Phenotypic Transitions the Processes Involved in Regulation of Growth and Proangiogenic Properties of Stem Cells, Cancer Stem Cells and Circulating Tumor Cells.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial process with significance in the metastasis of malignant tumors. It is through the acquisition of plasticity that cancer cells become more mobile and gain the ability to metastasize to other tissues. The mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) is the return to an epithelial state, which allows for the formation of secondary tumors. Both processes, EMT and MET, are regulated by different pathways and different mediators, which affects the sophistication of the overall tumorigenesis process. Not insignificant are also cancer stem cells and their participation in the angiogenesis, which occur very intensively within tumors. Difficulties in effectively treating cancer are primarily dependent on the potential of cancer cells to rapidly expand and occupy secondarily vital organs. Due to the ability of these cells to spread, the concept of the circulating tumor cell (CTC) has emerged. Interestingly, CTCs exhibit molecular diversity and stem-like and mesenchymal features, even when derived from primary tumor tissue from a single patient. While EMT is necessary for metastasis, MET is required for CTCs to establish a secondary site. A thorough understanding of the processes that govern the balance between EMT and MET in malignancy is crucial.

Functional Roles of lncRNAs in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: A Review Study.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) or recurrent miscarriage is the failure of pregnancy before 20-24 weeks that influences around 2-5% of couples. Several genetic, immunological, environmental and physical factors may influence RPL. Although various traditional methods have been used to treat post-implantation failures, identifying the mechanisms underlying RPL may improve an effective treatment. Recent evidence suggested that gene expression alterations presented essential roles in the occurrence of RPL. It has been found that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play functional roles in pregnancy pathologies, such as recurrent miscarriage. lncRNAs can function as dynamic scaffolds, modulate chromatin function, guide and bind to microRNAs (miRNAs) or transcription factors. lncRNAs, by targeting various miRNAs and mRNAs, play essential roles in the progression or suppression of RPL. Therefore, targeting lncRNAs and their downstream targets might be a suitable strategy for diagnosis and treatment of RPL. In this review, we summarized emerging roles of several lncRNAs in stimulation or suppression of RPL.

Emerging roles of the long non-coding RNA NEAT1 in gynecologic cancers.

Gynecologic cancers are a worldwide problem among women. Recently, molecular targeted therapy opened up an avenue for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules (> 200 nt) that are not translated into protein, and interact with DNA, RNA, and proteins. LncRNAs were found to play pivotal roles in cancer tumorigenesis and progression. Nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) is a lncRNA that mediates cell proliferation, migration, and EMT in gynecologic cancers by targeting several miRNAs/mRNA axes. Therefore, NEAT1 may function as a potent biomarker for the prediction and treatment of breast, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers. In this narrative review, we summarized various NEAT1-related signaling pathways that are critical in gynecologic cancers. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) by targeting various signaling pathways involved in its target genes can regulate the occurrence of gynecologic cancers.