Long Noncoding RNAs in the Prediction of Survival of Patients with Digestive Cancers

Elucidating the Role of LINC01980 in Laryngeal Cancer: From Expression Profiling to Regulatory Network Prediction

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remains a significant global health challenge despite advances in treatment. This study investigated the involvement of LINC01980, a long non-coding RNA, in LSCC pathogenesis. We conducted an integrative analysis of transcriptomic data sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases to identify genes that are differentially expressed in LSCC. LINC01980 expression was evaluated in 32 matched pairs of advanced-stage LSCC and adjacent normal tissues using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The potential competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network involving LINC01980 was explored through bioinformatics analyses. Findings revealed significant upregulation of LINC01980 in LSCC tissues compared to normal adjacent tissues (p < 0.0001), with elevated expression in 78.125% of tumor samples. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated LINC01980's potential as a diagnostic biomarker (AUC = 0.7666, p = 0.0002). While no significant correlations were found between LINC01980 expression and clinicopathological features, bioinformatics analyses identified potential LINC01980/ miRNA/ mRNA regulatory network involving hsa-let-7e-5p and hub gene MMP9. This study provides insights into LINC01980's role in LSCC and suggests its potential as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target. Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise molecular mechanisms of LINC01980 in LSCC progression.

Research on Correlations of lncRNA ST7-AS1 with Progression and Therapeutic Targets of Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal tumor in China, resulting in a significant number of deaths annually. In this paper, we investigated the regulatory role and therapeutic potential of aberrant ST7-AS1 expression in esophageal cancer. The presence of ST7-AS1 in 125 esophageal cancer tissues was identified through RT-qPCR assays. The application of Kaplan-Meier to evaluate survival rates in patients with esophageal cancer. Cell activity was assessed by both CCK-8 and Transwell assays. The luciferase activity assay verified the association of ST7-AS1 with miR-4262. ST7-AS1 expression in esophageal cancer was noticeably overexpressed compared to the control group. Patients with upregulated ST7-AS1 had shorter survival rates. Silencing ST7-AS1 reduced the proliferation level of esophageal cancer cells, as did the migration and invasion levels. Mechanistically, ST7-AS1 acted as a sponge for miR-4262, affecting the progression of esophageal cancer. This was negatively correlated with ST7-AS1. Moreover, the miR-4262 inhibitor negated the inhibitory effect of silencing ST7-AS1 on cells. Knockdown of ST7-AS1 may alleviate tumor progression by targeting miR-4262, indicating that ST7-AS1 is anticipated to serve as a therapeutic biomarker for patients with esophageal cancer.

lncRNA POLR2J4 Plays a Biomarker Role in Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Through Regulating miR-214-3p

Identifying novel therapeutic targets for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become a key goal in liver cancer research. Even though long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) do not code proteins, they could regulate the expression of functional genes and thus mediate disease development. The aim of this study was to estimate the role of lncRNA POLR2J4 (POLR2J4) in the progression of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) to pinpoint a potential biomarker. This study included 109 patients diagnosed with HBV-positive HCC, from whom tissue samples were collected. The expression level of POLR2J4 was evaluated by qPCR. The significance of POLR2J4 in HBV-HCC development and prognosis was estimated by Chi-square, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox analysis. In vitro, POLR2J4 was regulated in HBV-HCC cells, and its effect on cell growth and metastasis was assessed by CCK8 and Transwell assay. The interaction between POLR2J4 and miR-214-3p was evaluated through the luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. In tumor tissues of HBV-HCC patients, there was an observed increase in the expression of POLR2J4. The increase was closely related with patients' presence of cirrhosis and vascular invasion, higher AFP, and advanced Edmondson grade and TNM stage. An upregulation of POLR2J4 predicted a poor prognosis for HBV-HCC patients and served as an independent indicator. In HBV-related HCC cells, silencing POLR2J4 suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, POLR2J4 negatively regulated miR-214-3p reversing the inhibition of cellular processes. POLR2J4 acted as a prognostic biomarker and a tumor promoter of HBV-HCC by modulating miR-214-3p.

LncRNA FAM30A Predicts Adverse Prognosis and Regulates Cellular Processes in Colorectal Cancer via Modulating miR-21-3p

BACKGROUND/AIMS

 Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent gastrointestinal cancer with high incidence and mortality rate. lncRNAs could regulate the expression of miRNAs and further affect cancer development. Previous research has suggested that FAM30A is involved in various cancer. We aimed to investigate the function of FAM30A in the prognosis of CRC and its underlying molecular mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 Matched tissues were collected from 107 CRC patients. FAM30A was measured by quantitative real-time transcription polymerase chain reaction and its clinical significance was evaluated by its correlation with patients' prognosis and clinicopathological features. Furthermore, the dual luciferase reporter assays were employed to assess the interactions between FAM30A and miR-21-3p and to evaluate the role of miR-21-3p in regulating the tumor suppressor effects of FAM30A. Cell proliferation and metastasis were evaluated by the Transwell assay and cell counting kit-8 assay.

RESULTS

 FAM30A level was markedly decreased in CRC tissues (P <.001). A prominent association was observed in FAM30A with tumor- node-metastasis stage (P = .022), carcinoembryonic antigen (P = .027), and differentiation (P = .043) of CRC patients. The lower the FAM30A level was associated with the lower the survival rate of the CRC patients (log rank P = .034). FAM30A could negatively modulate miR-21-3p (P <.001), and the overexpression of FAM30A significantly suppressed CRC cell proliferation and metastasis (P <.001). The suppressive function of FAM30A overexpression was mediated by miR-21-3p.

CONCLUSION

 FAM30A can be considered a poor prognostic indicator in CRC. Decreased FAM30A can promote the proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells by negatively regulating miR-21-3p.

Diagnostic Significance of Serum Long Noncoding HOX Antisense Intergenic Ribonucleic Acid in Patients with Hepatitis B Virus Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS

 Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Extensive literature suggests that long noncoding RNAs play a role in the progression of HCC and hold potential as diagnostic biomarkers for this disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 We examined the serum levels of HOX antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) in 49 hepatitis patients, 31 liver cirrhosis (LC), and 37 HCC patients using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Correlations between serum HOTAIR levels and clinical data were evaluated in HCC patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve was utilized to analyze the diagnostic potency of HOTAIR.

RESULTS

 The HOTAIR levels in serum were significantly higher in HCC patients compared to those with hepatitis (P = .003) and LC patients (P = .048). There was a significant association between the serum levels of HOTAIR and positivity of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) (P = .039) as well as portal vein tumor thrombus (P = .040) in HCC patients. The area under the curve (AUC) for HOTAIR for distinguishing HCC from hepatitis and LC was 0.697. The combined AUC for HOTAIR, HBeAg, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was 0.777.

CONCLUSION

 Serum HOTAIR functions as a potential diagnostic marker for hepatitis B virus-related HCC. Combining HOTAIR with clinical data and AFP can reinforce the diagnostic precision on HCC.

LncRNA-HOXC-AS2 regulates tumor-associated macrophage polarization through the STAT1/SOCS1 and STAT1/CIITA pathways to promote the progression of non-small cell lung cancer

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) mainly exhibit the characteristics of M2-type macrophages, and the regulation of TAM polarization is a new target for cancer therapy, among which lncRNAs are key regulatory molecules. This study aimed to explore the effects of lncRNA-HOXC-AS2 on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by regulating TAM polarization. THP-1 cells were used to differentiate into macrophages, and TAMs were obtained by coculture with A549 cells. The M1/M2 cell phenotype and HOXC-AS2 expression were detected, and A549-derived exosomes (A549-exo) were used to elucidate the effects of A549 on macrophage polarization and HOXC-AS2 expression. Then, by interfering with HOXC-AS2 or STAT1, the effects of HOXC-AS2 regulation of STAT1 on the TAM phenotype and STAT1/SOCS1 and STAT1/CIITA pathways were analyzed, and the proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC cells in the coculture system were also detected. Results showed that HOXC-AS2 expression in M2 macrophages and TAMs was significantly higher than that in M1 macrophages, and A549-exo promoted HOXC-AS2 expression and M2 polarization. Intervention HOXC-AS2 resulted in increased M1 marker expression, decreased M2 marker expression, and activation of STAT1/SOCS1 and STAT1/CIITA pathways in TAMs. In addition, HOXC-AS2 was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of TAMs and could bind to STAT1. Further experiments confirmed that intervention HOXC-AS2 promoted the M1 polarization of TAMs by targeting STAT1 and weakened the promoting effects of TAMs on the proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC. In conclusion, HOXC-AS2 inhibited the activation of STAT1/SOCS1 and STAT1/CIITA pathways and promoted M2 polarization of TAMs by binding with STAT1, thus promoting NSCLC.