Non-coding RNAs in skin cancers:Biological roles and molecular mechanisms

Identification and validation of a seven cuproptosis-associated lncRNA signature to predict the prognosis of endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in women. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are potential diagnostic biomarkers in patients with EC.

METHODS

We obtained clinical information and transcriptome data for 552 patients with EC from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Cuproptosis-associated lncRNAs were obtained through Pearson's correlation analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were applied and a signature predicting overall survival (OS) among patients with EC was constructed. We also analyzed the tumor immune microenvironment and drug sensitivity. The results were validated by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction, and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine and wound-healing assays.

RESULTS

Seven cuproptosis-associated lncRNAs related to prognosis were screened out and a signature was constructed. OS was significantly superior in the low-risk group. In addition, patients in the low-risk group had more CD8+ T cell infiltration, a stronger type II interferon response, and greater cisplatin sensitivity. Expression levels of some of the lncRNAs were significantly increased by cuproptosis. Furthermore, silencing of lncRNA AC084117.1 significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of EC cells.

CONCLUSION

We constructed a seven cuproptosis-associated lncRNA signature to predict the prognosis of patients with EC with good predictive power.

Autophagy in BRAF-mutant cutaneous melanoma: recent advances and therapeutic perspective

Macroautophagy, hereafter referred to as autophagy, represents a highly conserved catabolic process that maintains cellular homeostasis. At present, the role of autophagy in cutaneous melanoma (CM) is still controversial, since it appears to be tumor-suppressive at early stages of malignant transformation and cancer-promoting during disease progression. Interestingly, autophagy has been found to be often increased in CM harboring BRAF mutation and to impair the response to targeted therapy. In addition to autophagy, numerous studies have recently conducted in cancer to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of mitophagy, a selective form of mitochondria autophagy, and secretory autophagy, a process that facilitates unconventional cellular secretion. Although several aspects of mitophagy and secretory autophagy have been investigated in depth, their involvement in BRAF-mutant CM biology has only recently emerged. In this review, we aim to overview autophagy dysregulation in BRAF-mutant CM, along with the therapeutic advantages that may arise from combining autophagy inhibitors with targeted therapy. In addition, the recent advances on mitophagy and secretory autophagy involvement in BRAF-mutant CM will be also discussed. Finally, since a number of autophagy-related non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been identified so far, we will briefly discussed recent advances linking ncRNAs to autophagy regulation in BRAF-mutant CM.