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Chak PT, Kam NW, Choi TH, Dai W, Kwong DLW. Unfolding the Complexity of Exosome-Cellular Interactions on Tumour Immunity and Their Clinical Prospects in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:919. [PMID: 38473281 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial malignancy situated in the posterolateral nasopharynx. NPC poses grave concerns in Southeast Asia due to its late diagnosis. Together with resistance to standard treatment combining chemo- and radiotherapy, NPC presents high metastatic rates and common recurrence. Despite advancements in immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and cytotoxic-T-lymphocytes (CTLs)-based cellular therapy, the exhaustive T cell profile and other signs of immunosuppression within the NPC tumour microenvironment (TME) remain as concerns to immunotherapy response. Exosomes, extracellular vesicles of 30-150 nm in diameter, are increasingly studied and linked to tumourigenesis in oncology. These bilipid-membrane-bound vesicles are packaged with a variety of signalling molecules, mediating cell-cell communications. Within the TME, exosomes can originate from tumour, immune, or stromal cells. Although there are studies on tumour-derived exosomes (TEX) in NPC and their effects on tumour processes like angiogenesis, metastasis, therapeutic resistance, there is a lack of research on their involvement in immune evasion. In this review, we aim to enhance the comprehension of how NPC TEX contribute to cellular immunosuppression. Furthermore, considering the detectability of TEX in bodily fluids, we will also discuss the potential development of TEX-related biomarkers for liquid biopsy in NPC as this could facilitate early diagnosis and prognostication of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paak-Ting Chak
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Centre of Cancer Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Ngar-Woon Kam
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Centre of Cancer Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Limited, Hong Kong Science Park, New Territories, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Tsz-Ho Choi
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Centre of Cancer Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Wei Dai
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Centre of Cancer Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Clinical Oncology Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518053, China
| | - Dora Lai-Wan Kwong
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Centre of Cancer Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Clinical Oncology Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518053, China
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Wang F, Li X, Li C. Mitochondrial non-coding RNA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Clinical diagnosis and functional analysis. Front Genet 2023; 14:1162332. [PMID: 37035732 PMCID: PMC10076541 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1162332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common head and neck cancer with high incidence in Southeast Asia. Despite advances in treatment, the diagnosis of NPC remains a challenge due to its non-specific symptoms and high rate of false negatives. In this study, we aimed to identify novel non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as diagnostic biomarkers for NPC. Mitochondrial non-coding RNAs (mtio-ncRNAs) have been shown to play important roles in regulating various cellular processes. However, their specific functions and underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Methods: We investigated the expression and biological function of mtio-ncRNAs in the human NPC cell line C666-1. By using high-throughput sequencing, we identified several significantly expressed mtio-ncRNAs in C666-1 cells and analyzed their target genes and enriched pathways using tsRFUN. Results: Our results showed that these significantly expressed mtio-ncRNAs mainly enriched in Cancer Gene Neighborhoods and targeted genes GCM1 and ACTG1. To validate the bioinformatics predictions, we synthesized two mtio-ncRNAs, t00846456 and t00048674, and transfected them into C666-1 cells. Our results showed that the expression of GCM1 was significantly increased by transfection of t00846456, while the expression of ACTG1 was significantly increased by transfection of t0048674. Additionally, the migration ability of the transfected cells was also enhanced. Discussion: Our findings provide novel insights into the biological functions of mtio-ncRNAs and their potential applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cong Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
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Sabbaghian A, Mussack V, Kirchner B, Bui MLU, Kalani MR, Pfaffl MW, Golalipour M. A panel of blood-derived miRNAs with a stable expression pattern as a potential pan-cancer detection signature. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:1030749. [PMID: 36589227 PMCID: PMC9798419 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1030749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: MicroRNAs have a significant role in the regulation of the transcriptome. Several miRNAs have been proposed as potential biomarkers in different malignancies. However, contradictory results have been reported on the capability of miRNA biomarkers in cancer detection. The human biological clock involves molecular mechanisms that regulate several genes over time. Therefore, the sampling time becomes one of the significant factors in gene expression studies. Method: In the present study, we have tried to find miRNAs with minimum fluctuation in expression levels at different time points that could be more accurate candidates as diagnostic biomarkers. The small RNA-seq raw data of ten healthy individuals across nine-time points were analyzed to identify miRNAs with stable expression. Results: We have found five oscillation patterns. The stable miRNAs were investigated in 779 small-RNA-seq datasets of eleven cancer types. All miRNAs with the highest differential expression were selected for further analysis. The selected miRNAs were explored for functional pathways. The predominantly enriched pathways were miRNA in cancer and the P53-signaling pathway. Finally, we have found seven miRNAs, including miR-142-3p, miR-199a-5p, miR-223-5p, let-7d-5p, miR-148b-3p, miR-340-5p, and miR-421. These miRNAs showed minimum fluctuation in healthy blood and were dysregulated in the blood of eleven cancer types. Conclusion: We have found a signature of seven stable miRNAs which dysregulate in several cancer types and may serve as potential pan-cancer biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Sabbaghian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Advanced Technologies Faculty, Golestan University of Medical Science, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Veronika Mussack
- Department of Animal Physiology and Immunology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Benedikt Kirchner
- Department of Animal Physiology and Immunology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Maria L. U. Bui
- Department of Animal Physiology and Immunology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Mohammad Reza Kalani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Advanced Technologies Faculty, Golestan University of Medical Science, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Michael W. Pfaffl
- Department of Animal Physiology and Immunology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Masoud Golalipour
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Advanced Technologies Faculty, Golestan University of Medical Science, Gorgan, Iran,Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Science, Gorgan, Iran,*Correspondence: Masoud Golalipour,
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Cui Z, Mo J, Wang L, Wang R, Cheng F, Wang L, Yang X, Wang W. Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis of Serine Racemase as an Independent Prognostic Biomarker in Endometrial Cancer. Front Genet 2022; 13:906291. [PMID: 35923695 PMCID: PMC9340001 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.906291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) kills about 76,000 women worldwide, with the highest incidence in industrialized countries. Because of the rise in disease mortality and new diagnoses, EC is now a top priority for women’s health. Serine racemase (SRR) is thought to play a role in the central nervous system, but its role in cancers, particularly in EC, is largely unknown. The current study starts with a pan-cancer examination of SRR’s expression and prognostic value before delving into SRR’s potential cancer-suppressing effect in patients with EC. SRR may affect the endometrial tumor immune microenvironment, according to subsequent immune-related analysis. SRR expression is also linked to several genes involved in specific pathways such as ferroptosis, N6-methyladenosine methylation, and DNA damage repair. Finally, we used the expression, correlation, and survival analyses to investigate the upstream potential regulatory non-coding RNAs of SRR. Overall, our findings highlight the prognostic significance of SRR in patients with EC, and we can formulate a reasonable hypothesis that SRR influences metabolism and obstructs key carcinogenic processes in EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Cui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jiantao Mo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Lijun Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Rongli Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Feiyan Cheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Lihui Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xinyuan Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Xinyuan Yang, ; Wei Wang,
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Xinyuan Yang, ; Wei Wang,
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He W, Zhou X, Mao Y, Wu Y, Tang X, Yan S, Tang S. CircCRIM1 promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression via the miR-34c-5p/FOSL1 axis. Eur J Med Res 2022; 27:59. [PMID: 35484574 PMCID: PMC9052594 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-022-00667-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare malignancy with multiple risk factors (Epstein-Barr virus, etc.) that seriously threatens the health of people. CircRNAs are known to regulate the tumorigenesis of malignant tumours, including NPC. Moreover, circCRIM1 expression is reported to be upregulated in NPC. Nevertheless, the impact of circCRIM1 on NPC progression is not clear. METHODS An MTT assay was performed to assess cell viability. In addition, cell invasion and migration were assessed by the transwell assay. Dual luciferase assays were performed to assess the association among circCRIM1, miR-34c-5p and FOSL1. Moreover, RT-qPCR was applied to assess mRNA levels, and protein levels were determined by Western blot. RESULTS CircCRIM1 and FOSL1 were upregulated in NPC cells, while miR-34c-5p was downregulated. Knockdown of circCRIM1 significantly decreased the invasion, viability and migration of NPC cells. The miR-34c-5p inhibitor notably promoted the malignant behaviour of NPC cells, while miR-34c-5p mimics exerted the opposite effect. Moreover, circCRIM1 could bind with miR-34c-5p, and FOSL1 was identified to be downstream of miR-34c-5p. Furthermore, circCRIM1 downregulation notably inhibited the proliferation and invasion of NPC cells, while this phenomenon was significantly reversed by FOSL1 overexpression. CONCLUSION Silencing circCRIM1 inhibited the tumorigenesis of NPC. Thus, circCRIM1 might be a novel target for NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weifeng He
- Oncology Department, The Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangqi Zhou
- Oncology Department, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital of University of South China, No. 336 Dong Feng South Road, Hengyang, 421002, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yini Mao
- Oncology Department, The Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - YangJie Wu
- Oncology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiyang Tang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Sijia Yan
- Oncology Department, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital of University of South China, No. 336 Dong Feng South Road, Hengyang, 421002, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Sanyuan Tang
- Oncology Department, The Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, People's Republic of China. .,Oncology Department, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital of University of South China, No. 336 Dong Feng South Road, Hengyang, 421002, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
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Su ZY, Siak PY, Leong CO, Cheah SC. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Its Microenvironment: Past, Current, and Future Perspectives. Front Oncol 2022; 12:840467. [PMID: 35311066 PMCID: PMC8924466 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.840467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial malignancy that raises public health concerns in endemic countries. Despite breakthroughs in therapeutic strategies, late diagnosis and drug resistance often lead to unsatisfactory clinical outcomes in NPC patients. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex niche consisting of tumor-associated cells, such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, leukocytes, that influences tumor initiation, progression, invasion, and metastasis. Cells in the TME communicate through various mechanisms, of note, exosomes, ligand-receptor interactions, cytokines and chemokines are active players in the construction of TME, characterized by an abundance of immune infiltrates with suppressed immune activities. The NPC microenvironment serves as a target-rich niche for the discovery of potential promising predictive or diagnostic biomarkers and the development of therapeutic strategies. Thus, huge efforts have been made to exploit the role of the NPC microenvironment. The whole picture of the NPC microenvironment remains to be portrayed to understand the mechanisms underlying tumor biology and implement research into clinical practice. The current review discusses the recent insights into the role of TME in the development and progression of NPC which results in different clinical outcomes of patients. Clinical interventions with the use of TME components as potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets, their challenges, and future perspectives will be introduced. This review anticipates to provide insights to the researchers for future preclinical, translational and clinical research on the NPC microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Yi Su
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Pui Yan Siak
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Chee-Onn Leong
- Centre of Cancer and Stem Cells Research, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.,Institute for Research, Development and Innovation, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shiau-Chuen Cheah
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Liu X, Zhao S, Sui H, Liu H, Yao M, Su Y, Qu P. MicroRNAs/LncRNAs Modulate MDSCs in Tumor Microenvironment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:772351. [PMID: 35359390 PMCID: PMC8963964 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.772351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous group of immature cells derived from bone marrow that play critical immunosuppressive functions in the tumor microenvironment (TME), promoting cancer progression. According to base length, Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are mainly divided into: microRNAs (miRNAs), lncRNAs, snRNAs and CircRNAs. Both miRNA and lncRNA are transcribed by RNA polymerase II, and they play an important role in gene expression under both physiological and pathological conditions. The increasing data have shown that MiRNAs/LncRNAs regulate MDSCs within TME, becoming one of potential breakthrough points at the investigation and treatment of cancer. Therefore, we summarize how miRNAs/lncRNAs mediate the differentiation, expansion and immunosuppressive function of tumor MDSCs in TME. We will then focus on the regulatory mechanisms of exosomal MicroRNAs/LncRNAs on tumor MDSCs. Finally, we will discuss how the interaction of miRNAs/lncRNAs modulates tumor MDSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaocui Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong, China
| | - Shang Zhao
- Department of Pathophysiology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong, China
| | - Hongshu Sui
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong, China
| | - Minhua Yao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong, China
| | - Yanping Su
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong, China
- *Correspondence: Yanping Su, ; Peng Qu,
| | - Peng Qu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong, China
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Yanping Su, ; Peng Qu,
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Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant epithelial tumor with a unique geographical distribution, primarily prevalent in East Africa and Asia. Although there is an increased understanding of the pathogenesis and risk factors of NPC, prevention and treatment efforts remain limited. Various studies have indicated that exosomes are actively involved in NPC by delivering biomolecules such as non-coding RNAs and proteins to target cells. In this review, we summarize the biological functions of exosomes in NPC and highlight their prospects as diagnostic biomarkers. In NPC, exosomes can manipulate the tumor microenvironment, participate in chemotherapy and radiation resistance, induce immune suppression, promote pathological angiogenesis, and support metastasis, and thus they could also be promising biomarkers. Because exosomes have essential effects and unusual biological properties, they have a promising future in diagnostic monitoring and prognostic evaluation. Although there are technical issues associated with using exosomes in large-scale applications, they have unparalleled advantages in assisting the clinical management of NPC.
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