Repression of the miR-93-enhanced sensitivity of bladder carcinoma to chemotherapy involves the regulation of LASS2

Contemporary Molecular Markers for Predicting Systemic Treatment Response in Urothelial Bladder Cancer: A Narrative Review

The search for dependable molecular biomarkers to enhance routine clinical practice is a compelling challenge across all oncology fields. Urothelial bladder carcinoma, known for its significant heterogeneity, presents difficulties in predicting responses to systemic therapies and outcomes post-radical cystectomy. Recent advancements in molecular cancer biology offer promising avenues to understand the disease's biology and identify emerging predictive biomarkers. Stratifying patients based on their recurrence risk post-curative treatment or predicting the efficacy of conventional and targeted therapies could catalyze personalized treatment selection and disease surveillance. Despite progress, reliable molecular biomarkers to forecast responses to systemic agents, in neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or palliative treatment settings, are still lacking, underscoring an urgent unmet need. This review aims to delve into the utilization of current and emerging molecular signatures across various stages of urothelial bladder carcinoma to predict responses to systemic therapy.

MiRNA-93: a novel signature in human disorders and drug resistance

miRNA-93 is a member of the miR-106b-25 family and is encoded by a gene on chromosome 7q22.1. They play a role in the etiology of various diseases, including cancer, Parkinson's disease, hepatic injury, osteoarthritis, acute myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic kidney disease. Different studies have found that this miRNA has opposing roles in the context of cancer. Recently, miRNA-93 has been downregulated in breast cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, and renal cancer. However, miRNA-93 is up-regulated in a wide variety of malignancies, such as lung, colorectal, glioma, prostate, osteosarcoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of the current review is to provide an overview of miRNA-93's function in cancer disorder progression and non-cancer disorders, with a focus on dysregulated signaling pathways. We also give an overview of this miRNA's function as a biomarker of prognosis in cancer and emphasize how it contributes to drug resistance based on in vivo, in vitro, and human studies. Video Abstract.

Crosstalk of disulfidptosis-related subtypes, establishment of a prognostic signature and immune infiltration characteristics in bladder cancer based on a machine learning survival framework

Background

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract. On the other hand, disulfidptosis, a mechanism of disulfide stress-induced cell death, is closely associated with tumorigenesis and progression. Here, we investigated the impact of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) on the prognosis of BLCA, identified various DRG clusters, and developed a risk model to assess patient prognosis, immunological profile, and treatment response.

Methods

The expression and mutational characteristics of four DRGs were first analyzed in bulk RNA-Seq and single-cell RNA sequencing data, IHC staining identified the role of DRGs in BLCA progression, and two DRG clusters were identified by consensus clustering. Using the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from these two clusters, we transformed ten machine learning algorithms into more than 80 combinations and finally selected the best algorithm to construct a disulfidptosis-related prognostic signature (DRPS). We based this selection on the mean C-index of three BLCA cohorts. Furthermore, we explored the differences in clinical characteristics, mutational landscape, immune cell infiltration, and predicted efficacy of immunotherapy between high and low-risk groups. To visually depict the clinical value of DRPS, we employed nomograms. Additionally, we verified whether DRPS predicts response to immunotherapy in BLCA patients by utilizing the Tumour Immune Dysfunction and Rejection (TIDE) and IMvigor 210 cohorts.

Results

In the integrated cohort, we identified several DRG clusters and DRG gene clusters that differed significantly in overall survival (OS) and tumor microenvironment. After the integration of clinicopathological features, DRPS showed robust predictive power. Based on the median risk score associated with disulfidptosis, BLCA patients were divided into low-risk (LR) and high-risk (HR) groups, with patients in the LR group having a better prognosis, a higher tumor mutational load and being more sensitive to immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

Conclusion

Our study, therefore, provides a valuable tool to further guide clinical management and tailor the treatment of BLCA patients, offering new insights into individualized treatment.

mRNA-miRNA bipartite networks reconstruction in different tissues of bladder cancer based on gene co-expression network analysis

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most important cancers worldwide, and if it is diagnosed early, its progression in humans can be prevented and long-term survival will be achieved accordingly. This study aimed to identify novel micro-RNA (miRNA) and gene-based biomarkers for diagnosing BC. The microarray dataset of BC tissues (GSE13507) listed in the GEO database was analyzed for this purpose. The gene expression data from three BC tissues including 165 primary bladder cancer (PBC), 58 normal looking-bladder mucosae surrounding cancer (NBMSC), and 23 recurrent non-muscle invasive tumor tissues (RNIT) were used to reconstruct gene co-expression networks. After preprocessing and normalization, deferentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained and used to construct the weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA). Gene co-expression modules and low-preserved modules were extracted among BC tissues using network clustering. Next, the experimentally validated mRNA-miRNA interaction information were used to reconstruct three mRNA-miRNA bipartite networks. Reactome pathway database and Gene ontology (GO) was subsequently performed for the extracted genes of three bipartite networks and miRNAs, respectively. To further analyze the data, ten hub miRNAs (miRNAs with the highest degree) were selected in each bipartite network to reconstruct three bipartite subnetworks. Finally, the obtained biomarkers were comprehensively investigated and discussed in authentic studies. The obtained results from our study indicated a group of genes including PPARD, CST4, CSNK1E, PTPN14, ETV6, and ADRM1 as well as novel miRNAs (e.g., miR-16-5p, miR-335-5p, miR-124-3p, and let-7b-5p) which might be potentially associated with BC and could be a potential biomarker. Afterward, three drug-gene interaction networks were reconstructed to explore candidate drugs for the treatment of BC. The hub miRNAs in the mRNA-miRNA bipartite network played a fundamental role in BC progression; however, these findings need further investigation.

LASS2 impairs proliferation of glioma stem cells and migration and invasion of glioma cells mainly via inhibition of EMT and apoptosis promotion

LAG1 longevity assurance homolog 2 (LASS2), a highly conserved transmembrane protein, has been reported in several cancer types. However, the roles of LASS2 in glioma biology remain elusive. In the present study, we investigated the expression of LAAS2 in human glioma tissues and the effects of LASS2 on glioma stem cell (GSC) proliferation. Roles of LASS2 in glioma cell migration and invasion were also researched both in vitro and in vivo. Our results demonstrated that the level of LASS2 is gradually reduced with the increase of glioma grade. The level of LASS2 is significantly lower in GSCs than in non GSCs, whereas LASS2 overexpression reduced the sphere formation and promoted the differentiation of CD133⁺ glioblastoma cells, as was indicated by reduced levels of CD133 and Nestin. In addition, LASS2 overexpression significantly reduced colony formation, migration, and invasion of glioma cells by promoting tumor cell apoptosis and inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Overexpression of LASS2 inhibited U-87 MG cell-derived glioma xenograft growth in nude mice in a manner similar to in vitro. Our findings indicate that LASS2 can function as a suppressor of glioma growth, suggesting that modulation of LASS2 expression may contribute to a novel strategy for the management of glioma via inhibition of GSCs.

Molecular and biological functions of gingerol as a natural effective therapeutic drug for cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the most common and important gynecological cancers, which has a global concern with an increasing number of patients and mortality rates. Today, most women in the world who suffer from cervical cancer are developing advanced stages of the disease. Smoking and even exposure to secondhand smoke, infections caused by the human papillomavirus, immune system dysfunction and high-risk individual-social behaviors are among the most important predisposing factors for this type of cancer. In addition, papilloma virus infection plays a more prominent role in cervical cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy or radical hysterectomy, and radiotherapy are effective treatments for this condition, the side effects of these methods endanger a person's quality of life and cause other problems in other parts of the body. Studies show that herbal medicines, including taxol, camptothecin and combretastatins, have been shown to be effective in treating cervical cancer. Ginger (Zingiber officinale, Zingiberaceae) is one of the plants with valuable compounds such as gingerols, paradols and shogoals, which is a rich source of antioxidants, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents. Numerous studies have reported the therapeutic effects of this plant through various pathways in cervical cancer. In this article, we look at the signaling mechanisms and pathways in which ginger is used to treat cervical cancer.

Comprehensive Analysis of Correlations in the Expression of miRNA Genes and Immune Checkpoint Genes in Bladder Cancer Cells

Personalised medicine is the future and hope for many patients, including those with cancers. Early detection, as well as rapid, well-selected treatment, are key factors leading to a good prognosis. MicroRNA mediated gene regulation is a promising area of development for new diagnostic and therapeutic methods, crucial for better prospects for patients. Bladder cancer is a frequent neoplasm, with high lethality and lacking modern, advanced therapeutic modalities, such as immunotherapy. MicroRNAs are involved in bladder cancer pathogenesis, proliferation, control and response to treatment, which we summarise in this perspective in response to lack of recent review publications in this field. We further performed a correlation-based analysis of microRNA and gene expression data in bladder cancer (BLCA) TCGA dataset. We identified 27 microRNAs hits with opposite expression profiles to genes involved in immune response in bladder cancer, and 24 microRNAs hits with similar expression profiles. We discuss previous studies linking the functions of these microRNAs to bladder cancer and assess if they are good candidates for personalised medicine therapeutics and diagnostics. The discussed functions include regulation of gene expression, interplay with transcription factors, response to treatment, apoptosis, cell proliferation and angiogenesis, initiation and development of cancer, genome instability and tumour-associated inflammatory reaction.

Flaming the fight against cancer cells: the role of microRNA-93

There have been attempts to develop novel anti-tumor drugs in cancer therapy. Although satisfying results have been observed at a consequence of application of chemotherapeutic agents, the cancer cells are capable of making resistance into these agents. This has forced scientists into genetic manipulation as genetic alterations are responsible for generation of a high number of cancer cells. MicroRNAs (miRs) are endogenous, short non-coding RNAs that affect target genes at the post-transcriptional level. Increasing evidence reveals the potential role of miRs in regulation of biological processes including angiogenesis, metabolism, cell proliferation, cell division, and cell differentiation. Abnormal expression of miRs is associated with development of a number of pathologic events, particularly cancer. MiR-93 plays a significant role in both physiological and pathological mechanisms. At the present review, we show how this miR dually affects the proliferation and invasion of cancer cells. Besides, we elucidate the oncogenesis or oncosuppressor function of miR-93.

CD44s Induces miR-629-3p Expression in Association with Cisplatin Resistance in Head and Neck Cancer Cells

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II [CDDP] ) is a well-known chemotherapeutic drug that has been used for the treatment of various types of human cancers, including head and neck cancer. Cisplatin exerts anticancer effects by causing DNA damage, replication defects, transcriptional inhibition, cell cycle arrest, and the induction of apoptosis. However, drug resistance is one of the most serious problems with cancer chemotherapy, and it causes expected therapeutic effects to not always be achieved. Here, we analyzed global microRNA (miRNA) expression in CD44 standard form (CD44s)-expressing SAS cells, and we identified miR-629-3p as being responsible for acquiring anticancer drug resistance in head and neck cancer. The introduction of miR-629-3p expression inhibited apoptotic cell death under cisplatin treatment conditions, and it promoted cell migration. Among the computationally predicted target genes of miR-629-3p, we found that a number of gene expressions were suppressed by the transfection with miR-629-3p. Using a xenografting model, we showed that miR-629-3p conferred cisplatin resistance to SAS cells. Clinically, increased miR-629-3p expression tended to be associated with decreased survival in head and neck cancer patients. In conclusion, our data suggest that the increased expression of miR-629-3p provides a mechanism of cisplatin resistance in head and neck cancer and may serve as a therapeutic target to reverse chemotherapy resistance.

Clinical and pathological significance of Homo sapiens ceramide synthase 2 (CerS-2) in diverse human cancers

Homo sapiens ceramide synthase 2 (CerS-2) plays an important role in inhibiting invasion and metastasis of tumor cells and has been reported as a tumor metastasis suppressor gene in diverse cancers. Thus, low level of CerS-2 protein might suggest a bad prognosis and up-regulation of CerS-2 protein might act as a promising therapeutic strategy for malignant tumors. In this review, we discussed the expression, as well as the clinical and pathological significance of CerS-2 in diverse human cancers. The pathological processes and molecular pathways regulated by CerS-2 were also summarized.

Identification of molecular targets for esophageal carcinoma diagnosis using miRNA-seq and RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas: a study of 187 cases

Esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, and its pathogenesis is complex. In this study, we identified differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and genes (DEGs) of ESCA from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The diagnostic values of DEMs were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses and validated based on data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The top five DEMs with the best diagnostic values were selected, and their potential targets were predicted by various in silico methods. These target genes were then identified among the DEGs from TCGA. Furthermore, the overlapping genes were subjected to protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. The miRNA-transcription factor (TF) regulatory relations were determined using CircuitsDB and TransmiR. Finally, the regulatory networks of miRNA-TF and miRNA-gene were constructed and analyzed. A total of 136 DEMs and 3541 DEGs were identified in ESCA. The top five DEMs with the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values were miRNA-93 (0.953), miRNA-21 (0.928), miRNA-4746 (0.915), miRNA-196a-1 (0.906) and miRNA-196a-2 (0.906). The combined AUC of these five DEMs was 0.985. The KEGG analysis with 349 overlapping genes showed that the calcium signaling pathway and the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction were the most relevant pathways. The regulatory networks of miRNA-TF and miRNA-gene, including 38 miRNA-TF and 560 miRNA-gene pairs, were successfully established. Our findings may provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of ESCA pathogenesis. Future research will aim to explore the role of novel miRNAs in the pathogenesis and improve the early diagnosis of ESCA.

miR-93 enhances cell proliferation by directly targeting CDKN1A in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial malignancy of the head and neck with the highest incidence rate in southern China. The aim of the present study was to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie the progression of NPC. The relative expression of miR-93 and CDKN1A was detected by the reverse-transcription quantitative PCR. Western blot analysis was applied to detect the protein levels of genes. Luciferase activity report was applied to verify the target of miRNA. Cell growth was assayed by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. miR-93 was upregulated in NPC tissues and cell lines compared with normal samples. Re-expression of miR-93 promoted cell growth in vitro as determined by the MTT assay. CDKN1A was identified by luciferase reporter as a direct target of miR-93. Its expression was downregulated by miR-93. Furthermore, the results showed that the expression of miR-93 was inversely correlated with the expression of CDKN1A protein. miR-93 enhanced cell proliferation in NPC by directly targeting CDKN1A. It is suggested that miR-93/CDKN1A axis may present a new target for the treatment of NPC.

Suppression of microRNA-629 enhances sensitivity of cervical cancer cells to 1'S-1'-acetoxychavicol acetate via regulating RSU1

Background

Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent malignancy affecting women worldwide, but drug resistance and toxicities remain a major challenge in chemotherapy. The use of natural compounds is promising because they are less toxic and able to target multiple signaling pathways. The 1′S-1′-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA), a natural compound isolated from wild ginger Alpinia conchigera, induced cytotoxicity on various cancer cells including cervical cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that regulate numerous biological processes, such as apoptosis and chemosensitivity. Past studies reported that miR-629 is upregulated in many cancers, and its expression was altered in ACA-treated cervical cancer cells. However, the role of miR-629 in regulating sensitivity toward ACA or other anticancer agents has not been reported. Hence, this study aims to investigate the role of miR-629 in regulating response toward ACA on cervical cancer cells.

Methods

The miR-629 expression following transfection with miR-629 hairpin inhibitor and hairpin inhibitor negative control was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to investigate sensitivity toward ACA. Apoptosis was detected using Annexin V/propidium iodide and Caspase 3/7 assays. The gene target for miR-629 was identified using miRNA target prediction programs, luciferase reporter assay and Western blots. Gene overexpression studies were performed to evaluate its role in regulating response toward ACA.

Results

Transfection with miR-629 hairpin inhibitor downregulated its expression in both cervical cancer cell lines. Suppression of miR-629 increased sensitivity toward ACA by reducing cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed RSU1 as a direct target of miR-629. Overexpression of miR-629 decreased RSU1 protein expression, while inhibition of miR-629 increased RSU1 protein expression. Overexpression of RSU1 augmented antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of ACA.

Conclusion

Our findings showed that combination of ACA with miR-629 and RSU1 may provide a potential strategy in treating cervical cancer.

MiR-93 Promotes Tumorigenesis and Metastasis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells by Activating the PI3K/Akt Pathway via Inhibition of LKB1/PTEN/CDKN1A

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of clinical lung cancer cases. MicroRNA-93 (miR-93) is an oncomiR in many types of human cancer, exerting pivotal effects in the development and progression of malignancies, including NSCLC. However, the mechanism underlying miR-93 involvement in NSCLC is unknown. Our purpose was to reveal and explain this mechanism, with the goal of contributing to the development of new diagnostic biomarkers and individualized therapeutic tools.

METHODS

The expression of miR-93 was determined in NSCLC cell lines A549, H1975, and H1299. The cells were transfected with control plasmids (Mock group), miR-93 overexpression plasmids (miR-93 Up group), or miR-93 inhibitor plasmids (miR-93 Down group) to generate stable miR-93-overexpressing or -depleted cells. The effects of miR-93 on proliferation, migration, and invasion of these cells were determined. The in vivo effects of miR-93 on tumor metastasis were determined in an NSCLC xenograft mouse model. The molecular mechanisms underlying these effects were investigated via dual luciferase reporter assay and western blotting.

RESULTS

MiR-93 expression levels were significantly greater in the NSCLC cell lines than in normal lung epithelial cells. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were significantly stimulated by miR-93 upregulation (all P<0.05) and inhibited by miR-93 downregulation. Dual luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that miR-93 directly bound with the 3'-untranslated region of the tumor suppressor gene LKB1. Western blotting analysis indicated that miR-93 activated the PI3K/Akt pathway by inhibiting LKB1, PTEN, and p21. Increased expression of miR-93 induced significant hepatic metastasis of lung cancer in the xenograft mouse model.

CONCLUSION

Overexpression of miR-93 facilitates tumorigenesis and metastasis of NSCLC. These findings provide novel insight into the mechanism of miR-93 involvement in NSCLC, suggesting that miR-93 may serve as a potential therapeutic target.