miR‑20b promotes growth of non‑small cell lung cancer through a positive feedback loop of the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway

Role of MicroRNA-214 in Dishevelled1-Modulated β-catenin Signalling in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Progression

Background: The mortality of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is rather high. This is largely because of the lack of specific targets and understanding of the molecular mechanism for early diagnosis. Dishevelled (Dvl) dysregulation leads to malignant progression. We confirmed that Dvl1 expression is associated with a poor prognosis of patients with NSCLC. However, how Dvl1 transmits signals through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway remains unknown. Methods: In this study, the expression levels of Dvl1 and β-catenin in resected NSCLC samples were immunohistochemically analysed. Dvl1 cDNA and small interfering RNA against β-catenin were transfected into NSCLC cells, and their effects on canonical Wnt signalling and biological behaviour of NSCLC cells were analysed. Using bioinformatics analyses, an interaction between microRNA (miR)-214 and β-catenin was identified; miR-214 expression was determined in NSCLC tissues using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. An exogenous miR-214 (mimic) was used to analyse the biological behaviour of NSCLC cells and the effect of Dvl1 on canonical Wnt activation. Results: Dvl1 overexpression in NSCLC tissues as well as Dvl1 and β-catenin nuclear coexpression were significantly associated with poor prognosis of NSCLC (P < 0.05). Additionally, Dvl1 promoted Wnt/β-catenin signalling to enhance the malignant phenotype of NSCLC cells. Moreover, miR-214 directly targeted the 3' untranslated region of β-catenin to inhibit the activation of canonical Wnt signalling induced by Dvl1. Conclusions: Our results suggest that Dvl1 is a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC and that miR-214 plays an inhibitory role in Dvl1-mediated activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling in NSCLC cells, which could affect NSCLC progression.

Wnt signaling in colorectal cancer: pathogenic role and therapeutic target

Background

The Wnt signaling pathway is a complex network of protein interactions that functions most commonly in embryonic development and cancer, but is also involved in normal physiological processes in adults. The canonical Wnt signaling pathway regulates cell pluripotency and determines the differentiation fate of cells during development. The canonical Wnt signaling pathway (also known as the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway) is a recognized driver of colon cancer and one of the most representative signaling pathways. As a functional effector molecule of Wnt signaling, the modification and degradation of β-catenin are key events in the Wnt signaling pathway and the development and progression of colon cancer. Therefore, the Wnt signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diseases, especially the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Objective

Inhibit the Wnt signaling pathway to explore the therapeutic targets of colorectal cancer.

Methods

Based on studying the Wnt pathway, master the biochemical processes related to the Wnt pathway, and analyze the relevant targets when drugs or inhibitors act on the Wnt pathway, to clarify the medication ideas of drugs or inhibitors for the treatment of diseases, especially colorectal cancer.

Results

Wnt signaling pathways include: Wnt/β-catenin or canonical Wnt signaling pathway, planar cell polarity (Wnt-PCP) pathway and Wnt-Ca²⁺ signaling pathway. The Wnt signaling pathway is closely related to cancer cell proliferation, stemness, apoptosis, autophagy, metabolism, inflammation and immunization, microenvironment, resistance, ion channel, heterogeneity, EMT/migration/invasion/metastasis. Drugs/phytochemicals and molecular preparations for the Wnt pathway of CRC treatment have now been developed. Wnt inhibitors are also commonly used clinically for the treatment of CRC.

Conclusion

The development of drugs/phytochemicals and molecular inhibitors targeting the Wnt pathway can effectively treat colorectal cancer clinically.

Serum Exosomes and Their miRNA Load-A Potential Biomarker of Lung Cancer

Early detection of lung cancer in screening programs is a rational way to reduce mortality associated with this malignancy. Low-dose computed tomography, a diagnostic tool used in lung cancer screening, generates a relatively large number of false-positive results, and its complementation with molecular biomarkers would greatly improve the effectiveness of such programs. Several biomarkers of lung cancer based on different components of blood, including miRNA signatures, were proposed. However, only a few of them have been positively validated in the context of early cancer detection yet, which imposes a constant need for new biomarker candidates. An emerging source of cancer biomarkers are exosomes and other types of extracellular vesicles circulating in body fluids. Hence, different molecular components of serum/plasma-derived exosomes were tested and showed different levels in lung cancer patients and healthy individuals. Several studies focused on the miRNA component of these vesicles. Proposed signatures of exosome miRNA had promising diagnostic value, though none of them have yet been clinically validated. These signatures involved a few dozen miRNA species overall, including a few species that recurred in different signatures. It is worth noting that all these miRNA species have cancer-related functions and have been associated with lung cancer progression. Moreover, a few of them, including known oncomirs miR-17, miR-19, miR-21, and miR-221, appeared in multiple miRNA signatures of lung cancer based on both the whole serum/plasma and serum/plasma-derived exosomes.

Silencing LINC00504 inhibits cell proliferation, invasion as well as migration and promotes cell apoptosis in lung cancer cells via upregulating miR-876-3p

LINC00504 acts as an oncogene and associates with unfavorable prognosis in patients with lung cancer. Silencing LINC00504 may be a promising strategy for treatment of lung cancer and its effects were firstly investigated in lung cancer cells this study. The gene expression level of miR-876-3p as well as LINC00504 were measured via PCR assay. The cell proliferation was investigated through Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and colony formation assay. Flow cytometry was applied for detection of cell apoptosis. Wound healing and transwell assay were performed for measurement of cell migration and invasion respectively. The apoptosis related protein expressions were measured by western blot. Luciferase report assay was conducted for verification the target gene. LINC00504 was higher expressed in five types of lung cancer cells studied herein when compared with the control normal cells. LINC00504 knockdown exerted inhibitory effects on cell apoptosis, cell migration as well as cell invasion and promoted cell apoptosis. All the effects mentioned above were counteracted by miR-876-3p inhibitor. Silencing LINC00504 possessed anti-proliferation, repression of cell invasion as well as migration and pro-apoptosis effects via targeting up-regulation of miR-876-3p in lung cancer cells, proving the new therapeutic targets and highlighting the potential application in future diagnosis and treatment in lung cancer.