Long non-coding RNAs in cancer: multifaceted roles and potential targets for immunotherapy

Cancer remains a major global health concern with high mortality rates mainly due to late diagnosis and poor prognosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as key regulators of gene expression in human cancer, functioning through various mechanisms including as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and indirectly regulating miRNA expression. LncRNAs have been found to have both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive roles in cancer, with the former promoting cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and poor prognosis. Recent research has shown that lncRNAs are expressed in various immune cells and are involved in cancer cell immune escape and the modulation of the tumor microenvironment, thus highlighting their potential as targets for cancer immunotherapy. Targeting lncRNAs in cancer or immune cells could enhance the anti-tumor immune response and improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes. However, further research is required to fully understand the functional roles of lncRNAs in cancer and the immune system and their potential as targets for cancer immunotherapy. This review offers a comprehensive examination of the multifaceted roles of lncRNAs in human cancers, with a focus on their potential as targets for cancer immunotherapy. By exploring the intricate mechanisms underlying lncRNA-mediated regulation of cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and immune evasion, we provide insights into the diverse therapeutic applications of these molecules.

A Study on Knowledge and Awareness of Cervical Cancer Among Females of Rural and Urban Areas of Haryana, North India

Lack of awareness of screening methods, risk factors, and symptoms may lead to late diagnosis and poor prognosis of cervical cancer. The plan of this study was to assess the level of awareness about cervical cancer and HPV vaccine among females of rural and urban areas of Haryana, India. This cross-sectional study was performed using a comprehensive self-designed questionnaire on 1500 women of urban (700) and rural (800) background aged 18-65 years, evaluating their knowledge for cervical cancer and screening, HPV infection and its preventive measure, and symptoms and risk factors. Data obtained was analyzed and interpreted by using simple percentages and bar charts. Most of the participants were aged between 21 and 30 years and had college level education. Majority of the women from rural areas had poor knowledge about cervical cancer (55%) and its screening (75%), HPV infection (87.5%), and HPV vaccine (95%) compared with urban areas. Knowledge about symptoms and risk factors was very low in both rural and urban areas. Whatever little knowledge the women had about cervical cancer was from college education, friends, neighbors, relatives, and medical practitioner or doctors. The survey pointed to the critical need to educate women about cervical cancer and its early diagnosis, related risk factors, symptoms, and preventive measures which can be achieved by launching extensive awareness programs for educating females about cervical cancer in India.

High-risk HPV infection modulates the promoter hypermethylation of APC, SFRP1, and PTEN in cervical cancer patients of North India

Persistent infection with oncogenic HPV and downregulation of tumor suppressor genes play an essential role in the development and progression of cervical cancer. The present study aimed to identify the promoter methylation status of APC, SFRP1, and PTEN which are important regulators of Wnt pathway and their association with high-risk HPV infection and gene expression. Methylation Specific PCR (MSP) and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to detect methylation status and gene expression levels of APC, SFRP1, and PTEN in cervical cancer biopsies (110) and paired non-cancerous biopsies (28). APC promoter was methylated in 38%, SFRP1 in 95%, and PTEN in 55% of the cervical cancer biopsies. Our data showed a trend of a higher rate of methylation of the gene promoters in cervical cancer biopsies while; they were majorly un-methylated in non-cancerous biopsies. Corresponding to a higher rate of methylation in cancer biopsies, the gene expression levels of APC, SFRP1, and PTEN were reduced in cervical cancer samples in comparison to normal cervix tissues. Further, we observed that 97% cancer biopsies were HPV infected and high-risk type HPV16 and 18 infections were significantly positively associated with APC (p = 0.008 and p = 0.007), SFRP1 (p = 0.003 and p = 0.0067), and PTEN (p = 0.049 and p = 0.008) promoter methylation. APC, SFRP1, and PTEN promoter hyper-methylation is positively associated with high-risk HPV infection and inversely associated with gene expression. Our findings show that high-risk HPV infection promotes methylation of these genes and further promotes their silencing.

Aberrant promoter methylation of NOTCH1 and NOTCH3 and its association with cervical cancer risk factors in North Indian population

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in women worldwide, and associated mortality is highest in developing countries like India. Limited studies are available on the role of NOTCH signaling pathway and promoter methylation in cervical cancer. In the current study, we investigated the promoter methylation status of NOTCH receptor genes (mainly NOTCH1, NOTCH2, and NOTCH3) and its correlation with gene expression, clinicopathological factors, and prognosis of cervical cancer. A total cohort of 110 cervical cancer patients of North Indian origin was enrolled in the study. From 28 of these patients, biopsies from adjacent non-cancerous tissue were available to serve as healthy controls. Promoter methylation status and mRNA expression level of NOTCH1, NOTCH2, and NOTCH3 were determined by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and real-time quantitative (RT-qPCR), respectively. NOTCH1 and NOTCH3 promoters were methylated in 92% (P<0.0001), and 61% (P<0.001) of the cervical cancer biopsies. We did not observe a statistically significant change in the promoter methylation level of NOTCH2. Further, NOTCH1, NOTCH2, and NOTCH3 were down-regulated in cervical cancer biopsies, but the differential expression of only NOTCH1 was found statistically significant. The promoter methylation levels of all three genes also showed a statistically significant association with clinicopathological factors and HPV infection (Type 16 and 18) but we did not observe a statistically significant relationship between their methylation status and gene expression. Overall our results provide evidence of the altered methylation and expression status of NOTCH1 and NOTCH3 receptor genes in cervical cancer. This study of NOTCH gene promoter methylation may provide a new perspective for early screening and diagnosis of cervical cancer.