MiR-195 suppresses non-small cell lung cancer by targeting CHEK1

The Role of microRNAs in Lung Cancer: Mechanisms, Diagnostics and Therapeutic Potential

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that do not have coding functions but play essential roles in various biological processes. In lung cancer, miRNAs affect the processes of tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and resistance to treatment by regulating gene expression. Tumor-suppressive miRNAs inhibit oncogenic pathways, while oncogenic miRNAs, known as oncomiRs, promote malignant transformation and tumor growth. These dual roles position miRNAs as critical players in lung cancer biology. Studies in recent years have shown the significant potential of miRNAs as both prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers. Circulating miRNAs in plasma or sputum demonstrate specificity and sensitivity in detecting early-stage lung cancer. Liquid biopsy-based miRNA panels distinguish malignant from benign lesions, and specific miRNA expression patterns correlate with disease progression, response to treatment, and overall survival. Therapeutically, miRNAs hold promise for targeted interventions. Strategies such as miRNA replacement therapy using mimics for tumor-suppressive miRNAs and inhibition of oncomiRs with antagomiRs or miRNA sponges have shown preclinical success. Key miRNAs, including the let-7 family, miR-34a, and miR-21, are under investigation for their therapeutic potential. It should be emphasized that delivery difficulties, side effects, and limited stability of therapeutic miRNA molecules remain obstacles to their clinical use. This article examines the roles of miRNAs in lung cancer by indicating their mechanisms of action, diagnostic significance, and therapeutic potential. By addressing current limitations, miRNA-based approaches could revolutionize lung cancer management, offering precise, personalized, and minimally invasive solutions for diagnosis and treatment.

EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor ZZC4 overcomes acquired resistance to gefitinib

Despite the tremendous progress of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) development, acquired resistance mechanisms have limited their efficacy in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To overcome these limitations, novel EGFR-TKIs are needed. In our previous study, we presented ZZC4 as a potent EGFR-TKI. In this study, we developed NSCLC cells resistant to EGFR-TKI gefitinib and osimertinib and assessed the effect and mechanism of action of ZZC4 on those cells. HCC827 cells were cultured with gefitinib in a concentration-escalation manner to achieve HCC827 gefitinib-resistant (HCC827-GR) cells after 6 months of treatment. Then, the effect of ZZC4 was assessed at the cellular and animal levels. To understand ZZC4's mechanism of action, the proteome alteration induced by ZZC4 on the resistant cell line was compared to the parental HCC827 cells using comparative proteomics. The result showed that gefitinib's IC50 on HCC827 was 533 nM, approximately 80 times its IC50 on normal cells (7.6 nM), confirming its resistance to HCC827 cells. The obtained resistant cells were treated with ZZC4, which potently suppressed the resistant cells' proliferation with an IC50 of 0.1 nM. In tumor-bearing mice, ZZC4 also suppressed the growth of HCC827-GR cell tumors with an inhibition ratio of 82 % at ZZC4 4 mg/kg. Further, the proteomic analysis revealed that ZZC4 inhibited HCC827-GR cell growth by upregulating CDKN1B and downregulating CCNA2 and CHEK1. In conclusion, ZZC4 overcomes resistance to gefitinib by altering the cell cycle pathway.

Mechanism of salidroside in tumor suppression through the miRNA-mRNA signaling axis

With the rapid development of traditional Chinese medicine and the continuous discovery of various anticancer effects of salidroside (sal), it is known that sal inhibits tumor proliferation, invasion and migration by inducing apoptosis and autophagy, regulating the cell cycle, modulating the tumor microenvironment, and controlling cancer-related signaling pathways and molecules. The microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA signaling axis can regulate the expression of target mRNAs by altering miRNA expression, thereby affecting the growth cycle, proliferation, and metabolism of cancer cells. Studies have shown that sal can influence the occurrence and progression of various malignant tumors through the miRNA-mRNA signaling axis, inhibiting the progression of lung cancer, gastric cancer, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, with a notable time and dose dependence in its antitumor effects. Summarizing the specific mechanism of sal regulating miRNA-mRNA signaling axis to inhibit tumors in recent years can provide a new theoretical basis, diagnosis, and therapeutic methods for the research on prevention and treatment of tumors.

miR-195b is required for proper cellular homeostasis in the elderly

Over the last decade we have witnessed an increasing number of studies revealing the functional role of non-coding RNAs in a multitude of biological processes, including cellular homeostasis, proliferation and differentiation. Impaired expression of non-coding RNAs can cause distinct pathological conditions, including herein those affecting the gastrointestinal and cardiorespiratory systems, respectively. miR-15/miR-16/miR-195 family members have been broadly implicated in multiple biological processes, including regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis and metabolism within distinct tissues, such as heart, liver and lungs. While the functional contribution of miR-195a has been reported in multiple biological contexts, the role of miR-195b remains unexplored. In this study we dissected the functional role of miR-195b by generating CRISPR-Cas9 gene edited miR-195b deficient mice. Our results demonstrate that miR-195b is dispensable for embryonic development. miR-195b-/- mice are fertile and displayed no gross anatomical and/or morphological defects. Mechanistically, cell cycle regulation, metabolism and oxidative stress markers are distinctly impaired in the heart, liver and lungs of aged mice, a condition that is not overtly observed at midlife. The lack of overt functional disarray during embryonic development and early adulthood might be due to temporal and tissue-specific compensatory mechanisms driven by selective upregulation miR-15/miR-16/miR-195 family members. Overall, our data demonstrated that miR-195b is dispensable for embryonic development and adulthood but is required for cellular homeostasis in the elderly.

Recent advances on high-efficiency of microRNAs in different types of lung cancer: a comprehensive review

Carcinoma of the lung is among the most common types of cancer globally. Concerning its histology, it is categorized as a non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) and a small cell cancer (SCLC) subtype. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a member of non-coding RNA whose nucleotides range from 19 to 25. They are known to be critical regulators of cancer via epigenetic control of oncogenes expression and by regulating tumor suppressor genes. miRNAs have an essential function in a tumorous microenvironment via modulating cancer cell growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, metabolism, and apoptosis. Moreover, a wide range of information produced via several investigations indicates their tumor-suppressing, oncogenic, diagnostic assessment, and predictive marker functions in different types of lung malignancy. miRNA mimics or anti-miRNAs can be transferred into a lung cancer cell, with possible curative implications. As a result, miRNAs hold promise as targets for lung cancer treatment and detection. In this study, we investigate the different functions of various miRNAs in different types of lung malignancy, which have been achieved in recent years that show the lung cancer-associated regulation of miRNAs expression, concerning their function in lung cancer beginning, development, and resistance to chemotherapy, also the probability to utilize miRNAs as predictive biomarkers for therapy reaction.

Upregulated miR‑378a‑3p expression suppresses energy metabolism and promotes apoptosis by targeting a GLUT‑1/ALDOA/PKM2 axis in esophageal carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive malignancy of the digestive system with increasing incidence and mortality rates. The biological roles of microRNA (miR)-378a-3p in tumor cells remain contested, and the mechanisms underlying the functions, energy metabolism, and cell survival mechanisms in ESCC cells are yet to be fully elucidated. In the present study, miR-378a-3p overexpression and negative control plasmids were transfected into ECA-109 cells using electroporation. Western blotting was used to detect the relative expression of proteins, and flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. Subsequently, ELISA assays were performed to determine enzyme activity, and an ATP detection kit was used to measure ATP content. Dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to identify the target genes of miR-378a-3p. The results of the present study demonstrated that miR-378a-3p inhibited the gene expression and enzyme activities of glucose transporter protein 1 (GLUT-1), Aldolase A (ALDOA), and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), all of which are involved in the glycolytic pathway of cells. Energy metabolism was suppressed by miR-378a-3p by reducing ATP content, and this downregulated the expression of Bcl-2 and Survivin. Moreover, increased miR-378a-3p expression promoted cell apoptosis in the early stages by increasing the expression levels and the activity of Bad and Caspase-3, while inhibiting the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Survivin. The results of the present study also demonstrated that GLUT-1/ALDOA/PKM2 were target genes of miR-378a-3p. Notably, miR-378a-3p blocked energy production and promoted the apoptosis of tumor cells via the downregulation of glycolytic enzyme expression and by reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential in ESCC. Bad, Caspase-3, Survivin, and Bcl-2 may be associated with blocking energy production and promoting apoptosis via miR-378a-3p in ESCC cells.

Dysfunction of ubiquitin protein ligase MYCBP2 leads to cell resilience in human breast cancers

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women worldwide, and it is estimated that 294 000 new diagnoses and 37 000 deaths will occur each year in the United States alone by 2030. Large-scale genomic studies have identified a number of genetic loci with alterations in breast cancer. However, identification of the genes that are critical for tumorgenicity still remains a challenge. Here, we perform a comprehensive functional multi-omics analysis of somatic mutations in breast cancer and identify previously unknown key regulators of breast cancer tumorgenicity. We identify dysregulation of MYCBP2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase and an upstream regulator of mTOR signaling, is accompanied with decreased disease-free survival. We validate MYCBP2 as a key target through depletion siRNA using in vitro apoptosis assays in MCF10A, MCF7 and T47D cells. We demonstrate that MYCBP2 loss is associated with resistance to apoptosis from cisplatin-induced DNA damage and cell cycle changes, and that CHEK1 inhibition can modulate MYCBP2 activity and caspase cleavage. Furthermore, we show that MYCBP2 knockdown is associated with transcriptomic responses in TSC2 and in apoptosis genes and interleukins. Therefore, we show that MYCBP2 is an important genetic target that represents a key node regulating multiple molecular pathways in breast cancer corresponding with apparent drug resistance in our study.

Long intergenic non-protein-coding RNA 1547 acts as a competing endogenous RNA and exerts cancer-promoting activity in non-small cell lung cancer by targeting the microRNA-195-5p/ homeobox C8 axis

Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1547 (LINC01547) presents a notable relationship with prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer. Herein, we examined the expression of LINC01547 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to ascertain its clinical significance. We also explored the detailed functions of LINC01547 in regulating the aggressive phenotype of NSCLC and the molecular mechanism of action underlying its carcinogenic activities events in NSCLC. Furthermore, we applied the data acquired from the tissue specimens and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to analyze the level of LINC01547 in NSCLC and conducted functional assays to address the regulatory effect of LINC01547. Further, we examined the mechanistic interaction among LINC01547, microRNA-195-5p (miR-195-5p), and homeobox C8 (HOXC8) using bioinformatics prediction and luciferase reporter assay. LINC01547 was noticeably overexpressed, as affirmed by data from TCGA and our own cohort; moreover, poor prognosis was associated with increased LINC01547 levels in patients with NSCLC. LINC01547 regulates cell proliferation, colony-forming, migration, and invasion, and its absence produced tumor-repressing effects in NSCLC. Mechanistically, as a competitive endogenous RNA, LINC01547 decoyed miR-195-5p and consequently resulted in the overexpression of HOXC8 in NSCLC cells. Using rescue experiments, we found that the regulatory activities of LINC01547 deficient in repressing the malignant properties of NSCLC cells could be counteracted by hindering miR-195-5p or overexpressing HOXC8. Conclusively, LINC01547 serves as a crucial component to worsen the oncogenicity of NSCLC cells by controlling the miR-195-5p/HOXC8 axis. Thus, the newly identified competing endogenous RNA pathway may potentially be an attractive therapeutic for NSCLC management.

NCAPD2 is a novel marker for the poor prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma and is associated with immune infiltration and tumor mutational burden

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is at present the most prevalent subtype of lung cancer worldwide. Non-SMC condensin I complex subunit D2 (NCAPD2) is one of the 3 non-SMC subunits in condensin I. Previous studies have confirmed that NCAPD2 plays a critical role in chromosome cohesion and segregation. NCAPD2 may be involved in tumorigenesis and progression by participating in abnormal cell cycle division, but the prognostic value of NCAPD2 in LUAD remains unclear. We investigated differences in the expression levels of NCAPD2 and determined their association with clinical features, as well as their diagnostic and prognostic value using the cancer genome atlas database. The function of NCAPD2 was analyzed using gene ontology, Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes, and gene set enrichment analysis. CIBERSORT, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis, and ESTIMATE were used to analyze the immune microenvironment of tumor patients. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) and immune checkpoints were analyzed, while hub genes were identified using weighted gene coexpression network analysis and were used to construct prognostic models. Subsequently, the competing endogenous RNAs network of NCAPD2 in LUAD was explored. Finally, we performed qPCR to verify differences in NCAPD2 expression between the tumor and normal tissues. The expression of NCAPD2 in LUAD was significantly upregulated compared with normal lung tissues. NCAPD2 has been linked to the T stage, N stage, and tumor stage. The elevated expression of NCAPD2 in LUAD can predict a poor prognosis. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that the main function of NCAPD2 was in cell cycle regulation. Moreover, NCAPD2 was also associated with immune cell infiltration and TMB. NCAPD2 is a novel prognostic marker in LUAD and is associated with immune infiltration and TMB.

Identification of Potential Key Genes and Prognostic Biomarkers of Lung Cancer Based on Bioinformatics

Objective

To analyze and identify the core genes related to the expression and prognosis of lung cancer including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) by bioinformatics technology, with the aim of providing a reference for clinical treatment.

Methods

Five sets of gene chips, GSE7670, GSE151102, GSE33532, GSE43458, and GSE19804, were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. After using GEO2R to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between lung cancer and normal tissues online, the common DEGs of the five sets of chips were obtained using a Venn online tool and imported into the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) database for Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by STRING online software for further study, and the core genes were determined by Cytoscape software and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. The clustering heat map was drawn by Excel software to verify its accuracy. In addition, we used the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer (UALCAN) website to analyze the expression of core genes in P53 mutation status, confirmed the expression of crucial core genes in lung cancer tissues with Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and GEPIA2 online software, and evaluated their prognostic value in lung cancer patients with the Kaplan-Meier online plotter tool.

Results

CHEK1, CCNB1, CCNB2, and CDK1 were selected. The expression levels of these four genes in lung cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in normal tissues. Their increased expression was negatively correlated with lung cancer patients (including LUAD and LUSC) prognosis and survival rate.

Conclusion

CHEK1, CCNB1, CCNB2, and CDK1 are the critical core genes of lung cancer and are highly expressed in lung cancer. They are negatively correlated with the prognosis of lung cancer patients (including LUAD and LUSC) and closely related to the formation and prediction of lung cancer. They are valuable predictors and may be predictive biomarkers of lung cancer.

Non-coding RNA-related antitumor mechanisms of marine-derived agents

In the last two decades, natural active substances have attracted great attention in developing new antitumor drugs, especially in the marine environment. A series of marine-derived compounds or derivatives with potential antitumor effects have been discovered and developed, but their mechanisms of action are not well understood. Emerging studies have found that several tumor-related signaling pathways and molecules are involved in the antitumor mechanisms of marine-derived agents, including noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). In this review, we provide an update on the regulation of marine-derived agents associated with ncRNAs on tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, invasion, migration, drug sensitivity and resistance. Herein, we also describe recent advances in marine food-derived ncRNAs as antitumor agents that modulate cross-species gene expression. A better understanding of the antitumor mechanisms of marine-derived agents mediated, regulated, or sourced by ncRNAs will provide new biomarkers or targets for potential antitumor drugs from preclinical discovery and development to clinical application.

DNA Damage Response in Cancer Therapy and Resistance: Challenges and Opportunities

Resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy is a common event among cancer patients and a reason why new cancer therapies and therapeutic strategies need to be in continuous investigation and development. DNA damage response (DDR) comprises several pathways that eliminate DNA damage to maintain genomic stability and integrity, but different types of cancers are associated with DDR machinery defects. Many improvements have been made in recent years, providing several drugs and therapeutic strategies for cancer patients, including those targeting the DDR pathways. Currently, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARP inhibitors) are the DDR inhibitors (DDRi) approved for several cancers, including breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. However, PARPi resistance is a growing issue in clinical settings that increases disease relapse and aggravate patients' prognosis. Additionally, resistance to other DDRi is also being found and investigated. The resistance mechanisms to DDRi include reversion mutations, epigenetic modification, stabilization of the replication fork, and increased drug efflux. This review highlights the DDR pathways in cancer therapy, its role in the resistance to conventional treatments, and its exploitation for anticancer treatment. Biomarkers of treatment response, combination strategies with other anticancer agents, resistance mechanisms, and liabilities of treatment with DDR inhibitors are also discussed.

MiRNA expression profiling in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell lung carcinoma reveals both common and specific deregulated microRNAs

The current study investigated the expression signatures of miRNAs in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and squamous cell lung carcinoma (LUSC). miRNA profiling was performed using microarray in 12 LUAD and 12 LUSC samples and adjacent normal tissues. In LUAD, 107 miRNAs were significantly deregulated, whereas 235 miRNAs were deregulated in LUSC. Twenty-six miRNAs were common between the 2 cancer subtypes and 8 were prioritized for validation, in addition to 6 subtype-specific miRNAs. The RT-qPCR validation samples included 50 LUAD, 50 LUSC, and adjacent normal tissues. Eight miRNAs were validated in LUAD: 3 upregulated - miR-7-5p, miR-375-5p, miR-6785-3p, and 5 downregulated - miR-101-3p, miR-139-5p, miR-140-3p, miR-144-3p, miR-195-5p. Ten miRNAs were validated in the LUSC group: 3 upregulated - miR-7-5p, miR-21-3p, miR-650, and 7 downregulated - miR-95-5p, miR-140-3p, miR-144-3p, miR-195-5p, miR-375, miR-744-3p, and miR-4689-3p. Reactome pathway analysis revealed that the target genes of the deregulated miRNAs in LUAD were significantly enriched in cell cycle, membrane trafficking, gene expression processes, and EGFR signaling, while in LUSC, they were enriched in the immune system, transcriptional regulation by TP53, and FGFR signaling. This study identified distinct miRNA profiles in LUSC and LUAD, which are common and specific miRNAs that could be further investigated as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis.

Suppressive effects of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal miR-15a-5p on the progression of cholangiocarcinoma by inhibiting CHEK1 expression

Currently, surgical extraction is the main therapy for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients, but it’s highly susceptible to postsurgical complications and recurrence rate. Thus, we identified the suppressing roles of exosomal miR-15a-5p from umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) in the EMT and metastasis of CCA. The microarray dataset GSE265566 was employed to determine the expression of CHEK1 in CCA tissues. The relationship of miR-15a-5p with CHEK1 was analyzed using bioinformatics tools and dual-luciferase reporter assay. The particle size of HUCMSCs-exo was detected by scanning electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. The cellular and tumorous phenotypes were assessed through flow cytometry, CCK-8 assay, Transwell assay and the in vivo tumor xenograft experiments. CHEK1 was predicated to be markedly elevated in CCA. miR-15a-5p targeted CHEK1 and downregulated the expression of CHEK1. HUCMSCs-exo activated cell apoptosis but repressed the proliferative, invasive, and migratory potentials of CCA cells. After miR-15a-5p was silenced, HUCMSCs-exo presented an opposite effect in regulating CCA. Overexpression of miR-15a-5p promoted apoptosis but suppressed malignancy and tumorigenicity of CCA cells as well as EMT through downregulating CHEK1. Our data suggested that miR-15a-5p in HUCMSCs-exo suppresses EMT and metastasis of CCA through targeting downregulation of CHEK1.

miR-195 Inhibits Proliferation and Enhances Apoptosis of OSCC Cells via Targeting TLR4

The aim of this research was to assess the function of microribonucleic acid (miR)-195 in the apoptosis and proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells as well as its action mechanism. The downstream target protein of miR-195 was predicted using the biological software. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was implemented to examine the changes in expressions of miR-195 and its target protein toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in OSCC cell lines (TSCCA, Tca8223, Tb3.1, and CAL-27) and normal adult human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs), and the relation between their expressions was assessed. The expressions of phosphorylated proteins in nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway were determined through western blotting. miR-195 was expressed at a noticeably lower level in four OSCC cells than in HGFs, and the lowest level appeared in CAL-27 cells. Compared with miR-195 control, the miR-195 mimic could obviously raise the expression of miR-195. In CAL-27 cells with high expression of miR-195, the proliferation was inhibited and the apoptosis was evidently enhanced. OSCC cells exhibited evidently reduced protein and mRNA expression of TLR4, and miR-195 expression was inversely associated with TLR4 expression. It was uncovered from the dual-luciferase reporter assay that cells with wild-type TLR4 had prominently weakened luciferase activity relative to cells with mutant-type TLR4, revealing that the direct target of miR-195 is TLR4. The NF-κB pathway was impeded in cells that lowly expressed TLR4. miR-195 blocks the NF-κB pathway via inhibiting the expression of TLR4 in OSCC cells, thereby exerting an antitumor effect.

Regulatory effects of lncRNAs and miRNAs on the crosstalk between autophagy and EMT in cancer: a new era for cancer treatment

PURPOSE

Autophagy and EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) are the two principal biological processes and ideal therapeutic targets during cancer development. Autophagy, a highly conserved process for degrading dysfunctional cellular components, plays a dual role in tumors depending on the tumor stage and tissue types. The EMT process is the transition differentiation from an epithelial cell to a mesenchymal-like cell and acquiring metastatic potential. There is evidence that the crosstalk between autophagy and EMT is complex in cancer. In recent years, more studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in autophagy, EMT, and their crosstalk. Therefore, accurate understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs and miRNAs in autophagy, EMT and their interactions is crucial for the clinical management of cancers.

METHODS

An extensive literature search was conducted on the Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The keywords used for the search included: autophagy, EMT, crosstalk, lncRNAs, miRNAs, cancers, diagnostic biomarkers, and therapeutic targets. This search provided relevant articles published in peer-reviewed journals until 2021. Data from these various studies were extracted and used in this review.

RESULTS

The results showed that lncRNAs/miRNAs as tumor inhibitors or tumor inducers could regulate autophagy, EMT, and their interaction by regulating several molecular signaling pathways. The lncRNAs/miRNAs involved in autophagy and EMT processes could have potential uses in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.

CONCLUSION

Such information could help find and develop lncRNAs/miRNAs based new tools for diagnosing, prognosis, and creating anti-cancer therapies.

MiR-195-3p is a Novel Prognostic Biomarker Associated with Immune Infiltrates of Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background

MicroRNA-195-3p (miR-195-3p) plays an important role in some tumors, but its role in LUAD is unclear. This study explored the expression of miR-195-3p in LUAD and the relationship between the expression of miR-195-3p and the clinical and prognostic characteristics of LUAD patients.

Methods

MiR-195-3p expression and clinical information of LUAD patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Kruskal–Wallis test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, logistic regression, and Cox regression were used to assess the relationship between the expression level of miR-195-3p and clinical features in LUAD tissues. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to analyze the effect of miR-195-3p expression levels on the prognosis of LUAD patients. Target genes of miR-195-3p were predicted by several software. GO (Gene Ontology), KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes), and immune infiltration analysis were used to analyze the possible regulatory network of miR-195-3p.

Results

Compared with normal lung tissue, miR-195-3p is down expressed in LUAD tissue (P < 0.001). The low miR-195-3p expression in LUAD was significantly associated with N stage (P = 0.046), pathologic stage (P = 0.011), and gender (P = 0.010). Low miR-195-3p expression predicted a poorer overall survival (HR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.45–0.81; P = 0.001) and disease-specific survival (HR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.37–0.80; P = 0.002). The expression of miR-195-3p (HR: 0.488; 95% CI: 0.304–0.784; P = 0.003) was independently correlated with OS in LUAD patients. High expression of miR-195-3p genes, including ABCC2, AGMAT, ARNTL2, ATP6V0A4, CDC25A, CDK1, FAM111B, GJB2, GRIP1, HMGA2, HOXA9, KIF14, SYT2, and TFAP2A, were associated with poor OS in LUAD. GO and KEGG analysis suggested that miR-195-3p was related to the phagosome pathway. MiR-195-3p may promote the function of B cells, dendritic cells, eosinophils, immature dendritic cells, macrophages, Mast cells, NK cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and follicular helper T cells.

Conclusion

Low miR-195-3p expression is significantly associated with poor survival in LUAD, which may be a promising prognostic biomarker for LUAD.

Epi-miRNAs: Regulators of the Histone Modification Machinery in Human Cancer

Cancer is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Epigenetic deregulation is one of the most critical mechanisms in carcinogenesis and can be classified into effects on DNA methylation and histone modification. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs involved in fine-tuning their target genes after transcription. Various microRNAs control the expression of histone modifiers and are involved in a variety of cancers. Therefore, overexpression or downregulation of microRNAs can alter cell fate and cause malignancies. In this review, we discuss the role of microRNAs in regulating the histone modification machinery in various cancers, with a focus on the histone-modifying enzymes such as acetylases, deacetylases, methyltransferases, demethylases, kinases, phosphatases, desumoylases, ubiquitinases, and deubiquitinases. Understanding of microRNA-related aberrations underlying histone modifiers in pathogenesis of different cancers can help identify novel therapeutic targets or early detection approaches that allow better management of patients or monitoring of treatment response.

MicroRNAs and the DNA damage response: How is cell fate determined?

It is becoming clear that the DNA damage response orchestrates an appropriate response to a given level of DNA damage, whether that is cell cycle arrest and repair, senescence or apoptosis. It is plausible that the alternative regulation of the DNA damage response (DDR) plays a role in deciding cell fate following damage. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are associated with the transcriptional regulation of many cellular processes. They have diverse functions, affecting, presumably, all aspects of cell biology. Many have been shown to be DNA damage inducible and it is conceivable that miRNA species play a role in deciding cell fate following DNA damage by regulating the expression and activation of key DDR proteins. From a clinical perspective, miRNAs are attractive targets to improve cancer patient outcomes to DNA-damaging chemotherapy. However, cancer tissue is known to be, or to become, well adapted to DNA damage as a means of inducing chemoresistance. This frequently results from an altered DDR, possibly owing to miRNA dysregulation. Though many studies provide an overview of miRNAs that are dysregulated within cancerous tissues, a tangible, functional association is often lacking. While miRNAs are well-documented in 'ectopic biology', the physiological significance of endogenous miRNAs in the context of the DDR requires clarification. This review discusses miRNAs of biological relevance and their role in DNA damage response by potentially 'fine-tuning' the DDR towards a particular cell fate in response to DNA damage. MiRNAs are thus potential therapeutic targets/strategies to limit chemoresistance, or improve chemotherapeutic efficacy.

Identification of Potential Prognostic and Predictive Biomarkers for Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitor Response in Small Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND Immune-checkpoint inhibitors have propelled the field of therapeutics for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treatment, but are only beneficial to some patients. The objective of this study was to identify valid biomarkers for good potential response to immunotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed an integrated analysis of the available datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) projects, Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), TISIDB database, and Lung Cancer Explorer (LCE) database. Six prognosis-related genes (MCM2, EZH2, CENPK, CHEK1, CDKN2A, and EXOSC2) were identified utilizing the meta workflow of data analysis methods. We performed subclass mapping to compare their expression profiles to other datasets of patients who responded to immunotherapy. A drug sensitivity predictive model was used to predict the chemotherapeutic response to cisplatin and etoposide. RESULTS Our results showed that the expression of the 6 key genes was significantly associated with the overall survival of patients with SCLC. Lower expression of these 6 genes was correlated to the response to anti-PD-1 treatment. Additionally, low expression of MCM2, EZH2, CENPK, and CHEK1 was correlated with increased sensitivity to cisplatin, but not etoposide. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our data showed that MCM2, EZH2, CENPK, CHEK1, CDKN2A, and EXOSC2 are potential prognostic and predictive biomarkers for response to immune-checkpoint inhibitor treatment in patients with SCLC. Further studies with large sample sizes are required to validate our findings and to explore the detailed mechanisms underlying the role of these genes in SCLC.

CircRNA NRIP1 promotes papillary thyroid carcinoma progression by sponging mir-195-5p and modulating the P38 MAPK and JAK/STAT pathways

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have become a hot topic in the area of tumor biology due to its closed structure and the post-transcriptional regulatory effect. This study aims to clarify the roles of circRNA nuclear receptor-interacting protein 1 (NRIP1; circNRIP1) and the possible mechanisms in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

METHODS

The real-time PCR was used to detect the expression level of CircRNA NRIP1 in PTC specimens and cell lines. The effects of CircRNA NRIP1 and miR-195-5p on the PTC cell functions were detected by MTT, transwell, and flow cytometry assays. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and pull down assays were used to verify the association between circRNA NRIP1 and miR-195-5p. The murine xenograft models were constructed to detect the roles of CircRNA NRIP1 and miR-195-5p. Western blot was applied to detect the effects of CircRNA NRIP1 and miR-195-5p on the P38 MAPK and JAK/STAT singling pathways.

RESULTS

CircRNA NRIP1 was over-expressed in PTC tissues and cells and the high levels of CircRNA NRIP1 were correlated with advanced PTC stage. Depletion of CircRNA NRIP1 inhibited PTC cell proliferation, invasion, while accelerated apoptosis. miR-195-5p upregulation repressed proliferation and invasion capabilities, and accelerated apoptosis of PTC cell lines and restraining the growth of tumor xenografts, while the functions were reversed following CircRNA NRIP1 overexpression in PTC cells and tumor xenografts. Besides, the protein levels of p-p38, p-JAK2 and p-STAT1 were remarkably down-regulated in miR-195-5p overexpressed PTC cells and tumor xenografts, whereas CircRNA NRIP1 up-regulation overturned the impacts.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, CircRNA NRIP1 promoted PTC progression by accelerating PTC cells proliferation, invasion and tumor growth, while impeding apoptosis by way of sponging miR-195-5p and regulating the P38 MAPK and JAK/STAT pathways.

MicroRNA-629 promotes the tumorigenesis of non-small-cell lung cancer by targeting FOXO1 and activating PI3K/AKT pathway

OBJECTIVE

MicroRNA-629 (miR-629) has been found to play an important role in the pathogenesis of human cancers. However, the function of miR-629 is still unknown in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this study is to preliminarily elucidate the regulatory mechanism of miR-629 in NSCLC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The mRNA and protein expression was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot analysis. The function of miR-629 was investigated by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) and Transwell assays. The relationship between miR-629 and FOXO1 was confirmed by dual luciferase assay.

RESULTS

MiR-629 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. High expression of miR-629 predicted poor prognosis in patients with NSCLC. Moreover, miR-629 promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion in NSCLC cells. In addition, FOXO1 was confirmed as a direct target of miR-629 in NSCLC. Furthermore, knockdown of FOXO1 also promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. More importantly, overexpression of FOXO1 weakened the carcinogenesis of miR-629 in NSCLC. Besides that, miR-629 promoted EMT and activated the PI3K/AKT pathway in NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-629 promotes the progression of NSCLC by targeting FOXO1 and regulating EMT/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Case Report: Triple Primary Malignant Tumors of the Esophagus, Stomach, and Colon in a Patient With Genetic Analysis

The incidence of multiple primary malignant tumors (MPMTs) has increased greatly with the progress of tumor diagnosis and therapy technology. However, triple primary cancer is still very rare, and its genetic change is not clear yet. This case report described a 70-year-old Chinese male patient with triple primary cancers of the esophagus, stomach and right-sided colon. Pathological examination confirmed that each malignant tumor developed independently. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) using a 599-gene panel revealed five TP53 mutations in three tumor tissues. These variations might contribute to development of the triple primary malignant tumors in the patient. The patient underwent laparoscopic feeding jejunostomy and postoperative radiotherapy for synchronous esophageal and gastric carcinomas. Then, he underwent laparoscopic-assisted resection of right-sided colonic cancer and lysis of abdominal adhesions. By the time of submitting this manuscript, the patient had been well and no sign of recurrence or metastasis had been observed. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first one to clarify the genetic abnormalities of triple primary cancers of esophagus, stomach and colon in a Chinese patient. It may contribute to understanding the molecular pathogenesis of multiple primary digestive malignancies and providing valuable treatment strategies for the similar patients in the future.

Long non-coding RNA SLC25A25-AS1 exhibits oncogenic roles in non-small cell lung cancer by regulating the microRNA-195-5p/ITGA2 axis

Long non-coding RNA SLC25A25 antisense RNA 1 (SLC25A25-AS1) exerts antitumour activity in colorectal cancer. The present study investigated whether SLC25A25-AS1 is implicated in the aggressiveness of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the possible underlying mechanism. SLC25A25-AS1 expression in NSCLC was determined by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells were tested in vitro through cell counting kit-8 assay, flow cytometry analysis, Transwell migration and invasion assays, followed by in vivo validation using animal experiments. Additionally, the competitive endogenous RNA theory for SLC25A25-AS1, microRNA-195-5p (miR-195-5p) and integrin α2 (ITGA2) was identified using subcellular fractionation, bioinformatics analysis, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blotting, a luciferase assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. As compared with normal lung tissues, increased expression of SLC25A25-AS1 was demonstrated in NSCLC tissues using The Cancer Genome Atlas database.. In addition, SLC25A25-AS1 was overexpressed in both NSCLC tissues and cell lines. High SLC25A25-AS1 expression was markedly associated with shorter overall survival time of patients with NSCLC. SLC25A25-AS1 silencing impeded NSCLC cell proliferation and triggered apoptosis, while restricting cell migration and invasion. Tumour growth in vivo was also impaired by SLC25A25-AS1 silencing. Mechanistically, SLC25A25-AS1 was demonstrated to be an miR-195-5p sponge in NSCLC cells. miR-195-5p mimics decreased ITGA2 expression in NSCLC cells by directly targeting ITGA2, and SLC25A25-AS1 interference decreased ITGA2 expression by sequestering miR-195-5p. Furthermore, the antitumour effects of SLC25A25-AS1 silencing on malignant behaviours were counteracted when ITGA2 was restored or when miR-195-5p was silenced. In summary, by controlling the miR-195-5p/ITGA2 axis, SLC25A25-AS1 served tumour-promoting roles in NSCLC cells. Therefore, the SLC25A25-AS1/miR-195-5p/ITGA2 signalling pathway might be an attractive target for future therapeutic options in NSCLC.

Genetic variants of CHEK1, PRIM2 and CDK6 in the mitotic phase-related pathway are associated with nonsmall cell lung cancer survival

The mitotic phase is a vital step in cell division and may be involved in cancer progression, but it remains unclear whether genetic variants in mitotic phase-related pathways genes impact the survival of these patients. Here, we investigated associations between 31 032 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 368 mitotic phase-related pathway genes and overall survival (OS) of patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We assessed the associations in a discovery data set of 1185 NSCLC patients from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial and validated the findings in another data set of 984 patients from the Harvard Lung Cancer Susceptibility Study. As a result, we identified three independent SNPs (ie, CHEK1 rs76744140 T>C, PRIM2 rs6939623 G>T and CDK6 rs113181986 G>C) to be significantly associated with NSCLC OS with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.29 (95% confidence interval = 1.11-1.49, P = 8.26 × 10^-4 ), 1.26 (1.12-1.42, 1.10 × 10^-4 ) and 0.73 (0.63-0.86, 1.63 × 10^-4 ), respectively. Moreover, the number of combined unfavorable genotypes of these three SNPs was significantly associated with NSCLC OS and disease-specific survival in the PLCO data set (P_trend  < .0001 and .0003, respectively). Further expression quantitative trait loci analysis showed that the rs76744140C allele predicted CHEK1 mRNA expression levels in normal lung tissues and that rs113181986C allele predicted CDK6 mRNA expression levels in whole blood tissues. Additional analyses indicated CHEK1, PRIM2 and CDK6 may impact NSCLC survival. Taken together, these findings suggested that these genetic variants may be prognostic biomarkers of patients with NSCLC.

Current Implications of microRNAs in Genome Stability and Stress Responses of Ovarian Cancer

Genomic alterations and aberrant DNA damage signaling are hallmarks of ovarian cancer (OC), the leading cause of mortality among gynecological cancers worldwide. Owing to the lack of specific symptoms and late-stage diagnosis, survival chances of patients are significantly reduced. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors and replication stress response inhibitors present attractive therapeutic strategies for OC. Recent research has focused on ovarian cancer-associated microRNAs (miRNAs) that play significant regulatory roles in various cellular processes. While miRNAs have been shown to participate in regulation of tumorigenesis and drug responses through modulating the DNA damage response (DDR), little is known about their potential influence on sensitivity to chemotherapy. The main objective of this review is to summarize recent findings on the utility of miRNAs as cancer biomarkers, in particular, ovarian cancer, and their regulation of DDR or modified replication stress response proteins. We further discuss the suppressive and promotional effects of various miRNAs on ovarian cancer and their participation in cell cycle disturbance, response to DNA damage, and therapeutic functions in multiple cancer types, with particular focus on ovarian cancer. Improved understanding of the mechanisms by which miRNAs regulate drug resistance should facilitate the development of effective combination therapies for ovarian cancer.

MicroRNAs: Key Regulators in Lung Cancer

Noncoding RNAs have emerged as key regulators of the genome upon gene expression profiling and genome-wide sequencing. Among these noncoding RNAs, microRNAs are short noncoding RNAs that regulate a plethora of functions, biological processes and human diseases by targeting the messenger RNA stability through 3'UTR binding, leading to either mRNA cleavage or translation repression, depending on microRNA-mRNA complementarity degree. Additionally, strong evidence has suggested that dysregulation of miRNAs contribute to the etiology and progression of human cancers, such as lung cancer, the most common and deadliest cancer worldwide. Indeed, by acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, microRNAs control all aspects of lung cancer malignancy, including cell proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, cancer stem cells, immune-surveillance escape, and therapy resistance; and their expressions are often associated with clinical parameters. Moreover, several deregulated microRNAs in lung cancer are carried by exosomes, microvesicles and secreted in body fluids, mainly the circulation where they conserve their stable forms. Subsequently, seminal efforts have been focused on extracellular microRNAs levels as noninvasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in lung cancer. In this review, focusing on recent literature, we summarize the deregulation, mechanisms of action, functions and highlight clinical applications of miRNAs for better management and design of future lung cancer targeted therapies.

miR-130a-Mediated KLF3 Can Inhibit the Growth of Lung Cancer Cells

Background

The role of microRNA (miR) in tumors has been reported in numerous articles. Previous studies have found that miR-130a is low expressed in lung cancer, but the related mechanism has not been fully elucidated. This study mainly explores the mechanism of miR-130a in lung cancer, so as to provide potential therapeutic targets for clinical applications.

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-130a and KLF3 in the tissues of lung cancer patients. The miR-130a-mimics and miR-130a-inhibit were constructed. Cell proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis were determined by CCK-8, transwell, scratch test and flow cytometry. Western Blot was used to determine the expression of KLF3 protein in cells, and the dual-luciferase reporter to determine the relationship between KLF3 and miR-130a.

Results

miR-130a shows low expression in NSCLC patients, while KLF3 shows high expression, exhibiting a negative correlation. The 5-year survival rate of patients with low miR-130a expression and high KLF3 expression was reduced. Cox regression analysis showed that miR-130a was an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC patients. The dual-luciferase reporter revealed that miR-130a bound to KLF3 in a targeted manner, and cell experiments showed that miR-130a could inhibit the growth of lung cancer cells by regulating the expression of KLF3.

Conclusion

miR-130a shows low expression in lung cancer and predicts a poor prognosis. In addition, up-regulation of miR-130a can down-regulate KLF3 and inhibit the growth of lung cancer.

miR-195-5p exerts tumor-suppressive functions in human lung cancer cells through targeting TrxR2

miR-195-5p has been widely explored in various cancers and is considered as a tumor-suppressive microRNA. However, its roles in human lung cancer pathogenesis are not fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to explore how miR-195-5p is involved in malignant behaviors of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells. miR-195-5p expression was examined in the tumor tissues of patients with LUAD and human LUAD cell lines including A549 and PC-9. Thioredoxin reductase 2 (TrxR2) was predicted to be an mRNA target of miR-195-5p using online tools and validated by the Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay. Lentivirus infection was used for gene overexpression, while gene knockdown was achieved by RNA interference. Cell proliferation was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine methods, and cell migration and invasion were assayed with transwell experiments. Cell apoptosis was determined by annexin V staining-based flow cytometry. The antitumor effects of miR-195-5p were also evaluated in nude mice xenografted with A549 cells. We found that miR-195-5p was lowly expressed in human LUAD cells, and its overexpression markedly suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and increased the apoptosis of LUAD cells in vitro. TrxR2 knockdown phenocopied the tumor-suppressive effects of miR-195-5p overexpression, while simultaneous TrxR2 overexpression remarkably reversed the effects of miR-195-5p overexpression on malignant behaviors of A549 and PC-9 cells. Additionally, miR-195-5p overexpression inhibited the growth of xenografted A549 tumor in nude mice. Our work verified that miR-195-5p exerts tumor-suppressive functions in LUAD cells through targeting TrxR2 and suggested that the miR-195-5p/TrxR2 axis is a potential biomarker for LUAD therapy.

MiRNA Expression in Patients with Gaucher Disease Treated with Enzyme Replacement Therapy

Aims: The aim of the work was to establish potential biomarkers or drug targets by analysing changes in miRNA concentration among patients with Gaucher disease (GD) compared to in healthy subjects. Methods: This study was an observational, cross-sectional analysis of 30 adult participants: 10 controls and 20 adults with GD type 1. Patients with GD type 1 were treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for at least two years. The control group was composed of healthy volunteers, unrelated to the patients, adjusted with age, sex and body mass index (BMI). The miRNA alteration between these groups was examined. After obtaining preliminary results on a group of six GD patients by the high-output method (TaqMan low-density array (TLDA)), potential miRNAs were selected for confirming the results by using the qRT-PCR method. With Diane Tools, we analysed miRNAs of which differential expression is most significant and their potential role in GD pathophysiology. We also determined the essential pathways these miRNAs are involved in. Results: 266 dysregulated miRNAs were found among 753 tested. Seventy-eight miRNAs were downregulated, and 188 were upregulated. Thirty miRNAs were significantly altered; all of them were upregulated. The analysis of pathways regulated by the selected miRNAs showed an effect on bone development, inflammation or regulation of axonal transmission in association with Parkinson’s disease. Conclusions: We revealed few miRNAs, like miR-26-5p, which are highly altered and fit the GD pathophysiological model, might be considered as novel biomarkers of disease progression but need further evaluation.

Linc00426 accelerates lung adenocarcinoma progression by regulating miR-455-5p as a molecular sponge

Increasing lines of evidence indicate the role of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) in gene regulation and tumor development. Hence, it is important to elucidate the mechanisms of LncRNAs underlying the proliferation, metastasis, and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). We employed microarrays to screen LncRNAs in LUAD tissues with and without lymph node metastasis and revealed their effects on LUAD. Among them, Linc00426 was selected for further exploration in its expression, the biological significance, and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Linc00426 exhibits ectopic expression in LUAD tissues and cells. The ectopic expression has been clinically linked to tumor size, lymphatic metastasis, and tumor differentiation of patients with LUAD. The deregulation of Linc00426 contributes to a notable impairment in proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the deregulation of Linc00426 could reduce cytoskeleton rearrangement and matrix metalloproteinase expression. Meanwhile, decreasing the level of Linc00426 or increasing miR-455-5p could down-regulate the level of UBE2V1. Thus, Linc00426 may act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to abate miR-455-5p-dependent UBE2V1 reduction. We conclude that Linc00426 accelerates LUAD progression by acting as a molecular sponge to regulate miR-455-5p, and may be a potential novel tumor marker for LUAD.

Non-Coding RNAs: Uncharted Mediators of Thyroid Cancer Pathogenesis

Thyroid cancer is the most prevalent malignancy of the endocrine system and the ninth most common cancer globally. Despite the advances in the management of thyroid cancer, there are critical issues with the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer that result in the poor overall survival of undifferentiated and metastatic thyroid cancer patients. Recent studies have revealed the role of different non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) that are dysregulated during thyroid cancer development or the acquisition of resistance to therapeutics, and may play key roles in treatment failure and poor prognosis of the thyroid cancer patients. Here, we systematically review the emerging roles and molecular mechanisms of ncRNAs that regulate thyroid tumorigenesis and drug response. We then propose the potential clinical implications of ncRNAs as novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for thyroid cancer.

Inhibition of Chk1 by miR-320c increases oxaliplatin responsiveness in triple-negative breast cancer

Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) expression is enhanced in most cancers owing to oncogenic activation and constant replicative stress. Chk1 inactivation is a promising cancer therapy, as its inactivation leads to genomic instability, chromosomal catastrophe, and cancer cell death. Herein, we observed that miR-320c, downregulated in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients, can target Chk1. In addition, downregulated miR-320c expression was associated with poor overall survival in TNBC patients. As Chk1 was associated with the DNA damage response (DDR), we investigated the effect of miR-320c on DDR in TNBC cells. To induce DNA damage, we used platinum-based drugs, especially oxaliplatin, which is most effective with miR-320c. We observed that overexpression of miR-320c in TNBC regulated the oxaliplatin responsiveness by mediating DNA damage repair through the negative regulation of Chk1 in vitro. Furthermore, using a xenograft model, a combination of miR-320c mimic and oxaliplatin effectively inhibited tumor progression. These investigations indicate the potential of miR-320c as a marker of oxaliplatin responsiveness and a therapeutic target to increase the efficacy of chemotherapy in TNBC.

A novel DSN-based fluorescence assay for MicroRNA-133a detection and its application for LVH diagnosis in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is the most powerful predictor of cardiovascular mortality in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Circulating microRNA-133a (miR-133a) was reported to be a potential biomarker for LVH in MHD patients. The aim of this experiment is to establish a novel DSN (duplex-specific-nuclease)-based fluorescence assay for the ultrasensitive detection of miR-133a and investigate its application for LVH diagnosis in MHD patients. The results indicate DSN enzyme combined with ultrathin metallic MoS₂ nanosheets presents high sensitivity, specificity, and low fluorescence background for miR-133a detection. Then, circulating miR-133a levels in plasma from 40 MHD patients and 20 healthy controls are analyzed by such assay. The levels of miR-133a are down-regulated in MHD patients with LVH compared to MHD patients without LVH and healthy controls, and the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve shows strong separation between MHD with LVH patients and MHD without LVH patients. Furthermore, the liner regression analysis shows negative correlation of miR-133a level and interventricular septum thickness (IVS) as well as left ventricular mass index (LVMI), the indicators of LVH. Therefore, our findings reveal DSN-based fluorescence assay for miR-133a is suitable for LVH diagnosis in MHD patients.

Investigating the correlation between DNA methylation and immune‑associated genes of lung adenocarcinoma based on a competing endogenous RNA network

In recent years, there have been major breakthroughs in immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. However, different patients have different responses to immunotherapy. Numerous studies have shown that the accumulation of epigenetic abnormalities, such as DNA methylation, serve an important role in the immune response of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). To investigate the effects of DNA methylation on tumor immunity with survival and prognosis, relevant studies can be performed based on the regulatory mechanisms of RNA molecules. For example, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which regulate gene expression through epigenetic levels. By constructing an immune-associated competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, the present study identified the regulatory associations among 3 key immune-associations mRNAs, 2 microRNAs (miRs) and 29 lncRNAs that were closely associated with the prognosis of patients with LUAD. The molecular biology analysis indicated that hypomethylation of the 1101320–1104290 regions of chromosome 1 resulted in the low expression levels of LINC00337 and that LINC00337 may affect the expression levels of CHEK1 by competitively binding with human (has)-miR-373 and hsa-miR-195. Therefore, abnormal DNA methylation in lncRNA-associated regions caused their abnormal expression levels, which further affected the interactions between RNA molecules. The interactions between these RNA molecules may have regulatory effects on tumor immunity and the prognosis of patients with LUAD.

Functional Significance and Therapeutic Potential of miRNA-20b-5p in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Novel therapies tailored to the molecular composition mechanism of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are needed to improve patient survival. miR-20b-5p expression was significantly upregulated in cancerous tissues and associated with lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, and overall survival (OS). An analysis of the methylation status of the miR-20b-5p gene indicated that the hypomethylation of the CpG sites located upstream of the miR-20b-5p gene in the ESCC tissues was more frequent than in the adjacent normal tissues, and the methylation status of miR-20b-5p correlated inversely with its expression levels. Notably, a series of gain- and loss-of-function assays elucidated that miR-20b-5p promoted ESCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion both in vitro and in vivo. Luciferase reporter assays, western blot, and qRT-PCR revealed that RB1 and TP53INP1 were the direct targets of miR-20b-5p. Moreover, the effects of ectopic miR-20b-5p expression were abrogated by RB1 and TP53INP1 overexpression. In contrast, the effects of miR-20b-5p depletion were impaired by RB1 and TP53INP1 knockdown. Treatment with a miR-20b-5p antagomir dramatically increased tumor growth and inhibited RB1 and TP53INP1 protein expression in nude mice. This work provided novel insights on the molecular mechanism of ESCC and further provided suggestions for therapy development.

Long Noncoding RNA SNHG12 Indicates the Prognosis and Accelerates Tumorigenesis of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Through Sponging microR-195

Background

Small nucleolar RNA host gene 12 (SNHG12) expression is associated with multiple cancers, including renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, colorectal cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, SNHG12 biological function is unclear in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Methods

SNHG12 expression and associated clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated in DLBCL tissues. CCK-8 and transwell assay were used to analyze the in vitro role of SNHG12 in DLBCL progression. The xenograft model was used to explore the in vivo role of SNHG12 in DLBCL growth. The physical interaction between SNHG12 and miR-195 was confirmed using bioinformatics analysis and a dual luciferase assay.

Results

SNHG12 expression was upregulated in DLBCL tissues and correlated with patients’ prognosis. SNHG12 downregulation inhibited cell growth, migration, and invasion of DLBCL cells in vitro, while its overexpression promoted these cellular processes. Moreover, SNHG12 knockdown repressed tumorigenesis of DLBCL cells in vivo. Further experiments demonstrated that miR-195 is a target of SNHG12 in DLBCL and that their expression negatively correlates in DLBCL. SNHG12 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-195 in DLBCL cells and miR-195 upregulation abolished the effects of SNHG12 on of DLBCL progression.

Conclusion

SNHG12 predicts poor clinical outcome and serves as a novel oncogene in DLBCL via miR-195 sponging. We also suggest that SNHG12 can be used as a potential therapeutic candidate for DLBCL patients.

Ailanthone: A novel potential drug for treating human cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease. In 2015, >8.7 million people died worldwide due to cancer, and by 2030 this figure is expected to increase to ~13.1 million. Tumor chemotherapy drugs have specific toxicity and side effects, and patients can also develop secondary drug resistance. To prevent and treat cancer, scientists have developed novel drugs with improved antitumor effects and decreased toxicity. Ailanthone (AIL) is a quassinoid extract from the traditional Chinese medicine plant Ailanthus altissima, which is known to have anti-inflammatory and antimalarial effects. An increasing number of studies have focused on AIL due to its antitumor activity. AIL can inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis by up- or downregulating cancer-associated molecules, which ultimately leads to cancer cell death. Antitumor effects of AIL have been observed in melanoma, acute myeloid leukemia, bladder, lung, breast, gastric and prostate cancer and vestibular neurilemmoma. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first review to describe the antitumor mechanisms of AIL.

Identification of key candidate genes and pathways in anaplastic thyroid cancer by bioinformatics analysis

BACKGROUND

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a refractory and poor prognosis tumor Present study aimed to investigate the underlying biological functions and pathways involved in the development of ATC and to identify potential hub genes and candidate biomarkers of ATC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Bioinformatics analyses were performed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between ATC tissue samples and adjacent normal tissue samples. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of the DEGs were constructed using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes online tool and Cytoscape software and divided into sub-networks using the Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) plug-in. DEGs in each module was analyzed by enrichment analysis of the KEGG Orthology Based Annotation System (KOBAS) web software version 3.0. Eventually, the hub genes from bioinformatics analysis were verified by qRT-PCR assay in different ATC cell lines.

RESULTS

Thirty hub genes were selected and three modules were built by the Cytoscape software from the PPI network. Seven genes (CDK1, CCNB2, BUB1B, CDC20, RRM2, CHEK1 and CDC45) were screened from thirty hub genes. Enrichment analysis showed that these hub genes were primarily accumulated in 'cell cycle', 'p53 signaling pathway', 'viral carcinogenesis', 'pyrimidine metabolism' and 'ubiquitin mediated proteolysis'. The results of qRT-PCR indicated that seven hub genes were unregulated in three ATC cell lines compared with normal thyroid gland cell.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that CDK1, CCNB2, BUB1B, CDC20, RRM2, CHEK1 and CDC45 may serve as novel diagnosis biomarkers and potential therapeutic target for ATC.

Up-Regulation of FSTL3, Regulated by lncRNA DSCAM-AS1/miR-122-5p Axis, Promotes Proliferation and Migration of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Background

Follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3) binds and inactivates activin, a growth factor with cell growth and differentiation. Previous studies reported that it is overexpressed in invasive breast cancers, and its expression and function in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear.

Materials and Methods

Immunohistochemistry was employed to probe the expression of FSTL3 in NSCLC tissues. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was applied to detect the expression of lncRNA DSCAM-AS1 and miR-122-5p. A549 cells and H1299 cells were used as cell models. The biological influence of FSTL3 on cells was studied using CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay and transwell assay in vitro, respectively. In vivo subcutaneous xenotransplanted tumor model and tail vein injection model in mice were also constructed to validate the roles of FSTL3. Interactions between miR-122-5p and FSTL3, DSCAM-AS1 and miR-122-5p were determined by bioinformatics analysis, RT-PCR, and dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results

FSTL3 and DSCAM-AS1 were remarkably up-regulated in NSCLC samples, and miR-122-5p was down-regulated. FSTL3 was associated with worse prognosis of NSCLC patients. FSTL3 knockdown markedly inhibited the viability, migration and invasion of NSCLCs in vitro and in vivo. DSCAM-AS1 could down-regulate miR-122-5p via sponging it, and FSTL3 was a target gene of miR-122-5p.

Conclusion

Taken together, our study identified that FSTL3 was a new oncogene of NSCLC, which was regulated by DSCAM-AS1 and miR-122-5p. These findings suggested that FSTL3, DSCAM-AS1 and miR-122-5p might serve as a new valuable therapeutic target for NSCLC.

SNP rs17079281 decreases lung cancer risk through creating an YY1-binding site to suppress DCBLD1 expression

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous genetic variants that are associated with lung cancer risk, but the biological mechanisms underlying these associations remain largely unknown. Here we investigated the functional relevance of a genetic region in 6q22.2 which was identified to be associated with lung cancer risk in our previous GWAS. We performed linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis and bioinformatic prediction to screen functional SNPs linked to a tagSNP in 6q22.2 loci, followed by two case-control studies and a meta-analysis with 4403 cases and 5336 controls to identify if these functional SNPs were associated with lung cancer risk. A novel SNP rs17079281 in the DCBLD1 promoter was identified to be associated with lung cancer risk in Chinese populations. Compared with those with C allele, patients with T allele had lower risk of adenocarcinoma (adjusted OR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.80–0.92), but not squamous cell carcinoma (adjusted OR = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.91–1.10), and patients with the C/T or T/T genotype had lower levels of DCBLD1 expression than those with C/C genotype in lung adenocarcinoma tissues. We performed functional assays to characterize its biological relevance. The results showed that the T allele of rs17079281 had higher binding affinity to transcription factor YY1 than the C allele, which suppressed DCBLD1 expression. DCBLD1 behaved like an oncogene, promoting tumor growth by influencing cell cycle progression. These findings suggest that the functional variant rs17079281C>T decreased lung adenocarcinoma risk by creating an YY1-binding site to suppress DCBLD1 expression, which may serve as a biomarker for assessing lung cancer susceptibility.

Integrative analyses of noncoding RNAs reveal the potential mechanisms augmenting tumor malignancy in lung adenocarcinoma

Precise noncoding RNA (ncRNA)-based network prediction is necessary to reveal ncRNA functions and pathological mechanisms. Here, we established a systemic pipeline to identify prognostic ncRNAs, predict their functions and explore their pathological mechanisms in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). After in silico and experimental validation based on evaluations of prognostic value in multiple LUAD cohorts, we selected the PTTG3P pseudogene from among other prognostic ncRNAs (MIR497HG, HSP078, TBX5-AS1, LOC100506990 and C14orf64) for mechanistic studies. PTTG3P upregulation in LUAD cells shortens the metaphase to anaphase transition in mitosis, increases cell viability after cisplatin or paclitaxel treatment, facilitates tumor growth that leads to poor survival in orthotopic lung models, and is associated with a poor survival rate in LUAD patients in the TCGA cohort who received chemotherapy. Mechanistically, PTTG3P acts as an ncRNA that interacts with the transcription factor FOXM1 to regulate the transcriptional activation of the mitotic checkpoint kinase BUB1B, which augments tumor growth and chemoresistance and leads to poor outcomes for LUAD patients. Overall, we established a systematic strategy to uncover prognostic ncRNAs with functional prediction methods suitable for pan-cancer studies. Moreover, we revealed that PTTG3P, due to its upregulation of the PTTG3P/FOXM1/BUB1B axis, could be a therapeutic target for LUAD patients.

A Key mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA Competing Endogenous RNA Triple Sub-network Linked to Diagnosis and Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Growing evidence has illustrated critical roles of competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network in human cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, we aimed to find promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Three novel unfavorable prognosis-associated genes (CELSR3, GPSM2, and CHEK1) was first identified. We also demonstrated that these genes were significantly upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and tissues. Next, 154 potential miRNAs of CELSR3, GPSM2, and CHEK1 were predicted. CHEK1-hsa-mir-195-5p/hsa-mir-497-5p and GPSM2-hsa-mir-122-5p axes were defined as two key pathways in carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma by combination of in silico analysis and experimental validation. Subsequently, lncRNAs binding to hsa-mir-195-5p, hsa-mir-497-5p, and hsa-mir-122-5p were predicted via starBase and miRNet databases. After performing expression analysis and survival analysis for these predicted lncRNAs, we showed that nine lncRNAs (SNHG1, SNHG12, LINC00511, HCG18, FGD5-AS1, CERS6-AS1, NUTM2A-AS1, SNHG16, and ASB16-AS1) were markedly increased in hepatocellular carcinoma and their upregulation indicated poor prognosis. Moreover, a similar mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA analysis for six “known” genes (CLEC3B, DNASE1L3, PTTG1, KIF2C, XPO5, and UBE2S) was performed. Subsequently, a comprehensive mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA triple ceRNA network linked to prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was established. Moreover, all RNAs in this network exhibited significantly diagnostic values for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. In summary, the current study constructed a mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA ceRNA network associated with diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Identification and validation of key genes with prognostic value in non-small-cell lung cancer via integrated bioinformatics analysis

Background

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer‐related death among all human cancers and the five‐year survival rates are only 23%. The precise molecular mechanisms of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are still unknown. The aim of this study was to identify and validate the key genes with prognostic value in lung tumorigenesis.

Methods

Four GEO datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were selected for Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis. Protein‐protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed using the STRING database and visualized by Cytoscape software and Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) were utilized to PPI network to pick out meaningful DEGs. Hub genes, filtered from the CytoHubba, were validated using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database. The expressions and prognostic values of hub genes were carried out through Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and Kaplan‐Meier plotter. Finally, quantitative PCR and the Oncomine database were used to verify the differences in the expression of hub genes in lung cancer cells and tissues.

Results

A total of 121 DEGs (49 upregulated and 72 downregulated) were identified from four datasets. The PPI network was established with 121 nodes and 588 protein pairs. Finally, AURKA, KIAA0101, CDC20, MKI67, CHEK1, HJURP, and OIP5 were selected by Cytohubba, and they all correlated with worse overall survival (OS) in NSCLC.

Conclusion

The results showed that AURKA, KIAA0101, CDC20, MKI67, CHEK1, HJURP, and OIP5 may be critical genes in the development and prognosis of NSCLC.

Key points

Our results indicated that AURKA, KIAA0101, CDC20, MKI67, CHEK1, HJURP, and OIP5 may be critical genes in the development and prognosis of NSCLC. Our methods showed a new way to explore the key genes in cancer development.

Silencing of LINC00461 enhances radiosensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells by down-regulating HOXA10 via microRNA-195

Lung adenocarcinoma is recognized as one of the most recurrent tumours in adults. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non–protein‐coding transcripts and have been demonstrated to regulate biological functions during tumorigenesis. Our study aims to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of LINC00461/microRNA‐195 (miR‐195)/HOXA10 responsible for its involvement in lung adenocarcinoma. We firstly selected differentially expressed lncRNAs and genes by the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The functional role of LINC00461 in lung adenocarcinoma was then determined using ectopic expression, knockdown and reporter assay experiments. Besides, we detected the expression profiles of LINC00461, miR‐195, HOXA10 and apoptosis‐ and invasion‐related genes. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were evaluated. In vivo tumour formation ability was analysed. Overexpressed LINC00461 and HOXA10 but down‐regulated miR‐195 were observed in primary and metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. LINC00461 negatively regulated miR‐195, while miR‐195 negatively regulated HOXA10. Forced LINC00461 expression decreased expression of miR‐195 and Bax, increased expression of HOXA10, MMP‐2, MMP‐9 and Bcl‐2, promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion as well as tumour formation, and enhanced radiosensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells. However, these effects were reversed by lentivirus‐mediated miR‐195–forced expression, thereby suggesting that miR‐195 could antagonize the harmful effect of LINC00461 on lung adenocarcinoma cells. Collectively, the present study provides evidence supporting the inhibitory effect of LINC00461 silencing on lung adenocarcinoma, which suppresses lung adenocarcinoma cell migration, invasion and radiosensitivity via HOXA10 by binding to miR‐195, which provides a promising basis for the targeted intervention treatment for human lung adenocarcinoma.

MicroRNA Biomarker hsa-miR-195-5p for Detecting the Risk of Lung Cancer

Background

Lung cancer is one of the leading diagnosed cancers worldwide, and microRNAs could be used as biomarkers to diagnose lung cancer. hsa-miR-195 has been demonstrated to affect the prognosis of NSCLC (non-small-cell lung cancer) in a previous study. However, the diagnostic value of hsa-miR-195-5p in lung cancer has not been investigated.

Methods

To evaluate the ability of hsa-miR-195-5p to diagnose lung cancer, we compared the expression of hsa-miR-195-5p in lung cancer patients, COPD patients, and normal controls. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of hsa-miR-195-5p. Coexpression network and pathway analysis were carried out to explore the mechanism.

Results

We found that hsa-miR-195-5p had lower expression in lung cancer and COPD patients than in normal controls, and the AUC was 0.92 for diagnosing lung cancer. hsa-miR-143 correlated with hsa-miR-195-5p, and by combining these two microRNAs, the AUC was 0.97 for diagnosing lung cancer.

Conclusions

hsa-miR-195-5p may act as a biomarker that contributes to the diagnosis of lung cancer and the detection of its high-risk population.

LINC00511 accelerated the process of gastric cancer by targeting miR-625-5p/NFIX axis

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common-sighted cancer which is hard to cure over the world. Substantial researches revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were fundamental regulators in the process of cancers. Nevertheless, the biological function of LINC00511 and how LINC00511 was involved in the regulatory system in GC remained unclear.

Methods

RIP assays and luciferase reporter assays were performed to illustrate combination between LINC00511 and miR-625-5p. Loss-of-function assays were applied for identifying LINC00511 function in GC.

Results

In our study, LINC00511 was discovered significantly high in expression in GC tissues and cell lines. Moreover, LINC00511 showed a strong expression in I/II and III/IV stage. Knockdown of LINC00511 could inhibit the cell proliferation while enhanced cell apoptosis rate in GC. We used nuclear–cytoplasmic fractionation to judge the subcellular localization of LINC00511. Furthermore, miR-625-5p was found to have binding sites for LINC00511 and negatively regulated by LINC00511. Overexpression of miR-625-5p repressed the course of GC. And knockdown of miR-625-5p could recover the effects of LINC00511 silence. Besides, NFIX was discovered as a downstream target of miR-625-5p and overexpression of NFIX could offset the influence of LINC00511 silence. The results of vivo studies manifested that down-regulation of LINC00511 could reduce the Ki67 expression and NFIX while lifted the expression of miR-625-5p.

Conclusion

Overall, the results from our study demonstrated that LINC00511 could function as a tumor promoter by targeting miR-625-5p NFIX axis, suggesting LINC00511 could be considered as a target for GC treatment.

MiR-195-5p Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells by Targeting CEP55

Objective

This study aims to explore whether miR-195-5p can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells by targeting CEP55.

Methods

qRT-PCR was used to measure the expression of miR-195-5p in NSCLC cells. MTT assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry were used to detect the role of miR-195-5p in NSCLC cells. Western blot was used to measure the protein expression of CEP55, Bax and Bcl-2 in cells. Dual-Luciferase assay was performed to verify the relationship between miR-195-5p and CEP55.

Results

The expression of miR-195-5p was higher in human normal lung cell lines than in NSCLC cells. MiR-195-5p overexpression inhibited cell proliferation, which could block the cell cycle of A549 cell line in the G₀/G₁ phase. Moreover, overexpression of miR-195-5p increased cell apoptotic rate of A549 cell lines, with the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax up-regulated and that of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 down-regulated. The Dual-Luciferase assay showed that miR-195-5p could specifically target CEP55. Furthermore, CEP55 was down-regulated in NSCLC cells. Overexpression of CEP55 enhanced the proliferation and colony formation ability of A549 cell line. Overexpression of CEP55 can reverse the inhibitory effect of miR-195-5p.

Conclusion

MiR-195-5p inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of NSCLC cells by negatively regulating CEP55.

MiR-195 inhibits migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of endometrial carcinoma cells by targeting SOX4

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as potential biomarkers for endometrial carcinoma (EC) diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the detailed role and molecular mechanism of miR-195 in EC metastasis. qRT-PCR assay was performed to assess the expression of miR-195 and SRY-related high-mobility group box 4 (SOX4) mRNA in EC tissues and cells. The levels of N-cadherin, Vimentin, E-cadherin and SOX4 protein were determined by western blot. SOX4 protein expression in EC tissues was also determined by Immunohistochemistry (IHC) experiment. Transwell assay was used to analyze cell migration and invasion abilities. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were performed to confirm the targeted interaction between miR-195 and SOX4. Our data supported that miR-195 was downregulated and SOX4 was upregulated in EC tissues and cell lines. Upregulation of miR-195 inhibited migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of EC cells. Moreover, SOX4 was a direct target of miR-195. MiR-195 overexpression-mediated anti-migration, anti-invasion and anti-EMT effects were antagonized by SOX4 restoration in EC cells. In conclusion, our study suggested that miR-195 inhibited the migration, invasion and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of EC cells at least partly by targeting SOX4. Our study provided a novel underlying mechanism for EC metastasis and a promising therapeutic target for EC management.