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The Role of MicroRNAs, Long Non-coding RNAs and Circular RNAs in Cancer Metastasis and Cancer Therapy Resistance

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A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomacromolecules: Nucleic Acids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (23 March 2022) | Viewed by 8677

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Peixin Dong

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Guest Editor

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
Interests: cancer biomarkers; epigenetics; non-coding RNAs (miRNA, long non-coding RNA, and circular RNA); metastasis; chemoresistance; meta-analysis; bioinformatics; anti-cancer drug; cancer cell signaling
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), make up most of the human transcriptome and have been hot spots in recent years. MiRNAs are small endogenous non-coding RNAs that bind to complementary sequences in their target mRNAs to modulate the expression of target mRNAs. LncRNAs competitively sponge miRNAs as competing endogenous RNAs, indirectly controlling the effects of miRNAs on their target genes. LncRNAs can also mediate gene transcription by binding chromosomal DNA or recruiting transcription factors. CircRNAs interact with diverse molecules (including miRNAs) to regulate gene expression and cell function. Accumulating evidence indicates that miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs play crucial roles in tumorigenesis, tumor development, metastasis and sensitivity to radiation, chemotherapy and targeted therapies. This Special Issue focuses on the novel roles of ncRNAs (including miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs) in cancer metastasis and cancer therapy resistance.

Dr. Peixin Dong
Guest Editor

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Keywords

MiRNA
lncRNA
CircRNA
Metastasis

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 3486 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prognostic Value of LINC-ROR (rs1942347) Variant in Patients with Colon Cancer Harboring BRAF Mutation: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

by Aly A. M. Shaalan, Sara H. Mokhtar, Hanadi Talal Ahmedah, Amany I. Almars, Eman A. Toraih, Afaf T. Ibrahiem, Manal S. Fawzy and Mai A. Salem

Biomolecules 2022, 12(4), 569; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biom12040569 - 12 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2014

Abstract

Emerging studies show that long intergenic non-protein coding RNA, regulator of reprogramming (LINC-ROR) is aberrantly expressed in several types of cancer, including colon cancer (CC). LINC-ROR intronic variant rs1942347 may impact gene regulation and disease phenotype. We aimed to explore the potential association of LINC-ROR (rs1942347) with the clinicopathological features and outcome of CC cases. Archived FFPE (n = 180) CC samples were enrolled. Taq-Man allelic discrimination PCR was used for genotyping in propensity-matched cohorts with/without positive staining for mutant BRAF protein after eliminating confounders bias. The rs1942347*A allele variant was associated with high pathological grade, larger tumor size, distant metastasis, and mortality. Multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted by sex and BRAF mutation showed A/A genotype carriers to have 3 times more risk of early onset of cancer (OR = 3.13, 95%CI = 1.28–7.69, p = 0.034) than T/T genotype carriers. Overall analysis showed that rs1942347*A allele carriers had higher risk of mortality under heterozygote (OR = 2.13, 95%CI = 1.08–4.35, p = 0.003), homozygote (OR = 5.0, 95%CI = 1.69–14.29, p = 0.003), dominant (OR = 3.33, 95%CI = 1.20–9.09, p = 0.003), and recessive (OR = 2.63, 95%CI = 1.37–5.0, p = 0.011) models compared to T/T allele carriers. Stratified analysis by BRAF status revealed that the ancestor T/T allele conferred protection in BRAF mutant CC patients and was associated with a 73–93% reduced risk of mortality under heterozygote/homozygote comparison models. Using Kaplan–Meier curves, carriers of the A/A genotype had shorter survival times than T/T cohorts. The univariate Cox regression model revealed that the A/A genotype was associated with a 3.5 times greater mortality risk than the T/T genotype. However, after adjustment by multiple Cox regression analysis, the risk was insignificant. In conclusion, this is the first study identifying the potential association of the LINC-ROR (rs1942347) variant with CC prognosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of MicroRNAs, Long Non-coding RNAs and Circular RNAs in Cancer Metastasis and Cancer Therapy Resistance)

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Review

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16 pages, 1689 KiB

Open AccessReview

MicroRNAs in Pulmonary Hypertension, from Pathogenesis to Diagnosis and Treatment

by Junhua Xu, John Linneman, Yanfeng Zhong, Haoyang Yin, Qinyi Xia, Kang Kang and Deming Gou

Biomolecules 2022, 12(4), 496; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biom12040496 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2946

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a fatal and untreatable disease, ultimately leading to right heart failure and eventually death. microRNAs are small, non-coding endogenous RNA molecules that can regulate gene expression and influence various biological processes. Changes in microRNA expression levels contribute to various cardiovascular disorders, and microRNAs have been shown to play a critical role in PH pathogenesis. In recent years, numerous studies have explored the role of microRNAs in PH, focusing on the expression profiles of microRNAs and their signaling pathways in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) or pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs), PH models, and PH patients. Moreover, certain microRNAs, such as miR-150 and miR-26a, have been identified as good candidates of diagnosis biomarkers for PH. However, there are still several challenges for microRNAs as biomarkers, including difficulty in normalization, specificity in PH, and a lack of longitudinal and big sample-sized studies. Furthermore, microRNA target drugs are potential therapeutic agents for PH treatment, which have been demonstrated in PH models and in humans. Nonetheless, synthetic microRNA mimics or antagonists are susceptible to several common defects, such as low drug efficacy, inefficient drug delivery, potential toxicity and especially, off-target effects. Therefore, finding clinically safe and effective microRNA drugs remains a great challenge, and further breakthrough is urgently needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of MicroRNAs, Long Non-coding RNAs and Circular RNAs in Cancer Metastasis and Cancer Therapy Resistance)

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17 pages, 2335 KiB

Open AccessReview

LncRNAs: Novel Biomarkers for Pancreatic Cancer

by Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard, Mohadeseh Fathi, Tianyue Zhai, Mohammad Taheri and Peixin Dong

Biomolecules 2021, 11(11), 1665; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biom11111665 - 10 Nov 2021

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 3126

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly neoplasms and the seventh major cause of cancer-related deaths among both males and females. This cancer has a poor prognosis due to the lack of appropriate methods for early detection of cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recently found to influence the progression and initiation of pancreatic cancer. MACC1-AS1, LINC00976, LINC00462, LINC01559, HOXA-AS2, LINC00152, TP73-AS1, XIST, SNHG12, LUCAT1, and UCA1 are among the oncogenic lncRNAs in pancreatic cancer. On the other hand, LINC01111, LINC01963, DGCR5, MEG3, GAS5, and LINC00261 are among tumor suppressor lncRNAs in this tissue. In the current review, we summarize the roles of these two classes of lncRNAs in pancreatic cancer and discuss their potential as attractive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for pancreatic cancer. We also identified that the low expression of MEG3, LINC01963, and LINC00261 and the high expression of MACC1-AS1, LINC00462, LINC01559, and UCA1 were significantly correlated with worse survival in pancreatic cancer patients. Further research on these lncRNAs will provide new clues that could potentially improve the early diagnosis, prognostic prediction, and personalized treatments of patients with pancreatic cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of MicroRNAs, Long Non-coding RNAs and Circular RNAs in Cancer Metastasis and Cancer Therapy Resistance)

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