Novel miRNA-based drug CD5-2 reduces liver tumor growth in diethylnitrosamine-treated mice by normalizing tumor vasculature and altering immune infiltrate

Circulating MicroRNAs: functional biomarkers for melanoma prognosis and treatment

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) hold significant promise as circulating cancer biomarkers and unlike many other molecular markers, they can provide valuable insights that extend beyond tumour biology. The expression of circulating miRNAs may parallel the cellular composition and dynamic activity within the tumour microenvironment and reveal systemic immune responses. The functional complexity of miRNAs-where a single miRNA can regulate multiple messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to fine tune fundamental processes, and a single mRNA can be targeted by multiple miRNAs-underscores their broad significance and impact. However, this complexity poses significant challenges for translating miRNA research into clinical practice. In melanoma, specific miRNA signatures have shown notable diagnostic, prognostic and predictive value, with lineage-specific and immune-related miRNAs frequently identified as valuable markers. In this review, we explore the role of circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers in melanoma, and highlight the current status and advances required to translate miRNA research into therapeutic opportunities.

LMNB1/CDKN1A Signaling Regulates the Cell Cycle and Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies in the world. Lamin B1 (LMNB1) is a key component of the nuclear skeleton structure. Recent studies have found that LMNB1 is overexpressed in tumor tissues and is associated with the prognosis of patients. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear in HCC.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the clinical significance and molecular mechanisms of LMNB1 in HCC.

METHODS

The expression level of LMNB1 and its clinical values were analyzed with public databases, and the level of LMNB1 in HCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was confirmed by qRT-PCR and IHC. Functional assays were conducted to explore the impact of LMNB1 knockdown on cell proliferation both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis, recovery analysis, and ChIP assays were employed to investigate its underlying molecular mechanisms. Finally, we carried out an analysis of the relationship between LMNB1 and immune cell infiltration in HCC.

RESULTS

LMNB1 was found to be overexpressed in HCC and correlated with the pathological stage and unfavorable prognosis. Functional assays demonstrated that LMNB1 promotes HCC proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Further analysis revealed that LMNB1 promotes the progression of HCC by regulating CDKN1A expression. Furthermore, the infiltration of immune cells in HCC tissues suggests a potential correlation between immune infiltration cell markers and the expression of LMNB1.

CONCLUSIONS

LMNB1 emerged as a promising therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for HCC, with its expression showing a correlation with several immune infiltration cell markers.

The Role of the MiR-181 Family in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Due to the high mortality rate in HCC patients, discovering and developing novel systemic treatment options for HCC is a vital unmet medical need. Among the numerous molecular alterations in HCCs, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been increasingly recognised to play critical roles in hepatocarcinogenesis. We and others have recently revealed that members of the microRNA-181 (miR-181) family were up-regulated in some, though not all, human cirrhotic and HCC tissues-this up-regulation induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in hepatocytes and tumour cells, promoting HCC progression. MiR-181s play crucial roles in governing the fate and function of various cells, such as endothelial cells, immune cells, and tumour cells. Previous reviews have extensively covered these aspects in detail. This review aims to give some insights into miR-181s, their targets and roles in modulating signal transduction pathways, factors regulating miR-181 expression and function, and their roles in HCC.

The challenges and potential of microRNA-based therapy for patients with liver failure syndromes and hepatocellular carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Morbidity and mortality from liver disease continues to rise worldwide. There are currently limited curative treatments for patients with liver failure syndromes, encompassing acute liver failure and decompensated cirrhosis states, outside of transplantation. Whilst there have been improvements in therapeutic options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there remain challenges necessitating novel therapeutic agents. microRNA have long been seen as potential therapeutic targets but there has been limited clinical translation.

AREAS COVERED

We will discuss the limitations of conventional non-transplant management of patients with liver failure syndromes and HCC. We will provide an overview of microRNA and the challenges in developing and delivering microRNA-based therapeutic agents. We will finally provide an overview of microRNA-based therapeutic agents which have progressed to clinical trials.

EXPERT OPINION

microRNA have great potential to be developed into therapeutic agents due to their association with critical biological processes which govern health and disease. Utilizing microRNA sponges to target multiple microRNA associated with specific biological processes may improve their therapeutic efficacy. However, there needs to be significant improvements in delivery systems to ensure the safe delivery of microRNA to target sites and minimize systemic distribution. This currently significantly impacts the clinical translation of microRNA-based therapeutic agents.