Polymorphisms of microRNA target genes IL12B, INSR, CCND1 and IL10 in gastric cancer

The Influence of the Microbiome on Immunotherapy for Gastroesophageal Cancer

Immunotherapy has shown promise as a treatment option for gastroesophageal cancer, but its effectiveness is limited in many patients due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) commonly found in gastrointestinal tumors. This paper explores the impact of the microbiome on the TME and immunotherapy outcomes in gastroesophageal cancer. The microbiome, comprising microorganisms within the gastrointestinal tract, as well as within malignant tissue, plays a crucial role in modulating immune responses and tumor development. Dysbiosis and reduced microbial diversity are associated with poor response rates and treatment resistance, while specific microbial profiles correlate with improved outcomes. Understanding the complex interactions between the microbiome, tumor biology, and immunotherapy is crucial for developing targeted interventions. Microbiome-based biomarkers may enable personalized treatment approaches and prediction of patient response. Interventions targeting the microbiome, such as microbiota-based therapeutics and dietary modifications, offer the potential for reshaping the gut microbiota and creating a favorable TME that enhances immunotherapy efficacy. Further research is needed to reveal the underlying mechanisms, and large-scale clinical trials will be required to validate the efficacy of microbiome-targeted interventions.

Aberrant Cyclin D1 splicing in cancer: from molecular mechanism to therapeutic modulation

Cyclin D1 (CCND1), a crucial mediator of cell cycle progression, possesses many mutation types with different mutation frequencies in human cancers. The G870A mutation is the most common mutation in CCND1, which produces two isoforms: full-length CCND1a and divergent C-terminal CCND1b. The dysregulation of the CCND1 isoforms is associated with multiple human cancers. Exploring the molecular mechanism of CCND1 isoforms has offer new insight for cancer treatment. On this basis, the alterations of CCND1 gene are described, including amplification, overexpression, and mutation, especially the G870A mutation. Subsequently, we review the characteristics of CCND1 isoforms caused by G870A mutation. Additionally, we summarize cis-regulatory elements, trans-acting factors, and the splice mutation involved in splicing regulation of CCND1. Furthermore, we highlight the function of CCND1 isoforms in cell cycle, invasion, and metastasis in cancers. Importantly, the clinical role of CCND1 isoforms is also discussed, particularly concerning prognosis, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Last, emphasis is given to the corrective strategies that modulate the cancerous CCND1 isoforms. Thus, it is highlighting significance of aberrant isoforms of CCND1 as targets for cancer therapy.

PVT1/miR-16/CCND1 axis regulates gastric cancer progression

Long non-coding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) has been reported to be a vital modulator in tumorigenesis of gastric cancer (GC). However, the detailed regulatory mechanism of PVT1 in GC remains largely unclear. In this work, the expressions of PVT1 and microRNA-16 (miR-16) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in GC tissues and cell lines. GC cell lines NCI-N87 and MKN45 cell lines were chosen for the following assays. After PVT1 was overexpressed or depleted, CCK-8 and Transwell assays were performed to examine the cell viability and invasive capacity. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of cyclin D1 (CCND1) at mRNA and protein levels was measured by qRT-PCR and western blot. The competitive endogenous RNA molecular mechanism among PVT1, miR-16 and CCND1 was verified by bioinformatics analysis, luciferase-reporter gene assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. In the present study, it was revealed that PVT1 expression was remarkably evaluated in GC tissues and cell lines than that in the corresponding control group. PVT1 positively regulated the proliferation, migration and cell cycle progression of GC cells. Besides, miR-16 was identified as a target of PVT1, and CCND1 was identified as a target of miR-16. The depletion of PVT1 promoted the expression of miR-16 and suppressed CCND1 expression. Moreover, either miR-16 inhibitor or CCND1 overexpression plasmid could reverse the promoting effects of PVT1 on the malignant biological behaviors of GC cells. In conclusion, PVT1 promoted CCND1 expression by negatively regulating miR-16 expression to enhance the viability, invasion and cell cycle progression of GC cells.

MicroRNAs in Genetic Etiology of Human Diseases

Since their first discovery more than 20 years ago, miRNAs have been subject to deliberate research and analysis for revealing their physiological or pathological involvement. Regulatory roles of miRNAs in signal transduction, gene expression, and cellular processes in development, differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and homeostasis also imply their critical role in disease pathogenesis. Their roles in cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and other systemic diseases have been studied broadly. In these regulatory pathways, their mutations and target sequence variations play critical roles to determine their functional repertoire. In this chapter, we summarize studies that investigated the role of mutations, polymorphisms, and other variations of miRNAs in respect to pathological processes.

The Role of Microbiota in Gastrointestinal Cancer and Cancer Treatment: Chance or Curse?

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is home to a complex and dynamic community of microorganisms, comprising bacteria, archaea, viruses, yeast, and fungi. It is widely accepted that human health is shaped by these microbes and their collective microbial genome. This so-called second genome plays an important role in normal functioning of the host, contributing to processes involved in metabolism and immune modulation. Furthermore, the gut microbiota also is capable of generating energy and nutrients (eg, short-chain fatty acids and vitamins) that are otherwise inaccessible to the host and are essential for mucosal barrier homeostasis. In recent years, numerous studies have pointed toward microbial dysbiosis as a key driver in many GI conditions, including cancers. However, comprehensive mechanistic insights on how collectively gut microbes influence carcinogenesis remain limited. In addition to their role in carcinogenesis, the gut microbiota now has been shown to play a key role in influencing clinical outcomes to cancer immunotherapy, making them valuable targets in the treatment of cancer. It also is becoming apparent that, besides the gut microbiota's impact on therapeutic outcomes, cancer treatment may in turn influence GI microbiota composition. This review provides a comprehensive overview of microbial dysbiosis in GI cancers, specifically esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers, potential mechanisms of microbiota in carcinogenesis, and their implications in diagnostics and cancer treatment.

Association of Genetic Variants Affecting microRNAs and Pancreatic Cancer Risk

Genetic factors play an important role in the susceptibility to pancreatic cancer (PC). However, established loci explain a small proportion of genetic heritability for PC; therefore, more progress is needed to find the missing ones. We aimed at identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affecting PC risk through effects on micro-RNA (miRNA) function. We searched in silico the genome for SNPs in miRNA seed sequences or 3 prime untranslated regions (3'UTRs) of miRNA target genes. Genome-wide association data of PC cases and controls from the Pancreatic Cancer Cohort (PanScan) Consortium and the Pancreatic Cancer Case-Control (PanC4) Consortium were re-analyzed for discovery, and genotyping data from two additional consortia (PanGenEU and PANDoRA) were used for replication, for a total of 14,062 cases and 11,261 controls. None of the SNPs reached genome-wide significance in the meta-analysis, but for three of them the associations were in the same direction in all the study populations and showed lower value of p in the meta-analyses than in the discovery phase. Specifically, rs7985480 was consistently associated with PC risk (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.07-1.17, p = 3.03 × 10-6 in the meta-analysis). This SNP is in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with rs2274048, which modulates binding of various miRNAs to the 3'UTR of UCHL3, a gene involved in PC progression. In conclusion, our results expand the knowledge of the genetic PC risk through miRNA-related SNPs and show the usefulness of functional prioritization to identify genetic polymorphisms associated with PC risk.

Downregulating circRNA_0044516 Inhibits Cell Proliferation in Gastric Cancer Through miR-149/Wnt1/β-catenin Pathway

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). The Wnt1/β-catenin pathway can promote the proliferation of GC cells. This study aimed to explore whether circRNA_0044516 can regulate the proliferation of GC cells by modulating the Wnt1/β-catenin pathway.

METHODS

The expression of circRNA_0044516, miR-149, Wnt1, and β-catenin in GC tissues or cells was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. Cell viability and apoptosis were measured by CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays, respectively. The interaction between circRNA_0044516 and miR-149 was determined by luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays.

RESULTS

Upregulated circRNA_0044516 was found in GC tissues and cell lines. Downregulating circRNA_0044516 inhibited the viability and promoted apoptosis of GC cells. CircRNA_0044516 targeted miR-149, and its downregulation elevated miR-149 level in GC cells. Mechanistically, silencing circRNA_0044516 reduced the protein level of Wnt1 and β-catenin through miR-149, and finally suppressed viability and contributed to apoptosis of GC cells. Moreover, circRNA_0044516 knockdown inhibited the tumor growth of HGC-27 cells in nude mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated an important role of circRNA_0044516 in GC and elucidated that downregulation of circRNA_0044516 inhibits the proliferation of GC cells through miR-149/Wnt1/β-catenin.

Molecular Alterations in Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia

Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the most common causes of mortality worldwide. Intestinal metaplasia (IM) is one of the preneoplastic gastric lesions and is considered an essential predisposing factor in GC development. Here we present a review of recent most relevant papers to summarize major findings on the molecular alterations in gastric IM. The latest progress in novel diagnostic methods allows scientists to identify various types of molecular alterations in IM, such as polymorphisms in various genes, changes in the expression of micro-RNAs and long noncoding RNAs, and altered microbiome profiles. The results have shown that some of these alterations have strong associations with IM and a potential to be used for screening, treatment, and prognostic purposes; however, one of the most important limiting factors is the inhomogeneity of the studies. Therefore, further large-scale studies and clinical trials with standardized methods designed by multicenter consortiums are needed. As of today, various molecular alterations in IM could become a part of personalized medicine in the near future, which would help us deliver a personalized approach for each patient and identify those at risk of progression to GC.

Novel Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Benign and Malignant Gastrointestinal Diseases

BACKGROUND

Various noninvasive biomarkers have been used in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of different gastrointestinal (GI) diseases for years. Novel technological developments and profound perception of molecular processes related to GI diseases over the last decade have allowed researchers to evaluate genetic, epigenetic, and many other potential molecular biomarkers in different diseases and clinical settings. Here, we present a review of recent and most relevant articles in order to summarize major findings on novel biomarkers in the diagnosis of benign and malignant GI diseases.

SUMMARY

Genetic variations, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), and microbiome-based biomarkers have been extensively analyzed as potential biomarkers in benign and malignant GI diseases. Multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms have been linked with a number of GI diseases, and these observations are further being used to build up disease-specific genetic risk scores. Micro-RNAs and long ncRNAs have a large potential as noninvasive biomarkers in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases and GI tumors. Altered microbiome profiles were observed in multiple GI diseases, but most of the findings still lack translational clinical application. As of today, cfDNA appears to be the most potent biomarker for early detection and screening of GI cancers. Key Messages: Novel noninvasive molecular biomarkers show huge potential as useful tools in the diagnostics and management of different GI diseases. However, the use of these biomarkers in real-life clinical practice still remains limited, and further large studies are needed to elucidate the ultimate role of these potential noninvasive clinical tools.

Association of Long Non-Coding RNA Polymorphisms with Gastric Cancer and Atrophic Gastritis

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) play an important role in the carcinogenesis of various tumours, including gastric cancer. This study aimed to assess the associations of lncRNA ANRIL, H19, MALAT1, MEG3, HOTAIR single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with gastric cancer and atrophic gastritis. SNPs were analyzed in 613 gastric cancer patients, 118 patients with atrophic gastritis and 476 controls from three tertiary centers in Germany, Lithuania and Latvia. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. SNPs were genotyped by the real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results showed that carriers of MALAT1 rs3200401 CT genotype had the significantly higher odds of atrophic gastritis than those with CC genotype (OR-1.81; 95% CI 1.17–2.80, p = 0.0066). Higher odds of AG were found in a recessive model (CC vs. TT + CT) for ANRIL rs1333045 (OR-1.88; 95% CI 1.19–2.95, p = 0.0066). Carriers of ANRIL (rs17694493) GG genotype had higher odds of gastric cancer (OR-4.93; 95% CI 1.28–19.00) and atrophic gastritis (OR-5.11; 95% CI 1.10–23.80) compared with the CC genotype, and carriers of HOTAIR rs17840857 TG genotype had higher odds of atrophic gastritis (OR-1.61 95% CI 1.04–2.50) compared with the TT genotype; however, the ORs did not reach the adjusted significance threshold (p < 0.007). In summary, our data provide novel evidence for a possible link between lncRNA SNPs and premalignant condition of gastric cancer, suggesting the involvement of lncRNAs in gastric cancer development.

INSR mediated by transcription factor KLF4 and DNA methylation ameliorates osteoarthritis progression via inactivation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To probe into the role and regulatory mechanisms of INSR in pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

KLF4 and INSR expression was detected in cartilage tissues of 40 OA patients and 10 controls using RT-qPCR. IL-1β-induced OA chondrocytes and anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)-induced OA models were respectively constructed. After overexpressing or silencing KLF4 or INSR, flow cytometry assay was utilized to detect chondrocyte apoptosis. Furthermore, JAK2/STAT3, cartilage markers and OA-related markers were examined by western blot. Dual luciferase report and CHIP assay were carried out to verify the interactions between KLF4 and INSR, followed by functional gain and loss assay. INSR promoter methylation was assessed by MS-PCR.

RESULTS

Both KLF4 and INSR were down-regulated both in OA chondrocytes and cartilage tissues. Knockdown of KLF4 or INSR accelerated apoptosis of IL-1β-induced OA chondrocytes. However, overexpression of KLF4 or INSR ameliorated OA progression both in OA chondrocytes and OA mouse models. Moreover, INSR inactivated JAK2/STAT3 pathway in OA chondrocytes. Dual luciferase report and CHIP assay results confirmed that INSR was transcriptionally regulated by KLF4. As shown in MS-PCR results, INSR expression was mediated by DNA methylation in OA.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggested that INSR, as a key regulator for OA, was regulated by transcription factor KLF4 and DNA methylation, thereby mediating the activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling, which was considered as an underlying therapeutic target for OA.

Gastritis Stages in Monozygotic and Dizygotic Dyspeptic Twins

Background

The progression of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis towards atrophic gastritis is modulated by host-related and environmental factors. Studies that explore the possible involvement of host-related versus environmental factors in the development of gastritis phenotype induced by H. pylori are highly needed.

Aims

Our study was aimed at investigating the phenotype of H. pylori-associated gastritis in two cohorts of monozygotic and dizygotic twins, using the OLGA/OLGIM gastritis staging system.

Methods

Two cohorts of monozygotic (14 pairs) and dizygotic (15 pairs) dyspeptic twins prospectively underwent endoscopy with biopsy sampling based on Sydney protocol. H. pylori status and OLGA/OLGIM stages were assessed and compared.

Results

The mean age of monozygotic and dizygotic twins was 40.4 and 38.6 years, respectively (p = 0.623). The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 51.7%. Among the 14 monozygotic twin pairs, five pairs were H. pylori-positive, four were H. pylori-negative, and five were H. pylori-discordant. Among the 15 dizygotic twin pairs, five pairs were H. pylori-positive, five were H. pylori-negative, and five were H. pylori-discordant. Concordance for antrum atrophy in monozygotic twins was 78.6% (11/14 pairs) and in dizygotic twins 73.3% (11/15 pairs) (p = 0.742). Concordance for corpus atrophy in monozygotic versus dizygotic twins was 92.9% (13/14 pairs) and 86.7% (13/15 pairs), respectively (p = 0.584). Concordance for antrum intestinal metaplasia (IM) in monozygotic twins was 85.7% (12/14 pairs) and in dizygotic 73.3% (11/15 pairs) (p = 0.411). Concordance for corpus IM in monozygotic twins was 85.7% (12/14 pairs) and in dizygotic 86.7% (13/15 pairs) (p = 0.941). Among monozygotic and dizygotic subjects, the stage of gastritis was concordant in both H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative subjects.

Conclusions

In conclusion, histological gastric mucosa alterations in monozygotic and dizygotic twins showed high rates of concordance. Furthermore, OLGA/OLGIM gastritis stages were not modulated by the zygosity of the twins.

Role of Genetic Polymorphisms of Cytochrome P450 2C19 in Pantoprazole Metabolism and Pantoprazole-based Helicobacter pylori Eradication Regimens

BACKGROUND

Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes play an important role in the metabolism of 70-80% of the currently used medications, including proton pump inhibitors. There are some data analyzing the impact of gene polymorphisms of CYP450 enzymes on most widely used PPIs, such as omeprazole, however, the data on pantoprazole are highly lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the most recent publications and studies on the role of polymorphisms of the genes encoding CYP450 enzyme 2C19 in the metabolism of pantoprazole and pantoprazole based Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens.

METHODS

We performed a non-systematic search of the available literature on the selected topic.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The data on cytochrome P450 gene polymorphisms and their role in pantoprazole metabolism and pantoprazole based Helicobacter pylori eradication remain conflicting. Individual differences in pantoprazole metabolism might be partly related to genetic polymorphisms of CYP450 enzymes. Most of the studies support the observation that cytochrome 2C19 polymorphisms have an impact on the pharmacokinetics of pantoprazole and its therapeutic effects: poor metabolizers of PPIs are more likely to have a better response to pantoprazole therapy and achieve better H. pylori eradication rates compared to rapid metabolizers. The determination of alleles that are associated with decreased (e.g., *2, *3 alleles) or increased (e.g., *17 allele) cytochrome 2C19 enzyme activity might be used as predictive factors for the potential of acid suppression and the success of Helicobacter pylori eradication. Overall, currently available data do not provide robust evidence, therefore, the application of genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome enzymes in clinical practice still cannot be recommended as routine practice for personalized pantoprazole prescription strategies.

Role of microRNAs in the predisposition to gastrointestinal malignancies

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly deregulated in cancer and play a role in the initiation of tumorigenesis. Recently, miRNAs have attracted attention in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could affect the genes involved in each step of miRNA biosynthesis. Several meta-analyses of case-control studies have assessed the association between miRNA “pathway” gene-SNPs (including biosynthesis regulators and binding sites) and susceptibility to GI cancers. We present in this mini-review the current knowledge on the association between miRNAs “pathway” genes and GI cancer predisposition. The interaction between miRNA/regulators/binding site-SNPs and environmental as well as genomic factors is an interesting field that should be exploited in future studies.

microRNA-33a prevents epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion, and metastasis of gastric cancer cells through the Snail/Slug pathway

Invasion and metastasis are responsible for the majority of deaths in gastric cancer (GC). microRNA-33a (miR-33a) might function as a tumor suppressor in multiple cancers. Here, we describe the regulation and function of miR-33a in GC and mechanisms involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. First, GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were collected. miR-33a upregulation or SNAI2 depletion on GC cells were introduced to assess the detailed regulatory mechanism of them. We assessed the expression of miR-33a, SNAI2, Snail/Slug signaling pathway-related genes, and EMT-related markers in GC tissues and cells. miR-33a distribution in GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was measured. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and cell cycle distribution were assessed. In nude mice, GC tumor growth and lymph node metastasis were observed. Furthermore, the predicative value of miR-33a in the prognosis of GC patients was evaluated. The obtained results indicated that lowly expressed miR-33a, highly expressed SNAI2, activated Snail/Slug, and increased EMT were identified in GC tissues. miR-33a was located mainly in the cytoplasm. miR-33a targeted and negatively regulated SNAI2. MKN-45 and MKN-28 cell lines were selected for in vitro experiments. Upregulated miR-33a expression or siRNA-mediated silencing of SNAI2 suppressed the activation of Snail/Slug, whereby GC cell proliferation, invasion and migration, EMT, tumor growth, and lymph node metastasis were inhibited. High expression of miR-33a was a protective factor influencing the prognosis of GC. This study suggests that miR-33a inhibited EMT, invasion, and metastasis of GC through the Snail/Slug signaling pathway by modulating SNAI2 expression.NEW & NOTEWORTHY miR-33a targets and inhibits the expression of SNAI2, overexpression of SNAI2 activates the Snail/Slug signaling pathway, the Snail/Slug signaling pathway promotes GC cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, and overexpression of miR-33a inhibits cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. This study provides a new therapeutic target for the treatment of GC.

Network pharmacology-based strategy to investigate pharmacological mechanisms of Zuojinwan for treatment of gastritis

BACKGROUND

Zuojinwan (ZJW), a classic herbal formula, has been extensively used to treat gastric symptoms in clinical practice in China for centuries. However, the pharmacological mechanisms of ZJW still remain vague to date.

METHODS

In the present work, a network pharmacology-based strategy was proposed to elucidate its underlying multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway mode of action against gastritis. First we collected putative targets of ZJW based on TCMSP and STITCH databases, and a network containing the interactions between the putative targets of ZJW and known therapeutic targets of gastritis was built. Then four topological parameters, "degree", "betweenness", "closeness", and "coreness" were calculated to identify the major targets in the network. Furthermore, the major hubs were imported to the Metacore database to perform a pathway enrichment analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 118 nodes including 59 putative targets of ZJW were picked out as major hubs in terms of their topological importance. The results of pathway enrichment analysis indicated that putative targets of ZJW mostly participated in various pathways associated with anti-inflammation response, growth and development promotion and G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. More importantly, five putative targets of ZJW (EGFR, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and MCP-1) and two known therapeutic targets of gastritis (CCKBR and IL-12β) and a link target NF-κB were recognized as active factors involved in the main biological functions of treatment, implying the underlying mechanisms of ZJW acting on gastritis.

CONCLUSION

ZJW could alleviate gastritis through the molecular mechanisms predicted by network pharmacology, and this research demonstrates that the network pharmacology approach can be an effective tool to reveal the mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) from a holistic perspective.

MicroRNAs as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for gastric cancer: Current insights and future perspectives

Non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers may contribute to an early identification of gastric cancer (GC) and improve the clinical management. Unfortunately, no sensitive and specific screening biomarkers are available yet and the currently available approaches are limited by the nature of the disease. GC is a heterogenic disease with various distinct genetic and epigenetic events that occur during the multifactorial cascade of carcinogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are commonly deregulated in gastric mucosa during the Helicobacter pylori infection and in stepwise manner from chronic gastritis, through preneoplastic conditions such as atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia, to early dysplasia and invasive cancer. Identification of miRNAs in blood in 2008 led to a great interest on miRNA-based diagnostic, prognostic biomarkers in GC. In this review, we provide the most recent systematic review on the existing studies related to miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for GC. Here, we systematically evaluate 75 studies related to differential expression of circulating miRNAs in GC patients and provide novel view on various heterogenic aspects of the existing data and summarize the methodological differences. Finally, we highlight several important aspects crucial to improve the future translational and clinical research in the field.

Small Molecules in Rare Tumors: Emerging Role of MicroRNAs in GIST

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of gastrointestinal tract. GISTs have very different clinical phenotypes and underlying molecular characteristics that are not yet completely understood. microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to participate in carcinogenesis pathways through post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in different tumors. Over the last years emerging evidence has highlighted the role of miRNAs in GISTs. This review provides an overview of original research papers that analyze miRNA deregulation patterns, functional role, diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic implications in GIST as well as provides directions for further research in the field.

Genetic polymorphisms in cyclin D1 are associated with risk of renal cell cancer in the Chinese population

Recently, the functional polymorphisms in Cyclin D1 (CCND1) have been shown the potential influence to risk of renal cell cancer (RCC). Therefore, the present study was performed to investigate whether these polymorphisms could influence the susceptibility of RCC. Four potentially functional polymorphisms in CCND1 (rs1944129, rs7177, rs9344 and rs678653) were genotyped in this hospital-based case-control study, comprising of 1,488 RCC patients and 1,677 cancer-free controls in a Chinese population by the TaqMan assay. The logistic regression was used to assess the associations between CCND1 polymorphisms and the risk of RCC. We found the genotype and allele frequency distribution of rs1944129 and rs7177 were significantly associated with risk of RCC (P = 0.015 and P = 0.018, respectively). The analysis of combined risk alleles revealed that patients with 2-4 risk alleles showed an elevated risk of RCC compared to those with 0-1 risk alleles (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.15 - 1.58, P < 0.001). Furthermore, compared with the genotypes containing G allele (AG and GG), the patients carrying the AA genotype in CCND1 rs1944129 polymorphism had a significantly greater prevalence of high clinical stage disease (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.33 - 0.94, P = 0.029). These results suggested that these CCND1 polymorphisms rs1944129 and rs7177 might contribute to the susceptibility of RCC in the Chinese population.