Emerging roles of circular RNAs in tumorigenesis, progression, and treatment of gastric cancer

ncRNAs as Key Regulators in Gastric Cancer: From Molecular Subtyping to Therapeutic Targets

Gastric cancer (GC) poses a major global health challenge, underscoring the need for advanced diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have emerged as pivotal regulators in GC, with their dysregulated expression driving key processes such as tumorigenesis, metastasis, immune evasion, and chemoresistance. The functional diversity of ncRNAs across different GC molecular subtypes highlights their potential as biomarkers for improved subtype classification and patient stratification. Beyond their diagnostic value, ncRNAs demonstrate critical regulatory functions in tumor biology, establishing these RNA molecules as promising targets for therapeutic development. Strategies based on RNA hold considerable promise for addressing critical challenges such as immune escape and drug resistance by modulating key signaling pathways. These approaches can enhance immune responses, reprogram the tumor microenvironment, and reverse resistance mechanisms that compromise treatment efficacy, thereby improving clinical outcomes. Although ncRNAs represent a promising frontier in GC precision medicine, further research is required to fully harness their clinical potential.

Interventional effect of hesperetin on N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced exosomal circ008274 in affecting normal cells to promote gastric carcinogenesis

BACKGROUND

Hesperetin, a flavonoid predominantly present in citrus fruits, exhibits significant intervention effects on both the initiation and progression of gastric cancer. However, the specific mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear.

AIM

To investigate the interventional role of hesperetin on N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced exosomes in inducing gastric carcinogenesis.

METHODS

Bioinformatics technology was used to identify the critical molecular components underlying hesperetin-mediated inhibition of MNNG induced gastric carcinogenesis through exosomal circular RNA. Biological experiments were conducted to validate these findings.

RESULTS

Exosomes derived from TGES-1 cells (TGES-1-EX) significantly enhanced the proliferation, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and stemness of GES-1 cells. The oncogenic potential of TGES-1-EX was significantly diminished following hesperetin pretreatment. TGES-1-EX with overexpressed or knocked down circ0008274 was extracted and GES-1 cells were treated in combination with hesperetin or alone. Our investigation revealed that hesperetin exerted significant inhibitory effects on MNNG-induced gastric carcinogenesis by exosomal circ0008274. Bioinformatics prediction identified microRNA (miR)-526b-5p as a potential miRNA binding to circ0008274. Functional experiments demonstrated that hesperetin may mediate its intervention in MNNG-induced gastric cancer initiation by targeting miR-526b-5p through exosomal circ0008274. TGES-1-EX circ0008274 promoted the proliferation, EMT, and cancer stem cell-like characteristics in GES-1 cells through miR-526b-5p-mediated regulatory mechanisms.

CONCLUSION

Hesperetin exerted an interventional effect on the gastric carcinogenesis process, particularly through the modulation of exosomal circ0008274 and its interaction with miR-526b-5p.

Multi-omics approaches for biomarker discovery and precision diagnosis of prediabetes

Recent advancements in multi-omics technologies have provided unprecedented opportunities to identify biomarkers associated with prediabetes, offering novel insights into its diagnosis and management. This review synthesizes the latest findings on prediabetes from multiple omics domains, including genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microbiomics, and radiomics. We explore how these technologies elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying prediabetes and analyze potential biomarkers with predictive value in disease progression. Integrating multi-omics data helps address the limitations of traditional diagnostic methods, enabling early detection, personalized interventions, and improved patient outcomes. However, challenges such as data integration, standardization, and clinical validation and translation remain to be resolved. Future research leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning is expected to further enhance the predictive power of multi-omics technologies, contributing to the precision diagnosis and tailored management of prediabetes.

Effect of nalbuphine on analgesia and pain factors after gastric cancer resection

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent tumor in the digestive system, with around one million new cases reported annually, ranking it as the third most common malignancy. Reducing pain is a key research focus. This study evaluates the effect of nalbuphine on the analgesic effect and the expression of pain factors in patients after radical resection.

AIM

To provide a reference for postoperative analgesia methods.

METHODS

One hundred eight patients with GC, admitted between January 2022 and June 2024, underwent radical gastrectomy. They received a controlled analgesia pump and a transverse abdominis muscle plane block, divided into two groups of 54 patients in each group. The control group received sufentanil, while the observation group received nalbuphine as an analgesic. Postoperative analgesic effects, pain factor expression, and adverse effects were compared.

RESULTS

The resting pain and activity pain scores in the observation group at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours were significantly lower than those in the control group. Additionally, the number of presses and consumption of the observation group at 48 hours were lower than those of the control group; and the response rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The prostaglandin E2, substance P, and serotonin levels 24 hours after the observation group were lower than those in the control group, and the incidence of adverse reactions was 5.56% lower than 22.22% in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that nalbuphine enhances postoperative multimodal analgesia in patients with radical GC, effectively improving postoperative analgesic effect, relieving postoperative resting and active pain, and reducing postoperative pain factor expression, demonstrating its potential for clinical application.

Circular RNAs in cancer: roles, mechanisms, and therapeutic potential across colorectal, gastric, liver, and lung carcinomas

The prominence of circular RNAs (circRNAs) has surged in cancer research due to their distinctive properties and impact on cancer development. This review delves into the role of circRNAs in four key cancer types: colorectal cancer (CRC), gastric cancer (GC), liver cancer (HCC), and lung cancer (LUAD). The focus lies on their potential as cancer biomarkers and drug targets. Our study analyses the reported circRNAs in the mentioned malignancies, examining their nature, functions, targets, origins, and contributions as tumor enhancers or suppressors. The approach involved assessing full-text reports on PMC, utilizing keywords such as "CircRNA" and "Cancer types," coupled with bioinformatics, experimental assays, or clinical investigations. Exclusions encompassed non-English publications, conference abstracts, letters, and expert opinions. The findings unveil 577 identified circRNAs across these cancer types: 124 in CRC, 177 in GC, 93 in HCC, and 183 in LUAD. Mechanistic insights into how circRNAs modulate gene expression in cancer are explored, particularly their interactions with microRNAs and RNA-binding proteins. Dysregulation of circRNAs across various cancers and their potential as diagnostic and prognostic indicators are synthesized. The exploration extends to the potential of targeting circRNAs as a novel cancer therapy strategy, either through inhibiting oncogenic circRNAs or reinstating tumor-suppressive ones. This article discusses the challenges and prospects in harnessing circRNAs for cancer diagnostics and therapies. These comprehensive analyses hold promise for advancing cancer research and fostering the development of innovative therapies and diagnostics.

Pyroptosis in lung cancer: The emerging role of non-coding RNAs

Lung cancer remains an intractable malignancy worldwide, prompting novel therapeutic modalities. Pyroptosis, a lethal form of programmed cell death featured by inflammation, has been involved in cancer progression and treatment response. Simultaneously, non-coding RNA has been shown to have important roles in coordinating pattern formation and oncogenic pathways, including long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs), microRNA (miRNAs), circular RNA (circRNAs), and small interfering RNA (siRNAs). Recent studies have revealed that ncRNAs can promote or inhibit pyroptosis by interacting with key molecular players such as NLRP3, GSDMD, and various transcription factors. This dual role of ncRNAs offers a unique therapeutic potential to manipulate pyroptosis pathways, providing opportunities for innovative cancer treatments. In this review, we integrate current research findings to propose novel strategies for leveraging ncRNA-mediated pyroptosis as a therapeutic intervention in lung cancer. We explore the potential of ncRNAs as biomarkers for predicting patient response to treatment and as targets for overcoming resistance to conventional therapies.

Hsa_circ_0008667 promotes progression and improves the prognosis of gastric cancer by inhibiting miR-9-5p

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common gastrointestinal tumors characterized by aggressive development and poor prognosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been used as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in many cancers, including GC. Hsa_circ_0008667 is differentially expressed in GC; however, its function and clinical significance remained unelucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role and significance of hsa_circ_0008667 in GC and its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target of GC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Through quantitative reverse-transcription real-time PCR, hsa_circ_0008667 expression in GC tissues and cells were analyzed, followed by statistical analyses to assess the clinical significance. Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell assays were performed to examine the effects of hsa_circ_0008667 silencing on GC cell growth and metastasis. Additionally, correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between hsa_circ_0008667 and miR-9-5p, which was further validated through luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

Hsa_circ_0008667 was considerably upregulated and tightly correlated with lymph node metastasis and the tumor-node-metastasis stage, which was predictive of poor prognosis in patients with GC. Hsa_circ_0008667 silencing suppressed GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0008667 negatively regulated miR-9-5p expression. MiR-9-5p downregulation enhanced GC malignancy and reversed hsa_circ_0008667 knockdown-mediated GC suppression.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest hsa_circ_0008667 to be a prognostic biomarker and tumor promoter of GC via miR-9-5p modulation.

Non-coding RNAs as potential targets in metformin therapy for cancer

Metformin, a widely used oral hypoglycemic drug, has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. While initially known for its role in managing diabetes, accumulating evidence suggests that metformin exhibits anticancer properties through various mechanisms. Several cellular or animal experiments have attempted to elucidate the role of non-coding RNA molecules, including microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, in mediating the anticancer effects of metformin. The present review summarized the current understanding of the mechanisms by which non-coding RNAs modulate the response to metformin in cancer cells. The regulatory roles of non-coding RNAs, particularly miRNAs, in key cellular processes such as cell proliferation, cell death, angiogenesis, metabolism and epigenetics, and how metformin affects these processes are discussed. This review also highlights the role of lncRNAs in cancer types such as lung adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, and renal cancer, and points out the need for further exploration of the mechanisms by which metformin regulates lncRNAs. In addition, the present review explores the potential advantages of metformin-based therapies over direct delivery of ncRNAs, and this review highlights the mechanisms of non-coding RNA regulation when metformin is combined with other therapies. Overall, the present review provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of metformin mediated by non-coding RNAs, offering novel opportunities for the development of personalized treatment strategies in cancer patients.

Novel role of circRNAs in the drug resistance of gastric cancer: regulatory mechanisms and future for cancer therapy

Cancer, including gastric cancer, has become a serious disease that jeopardizes public life. Currently, the main treatment methods are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. One of the primary causes of death for patients with gastric cancer is drug resistance. Several mechanisms of anticancer drugs resistance have been reported, including changes in drugs transport and metabolism, mutations in drug targets, changes in DNA repair systems, inhibition of cell apoptosis and autophagy, gastric cancer stem cells, invasion and migration. It is becoming more widely known that non-coding RNAs, like circRNAs, play a critical role in the resistance of drugs used to treat gastric cancer. CircRNAs have a unique structure and function that is related to gastric cancer resistance, cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, DNA repair systems, migration, and invasion. A clear understanding of the molecular mechanism of circRNAs mediated the resistance of gastric cancer drugs will open a new window for the treatment and management of gastric cancer. Therefore, in this review, we will summarize the current mechanism of drug resistance, and finally discuss the molecular mechanism of circRNAs in regulating the development of drug resistance in gastric cancer.