Suppresses Cell Proliferation by Activating the p53/p21 Pathway in Colorectal Cancer

Background: HAUS6 participates in microtubule-dependent microtubule amplification, but its role in malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been explored. We therefore assessed the potential oncogenic activities of HAUS6 in CRC. Results: HAUS6 mRNA and protein expression is higher in CRC tissues, and high HAUS6 expression is correlated with shorter overall survival in CRC patients. HAUS6 knockdown in CRC cell lines suppressed cell growth in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting cell viability, survival and arresting cell cycle progression at G0/G1, while HAUS6 over-expression increased cell viability. We showed that these effects are dependent on activation of the p53/p21 signalling pathway by reducing p53 and p21 degradation. Moreover, combination of HAUS6 knockdown and 5-FU treatment further enhanced the suppression of cell proliferation of CRC cells by increasing activation of the p53/p21 pathway. Conclusion: Our study highlights a potential oncogenic role for HAUS6 in CRC. Targeting HAUS6 may be a promising novel prognostic marker and chemotherapeutic target for treating CRC patients.

Perinatal Exposure to Nicotine Alters Sperm RNA Profiles in Rats

Perinatal exposure to smoking has been associated with childhood asthma, one of the most common pediatric conditions affecting millions of children globally. Of great interest, this disease phenotype appears heritable as it can persist across multiple generations even in the absence of persistent exposure to smoking in subsequent generations. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying childhood asthma induced by perinatal exposure to smoking or nicotine remain elusive, an epigenetic mechanism has been proposed, which is supported by the data from our earlier analyses on germline DNA methylation (5mC) and histone marks (H3 and H4 acetylation). To further investigate the potential epigenetic inheritance of childhood asthma induced by perinatal nicotine exposure, we profiled both large and small RNAs in the sperm of F1 male rats. Our data revealed that perinatal exposure to nicotine leads to alterations in the profiles of sperm-borne RNAs, including mRNAs and small RNAs, and that rosiglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, can attenuate the effect of nicotine and reverse the sperm-borne RNA profiles of F1 male rats to close to placebo control levels.

HMGA2 promotes the migration and invasion of gallbladder cancer cells and HMGA2 knockdown inhibits angiogenesis via targeting VEGFA

The high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) protein has been found to be upregulated in the majority of tumor types and is associated with a poor prognosis. Previous studies have suggested the oncogenic role of HMGA2 in gallbladder cancer (GBC). The present study aimed to investigate the effects of HMGA2 on the invasion, migration and angiogenesis of GBC cells. To achieve this aim, HMGA2 was overexpressed or silenced in the GBC cell line, EH-GB1, and then the proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) abilities of EH-GB1 cells were investigated using Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing, Transwell and western blotting assays. In addition, the expression levels of VEGFA were determined in EH-GB1 cells using western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR following HMGA2 overexpression or silencing. Furthermore, HMGA2-silenced EH-GB1 cells were transfected with VEGFA overexpression plasmids to evaluate the tube formation ability of HUVECs using tube formation assay. The results demonstrated that HMGA2 silencing inhibited GBC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT, as evidenced by the downregulated expression of Ki67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, MMP2, MMP9, N-cadherin, snail family transcriptional repressor 2 and zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1, and attenuated cell migration and invasion. However, the opposite results were obtained following HMGA2 overexpression. Moreover, HMGA2 knockdown and overexpression downregulated and upregulated VEGFA expression, respectively. In addition, the tube formation ability of HUVECs and the expression levels of CD31, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 were downregulated following HMGA2 silencing. However, these effects were partially rescued by simultaneous VEGFA overexpression. In conclusion, the findings of the present study revealed that HMGA2 may promote GBC cell migration, invasion, EMT and angiogenesis. Therefore, inhibiting HMGA2 expression could be considered as a possible therapeutic approach for GBC.

Clock Gene Nr1d1 Alleviates Retinal Inflammation Through Repression of Hmga2 in Microglia

Purpose

Retinal inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of several retinal diseases. As one of the core clock genes, Nr1d1 has been reported to suppress inflammation in many diseases. We investigated whether pharmacological activation of Nr1d1 can inhibit retinal inflammation and delineated the mechanisms of Nr1d1 in alleviating microglia activation.

Methods

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced mice models were used to examine the effects of SR9009 (agonist of NR1D1) treatment on inflammatory phenotypes in vivo. Anti-inflammatory effects of Nr1d1 and associated mechanisms were investigated in the BV2 microglia cell line, and in primary retinal microglia in vitro.

Results

SR9009 treatment alleviated LPS-induced inflammatory cell infiltration, elevated cytokine levels and morphological changes of the microglia in mice models. In LPS-stimulated BV2 cells and primary retinal microglia, SR9009 suppressed cytokine expressions by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. Moreover, SR9009 treatment increased the levels of the M2 phenotype marker (CD206) and the proportions of ramified microglia. Suppression of Nr1d1 with siRNA reversed the inhibitory effects of SR9009 on cytokine production in BV2 cells. RNA-seq analysis showed that genes that were upregulated following Nr1d1 knockdown were enriched in inflammatory-associated biological processes. Subsequently, ChIP-seq of NR1D1 in BV2 was performed, and the results were integrated with RNA-seq results using the Binding and Expression Target Analysis (BETA) tool. Luciferase assays, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), qPCR and Western blotting assays revealed that NR1D1 binds the promoter of Hmga2 to suppress its transcription. Notably, overexpressed Hmga2 in activated microglia could partly abolish the anti-inflammatory effects of Nr1d1.

Conclusion

The clock gene Nr1d1 protects against retinal inflammation and microglia activation in part by suppressing Hmga2 transcription.

Regulatory effect between HMGA2 and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the carcinogenesis of sporadic colorectal tubular adenoma

Due to the high incidence of colorectal cancer worldwide, the underlying molecular mechanisms have been extensively investigated. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a key role in the carcinogenesis of colorectal adenoma. In addition, the high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) protein, which is involved in several biological processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, transformation and metastasis, is expressed at significantly high levels in colorectal cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. Currently, the role of HMGA2 in the carcinogenesis of sporadic colorectal tubular adenoma remains unclear. The downstream Wnt/β-catenin signaling molecule, T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancing factor (TCF/LEF), shares a similar domain with HMGA2, which enhances β-catenin transcriptional activity and TCF/LEF binding. Thus, the present study investigated the association between HMGA2 and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and their role in the carcinogenesis of sporadic colorectal tubular adenoma via immunohistochemistry, siRNA, quantitative PCR and western blot analyses. The results demonstrated that the positive rate of HMGA2 expression gradually increased during tumor progression. Furthermore, HMGA2 expression was positively correlated with Wnt/β-catenin signaling protein expression [Wnt, β-catenin, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and cyclin D1], suggesting its involvement in the carcinogenesis of sporadic colorectal tubular adenoma and its potential to synergistically interact with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. HMGA2 knockdown in the human colorectal cancer cell line, HCT 116 decreased β-catenin expression and its downstream targets, CDK4 and cyclin D1. Furthermore, silencing of Wnt or β-catenin decreased HMGA2 expression. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest the coordinated regulation of HMGA2 and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the carcinogenesis of sporadic colorectal tubular adenoma.

Long noncoding RNA LINC01410 promotes tumorigenesis of osteosarcoma cells via miR-497-5p/HMGA2 axis

LINC01410 is a tumor promoter that is upregulated in some cancer types, such as osteosarcoma (OS). Nonetheless, its role in OS and the underlying molecular mechanism have not been fully understood. Hence, we sought to elucidate it. We performed reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction for examining LINC01410, miR-497-5p and HMGA2 levels. Additionally, we carried out the cell counting kit-8 and Transwell assays for detecting cell proliferation and invasion/migration. Bioinformatics predicted that there was a miR-497-5p binding site in LINC01410 or HMGA2; meanwhile, miR-497-5p was found to interact with HMGA2 and LINC01410 through dual-luciferase reporter assay. LINC01410 and HMGA2 were high, and miR-497-5p showed low expression in OS tissues and cells. Cell function assay demonstrated that LINC01410 or HMGA2 knockdown or miR-497-5p overexpression obviously restrained OS proliferation, invasion, and migration. Oppositely, inhibiting miR-497-5p had the opposite effects. Functionally, miR-497-5p bound with LINC01410 3'-untranslated region and HMGA2 was found to be the miR-497-5p target gene. Lastly, LINC01410 enhanced OS cell growth, invasion, and migration via decreasing miR-497-5p expression, whereas increasing that of HMGA2. We have demonstrated that LINC01410 promoted OS development partly by miR-497-5p/HMGA2 signal transduction pathway and this provides a reference for studying the mechanism of LINC01410 in OS.

Upregulation of 15 Antisense Long Non-Coding RNAs in Osteosarcoma

The human genome encodes thousands of natural antisense long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs); they play the essential role in regulation of gene expression at multiple levels, including replication, transcription and translation. Dysregulation of antisense lncRNAs plays indispensable roles in numerous biological progress, such as tumour progression, metastasis and resistance to therapeutic agents. To date, there have been several studies analysing antisense lncRNAs expression profiles in cancer, but not enough to highlight the complexity of the disease. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns of antisense lncRNAs from osteosarcoma and healthy bone samples (24 tumour-16 bone samples) using RNA sequencing. We identified 15 antisense lncRNAs (RUSC1-AS1, TBX2-AS1, PTOV1-AS1, UBE2D3-AS1, ERCC8-AS1, ZMIZ1-AS1, RNF144A-AS1, RDH10-AS1, TRG-AS1, GSN-AS1, HMGA2-AS1, ZNF528-AS1, OTUD6B-AS1, COX10-AS1 and SLC16A1-AS1) that were upregulated in tumour samples compared to bone sample controls. Further, we performed real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to validate the expressions of the antisense lncRNAs in 8 different osteosarcoma cell lines (SaOS-2, G-292, HOS, U2-OS, 143B, SJSA-1, MG-63, and MNNG/HOS) compared to hFOB (human osteoblast cell line). These differentially expressed IncRNAs can be considered biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for osteosarcoma.

ER-α36 Promotes the Malignant Progression of Cervical Cancer Mediated by Estrogen via HMGA2

Objectives

Estrogen is proven to promote the malignant behaviors of many cancers via its receptors. Estrogen receptor alfa 36 (ER-α36) is a newly identified isoform of estrogen receptor alfa (ER-α), the role of ER-α36 in regulating the effects of estrogen and its potential impact on human cervical cancer is poorly understood.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry staining was used to evaluate the expression of ER-α36, estrogen receptor alfa 66 (ER-α66) and their prognostic values in cervical cancer. The effects of ER-α36 and ER-α66 on the proliferation and metastasis of cervical cancer were measured in vitro. A xenograft tumor assay was used to study the tumorigenesis role of ER-α36 in vivo. Furthermore, the functional gene at the downstream of ER-α36 was obtained via next-generation sequencing, and the biological functions of high mobility group A2 (HMGA2) in cervical cancer cells were investigated in vitro.

Results

ER-α36 was over-expressed in cervical cancer tissues and elevated ER-α36 expression was associated with poor prognosis in cervical cancer patients. High expression of ER-α36 promoted the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of cervical cancer cells mediated by estrogen, while silencing ER-α36 had the opposite effects. Further research showed that HMGA2 was a downstream target of ER-α36 in cervical cancer cells. The oncogenic effect of ER-α36 was attenuated after HMGA2 knockdown.

Conclusions

High expression of ER-α36 was correlated with a poor prognosis in cervical cancer by regulating HMGA2. ER-α36 could be a prognostic biomarker and a target for cervical cancer treatment.

hsa_circ_0062019 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of prostate cancer cells via the miR-195-5p/HMGA2 axis

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a new class of non-coding RNA. It was reported that circRNA involves in the metastasis of cancer. The aim of this study is to explore the role and mechanism of circRNA hsa_circ_0062019 in the development of prostate cancer (PCa). Our results showed that hsa_circ_0062019 was highly expressed in PCa cell lines. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay revealed that upregulation of hsa_circ_0062019 boosted PCa cell proliferation, and silencing of hsa_circ_0062019 inhibited cell proliferation. Meanwhile, transwell assay proved that upregulation of hsa_circ_0062019 facilitated PCa cell invasion and migration, while downregulation of hsa_circ_0062019 inhibited these malignant phenotypes. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assay proved the binding of hsa_circ_0062019 with miR-195-5p and the binding between miR-195-5p and high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2), suggesting that hsa_circ_0062019 promoted the expression of HMGA2 by sponging miR-195-5p. In addition, our results revealed that the hsa_circ_0062019-induced PCa cell malignant phenotypes were notably reversed by the downregulation of HMGA2. Overall, our study demonstrated that hsa_circ_0062019 promoted PCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via upregulation of HMGA2 expression by sponging miR-195-5p. Our study proved a novel molecular mechanism of PCa development and provided a potential target for the treatment of PCa.

Long-Term Exposure to Nanosized TiO2 Triggers Stress Responses and Cell Death Pathways in Pulmonary Epithelial Cells

There is little in vitro data available on long-term effects of TiO₂ exposure. Such data are important for improving the understanding of underlying mechanisms of adverse health effects of TiO₂. Here, we exposed pulmonary epithelial cells to two doses (0.96 and 1.92 µg/cm²) of TiO₂ for 13 weeks and effects on cell cycle and cell death mechanisms, i.e., apoptosis and autophagy were determined after 4, 8 and 13 weeks of exposure. Changes in telomere length, cellular protein levels and lipid classes were also analyzed at 13 weeks of exposure. We observed that the TiO₂ exposure increased the fraction of cells in G1-phase and reduced the fraction of cells in G2-phase, which was accompanied by an increase in the fraction of late apoptotic/necrotic cells. This corresponded with an induced expression of key apoptotic proteins i.e., BAD and BAX, and an accumulation of several lipid classes involved in cellular stress and apoptosis. These findings were further supported by quantitative proteome profiling data showing an increase in proteins involved in cell stress and genomic maintenance pathways following TiO₂ exposure. Altogether, we suggest that cell stress response and cell death pathways may be important molecular events in long-term health effects of TiO₂.

miRNAs Involved in Esophageal Carcinogenesis and miRNA-Related Therapeutic Perspectives in Esophageal Carcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play a pivotal role in many aspects of cell biology, including cancer development. Within esophageal cancer, miRNAs have been proved to be involved in all phases of carcinogenesis, from initiation to metastatic spread. Several miRNAs have been found to be dysregulated in esophageal premalignant lesions, namely Barrett's esophagus, Barrett's dysplasia, and squamous dysplasia. Furthermore, numerous studies have investigated the alteration in the expression levels of many oncomiRNAs and tumor suppressor miRNAs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma, thus proving how miRNAs are able modulate crucial regulatory pathways of cancer development. Considering these findings, miRNAs may have a role not only as a diagnostic and prognostic tool, but also as predictive biomarker of response to anti-cancer therapies and as potential therapeutic targets. This review aims to summarize several studies on the matter, focusing on the possible diagnostic-therapeutic implications.

miR-760 mediated the proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating HMGA2

BACKGROUND

The purpose of our study was to investigate the roles of miR-760 and its potential mechanisms in HCC.

METHODS

The functions of miR-760 were identified and measured by MTT, colony formation, transwell, and flow cytometry assays. Luciferase assay was applied to verify the direct binding of miR-760 on HMGA2 3'untranslated region (3'UTR). Then, in vitro experiment was used to investigate the biological effects of miR-760 and HMGA2. Luciferase and ChIP assays were used to detect the validity of SP1 binding sites on the miR-760 promoter.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that miR-760 overexpression suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in HCC. Besides, HMGA2 was demonstrated as a direct target gene of miR-760. Furthermore, we found that methylation may result in the downregulation of miR-760, and SP1 could inhibit the transcription of miR-760.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that SP1/miR-760/HMGA2 may serve as a molecular regulatory axis for HCC treatment.

HMGA2 as a Critical Regulator in Cancer Development

The high mobility group protein 2 (HMGA2) regulates gene expression by binding to AT-rich regions of DNA. Akin to other DNA architectural proteins, HMGA2 is highly expressed in embryonic stem cells during embryogenesis, while its expression is more limited at later stages of development and in adulthood. Importantly, HMGA2 is re-expressed in nearly all human malignancies, where it promotes tumorigenesis by multiple mechanisms. HMGA2 increases cancer cell proliferation by promoting cell cycle entry and inhibition of apoptosis. In addition, HMGA2 influences different DNA repair mechanisms and promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by activating signaling via the MAPK/ERK, TGFβ/Smad, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, NFkB, and STAT3 pathways. Moreover, HMGA2 supports a cancer stem cell phenotype and renders cancer cells resistant to chemotherapeutic agents. In this review, we discuss these oncogenic roles of HMGA2 in different types of cancers and propose that HMGA2 may be used for cancer diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic purposes.

MicroRNA-9-5p increases the sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil by downregulating high mobility group A2 expression

Chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is the first-line treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC); however, 5-FU resistance decreases CRC therapeutic efficiency. A previous study revealed that microRNA (miR)-9-5p serves an antitumor effect in CRC. However, the effect of miR-9-5p in CRC chemoresistance remains unknown. In the present study, two CRC cell lines, including HT-29 and HCT-116 cells, were used to investigate the impact of miR-9-5p in overcoming 5-FU resistance. The results revealed that treatment with 5-FU decreased CRC cell viability and upregulated miR-9-5p expression in both CRC cells. Knockdown of miR-9-5p decreased HCT-116 cell sensitivity to 5-FU and inhibited apoptosis. By contrast, miR-9-5p overexpression enhanced the sensitivity of HT-29 cells to 5-FU and induced apoptosis. Additionally, it was confirmed that miR-9-5p directly targeted high mobility group A2 (HMGA2). HMGA2 overexpression reversed miR-9-5p-induced HT-29 apoptosis. The present study indicated that miR-9-5p enhanced the sensitivity of CRC cells to 5-FU via downregulating HMGA2 expression.

Long non-coding RNA DANCR accelerates colorectal cancer progression via regulating the miR-185-5p/HMGA2 axis

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial players in tumor progression. Herein, this work was designated to decipher the clinical significance, function and molecular mechanism of an lncRNA, differentiation antagonizing non-coding RNA (DANCR) in colorectal cancer (CRC). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was adopted to examine DANCR, miR-185-5p and HMGA2 mRNA expressions in CRC tissues and cells. Both gain-of-function and loss-of-function cell models for DANCR were established, and then MTT, wound healing and Transwell, flow cytometry assays were carried out to detect the proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle and apoptosis of CRC cells. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay and RIP assay were utilized to validate the targeting relationships between DANCR and miR-185-5p. Western blot was employed for detecting high mobility group A2 (HMGA2) expressions in CRC cells. In this study, we demonstrated that the expression of DANCR was elevated in CRC tissues and cell lines, and its high expression was significantly associated with increased TNM stage and positive lymph node metastasis. DANCR overexpression promoted CRC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and cell cycle progression, but inhibited apoptosis; while knocking down DANCR caused the opposite effects. DANCR was further identified as a molecular sponge for miR-185-5p, and DANCR could indirectly increase the expression of HMGA2 via repressing miR-185-5p. In conclusion, DANCR/miR-185-5p/HMGA2 axis participated in the progression of CRC.

HMGA2 promotes breast cancer metastasis by modulating Hippo-YAP signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for about 15-20% of all breast cancer. High mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is overexpressed in some tumors and closely associated with patients' prognosis. However, the mechanisms involved in the regulation of HMGA2 in TNBC still remain unclear.

METHODS

In this study, HMGA2 level in TNBC cell lines was analyzed by western blot. After knockdown of HMGA2 expression by RNA interference in TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and SUM149, wound healing and transwell assays were conducted to examine the effects of HMGA2 on migration and invasion. Tumor metastasis was assessed in amouse xenograft model invivo. Furthermore, expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers and involvement of the Hippo-YAP pathway were detected by western blot.

RESULTS

Compared to normal breast epithelial cells, the expression levels of HMGA2 were significantly increased in TNBC cell lines (all P< .05). Downregulation of HMGA2 dramatically inhibited the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 and SUM149 cells (all P< .01) invitro, and suppressed the tumor metastasis of nude mice xenograft model invivo. Western blot analysis revealed alterations in EMT biomarkers: the expression of mesenchymal markers N-cadherin, Vimentin and Snail were decreased, while the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin was increased. Downregulated expression of HMGA2 attenuated Hippo-YAP related protein expression and the stability of YAP.

CONCLUSIONS

HMGA2 is highly expressed in TNBC cells. Downregulation of HMGA2 inhibits the migration and invasion of TNBC and invivo tumor metastasis mediated through inhibition of EMT and Hippo-YAP pathway.

Thymidylate synthase drives the phenotypes of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) enhances motility, stemness, chemoresistance and metastasis. Little is known about how various pathways coordinate to elicit EMT’s different functional aspects in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thymidylate synthase (TS) has been previously correlated with EMT transcription factor ZEB1 in NSCLC and imparts resistance against anti-folate chemotherapy. In this study, we establish a functional correlation between TS, EMT, chemotherapy and metastasis and propose a network for TS mediated EMT.

Methods

Published datasets were analysed to evaluate the significance of TS in NSCLC fitness and prognosis. Promoter reporter assay was used to sort NSCLC cell lines in TS^HIGH and TS^LOW. Metastasis was assayed in a syngeneic mouse model.

Results

TS levels were prognostic and predicted chemotherapy response. Cell lines with higher TS promoter activity were more mesenchymal-like. RNA-seq identified EMT as one of the most differentially regulated pathways in connection to TS expression. EMT transcription factors HOXC6 and HMGA2 were identified as upstream regulator of TS, and AXL, SPARC and FOSL1 as downstream effectors. TS knock-down reduced the metastatic colonisation in vivo.

Conclusion

These results establish TS as a theranostic NSCLC marker integrating survival, chemo-resistance and EMT, and identifies a regulatory network that could be targeted in EMT-driven NSCLC.

Comprehensive Analysis of Differentially Expressed circRNAs Reveals a Colorectal Cancer-Related ceRNA Network

The morbidity and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) remained to be very high worldwide. Recently, circRNAs had been revealed to have a crucial role in cancer prognosis and progression. Numerous researches have shown that RNA sequencing technology and in silico method were widely used to identify pathogenic mechanisms and uncover promising targets for diagnosis and therapy. In this study, these methods were analyzed to obtain differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs). We identified upregulated 316 circRNAs and reduced 76 circRNAs in CRC samples, in comparison with those in normal tissues. In addition, a competitive endogenous network of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA was established to predict the mechanisms of circRNAs. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that these circRNAs participated in metabolism regulation and cell cycle progression. Of note, we observed the hub genes and miRNAs in this ceRNA network were associated with the survival time in CRC. We think this study could provide potential prognostic biomarkers and targets for CRC.

A novel role of Krüppel-like factor 8 as an apoptosis repressor in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8), a cancer-promoting factor that regulates critical gene transcription and cellular cancer-related events, has been implicated in tumor development and progression. However, the functional role of KLF8 in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains largely unknown.

METHODS

The gene expression patterns and genome-wide regulatory profiles of HCC cells after KLF8 knockout were analyzed by using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) combined with bioinformatics analysis. Transcription factor-binding motifs that recognized by KLF8 were evaluated by motif analysis. For the predicted target genes, transcriptional changes were examined by ChIP, and loss of function experiments were conducted by siRNA transfection.

RESULTS

KLF8 functioned as a transcription repressor in HCC and mainly regulated apoptotic-related genes directly. A total of 1,816 differentially expressed genes after KLF8 knockout were identified and significantly corresponded to global changes in H3K27ac status. Furthermore, two predicted target genes, high-mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) and matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7), were identified as important participants in KLF8-mediated anti-apoptotic effect in HCC. Knockout of KLF8 enhanced cell apoptosis process and caused increase in the associated H3K27ac, whereas suppression HMGA2 or MMP7 attenuated these biological effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Our work suggests a novel role and mechanism for KLF8 in the regulation of cell apoptosis in HCC and facilitates the discovery of potential therapeutic targets for HCC treatment.

Y Chromosome LncRNA Are Involved in Radiation Response of Male Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Numerous studies have implicated changes in the Y chromosome in male cancers, yet few have investigated the biological importance of Y chromosome noncoding RNA. Here we identify a group of Y chromosome-expressed long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) that are involved in male non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) radiation sensitivity. Radiosensitive male NSCLC cell lines demonstrated a dose-dependent induction of linc-SPRY3-2/3/4 following irradiation, which was not observed in radioresistant male NSCLC cell lines. Cytogenetics revealed the loss of chromosome Y (LOY) in the radioresistant male NSCLC cell lines. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments indicated that linc-SPRY3-2/3/4 transcripts affect cell viability and apoptosis. Computational prediction of RNA binding proteins (RBP) motifs and UV-cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (CLIP) assays identified IGF2BP3, an RBP involved in mRNA stability, as a binding partner for linc-SPRY3-2/3/4 RNA. The presence of linc-SPRY3-2/3/4 reduced the half-life of known IGF2BP3 binding mRNA, such as the antiapoptotic HMGA2 mRNA, as well as the oncogenic c-MYC mRNA. Assessment of Y chromosome in NSCLC tissue microarrays and expression of linc-SPRY3-2/3/4 in NSCLC RNA-seq and microarray data revealed a negative correlation between the loss of the Y chromosome or linc-SPRY3-2/3/4 and overall survival. Thus, linc-SPRY3-2/3/4 expression and LOY could represent an important marker of radiotherapy in NSCLC. SIGNIFICANCE: This study describes previously unknown Y chromosome-expressed lncRNA regulators of radiation response in male NSCLC and show a correlation between loss of chromosome Y and radioresistance. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/80/19/4046/F1.large.jpg.