SRY-Related Transcription Factors in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas: In Silico Based Analysis.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth leading cancer and the fifth cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide with a poor 5-year survival. SOX family genes play a role in the processes involved in cancer development such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), the maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the regulation of drug resistance. We analyzed the expression of SOX2-OT, SOX6, SOX8, SOX21, SOX30 and SRY genes in HNSCC patients using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, to assess their biological role and their potential utility as biomarkers. We demonstrated statistically significant differences in expression between normal and primary tumor tissues for SOX6, SOX8, SOX21 and SOX30 genes and pointed to SOX6 as the one that met the independent diagnostic markers criteria. SOX21 or SRY alone, or the panel of six SRY-related genes, could be used to estimate patient survival. SRY-related genes are positively correlated with immunological processes, as well as with keratinization and formation of the cornified envelope, and negatively correlated with DNA repair and response to stress. Moreover, except SRY, all analyzed genes were associated with a different tumor composition and immunological profiles. Based on validation results, the expression of SOX30 is higher in HPV(+) patients and is associated with patients' survival. SRY-related transcription factors have vast importance in HNSCC biology. SOX30 seems to be a potential biomarker of HPV infection and could be used as a prognostic marker, but further research is required to fully understand the role of SOX family genes in HNSCC.

Biological role and diagnostic utility of ribosomal protein L23a pseudogene 53 in cutaneous melanoma.

Background: Skin melanoma is one of the deadliest types of skin cancer and develops from melanocytes. The genetic aberrations in protein-coding genes are well characterized, but little is known about changes in non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as pseudogenes. Ribosomal protein pseudogenes (RPPs) have been described as the largest group of pseudogenes which are dispersed in the human genome. Materials and methids: We looked deeply at the role of one of them, ribosomal protein L23a pseudogene 53 (RPL23AP53), and its potential diagnostic use. The expression level of RPL23AP53 was profiled in melanoma cell lines using real time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and analyzed based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data depending on BRAF status and clinicopathological parameters. Cellular phenotype, which was associated with RPL23AP53 levels, was described based on the REACTOME pathway browser, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) analysis as well as Immune and ESTIMATE Scores. Results: We indicted in vitro changes in RPL23AP53 level depending on a cell line, and based on in silico analysis of TCGA samples demonstrated significant differences in RPL23AP53 expression between primary and metastatic melanoma, as well as correlation between RPL23AP53 and overall survival. No differences depending on BRAF status were observed. RPL23AP53 is associated with several signaling pathways and cellular processes. Conclusions: This study showed that patients with higher expression of RPL23AP53 displayed changed infiltration of lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils compared to groups with lower expression of RPL23AP53. RPL23AP53 pseudogene is differently expressed in melanoma compared with normal tissue and its expression is associated with cellular proliferation. Thus, it may be considered as an indicator of patients' survival and a marker for the immune profile assessment.

Host gene and its guest: short story about relation of long-noncoding MIR31HG transcript and microRNA miR-31.

Epigenetics is the changes in a cellular phenotype without changes in the genotype. This term is not limited only to the modification of chromatin and DNA but also relates to some RNAs, like non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), both short and long RNAs (lncRNAs) acting as molecular modifiers. Mobile RNAs, as a free form or encapsulated in exosomes, can regulate neighboring cells or be placed in distant locations. It underlines the vast capacity of ncRNAs as epigenetic elements of transmission information and message of life. One of the amazing phenomena is long non-coding microRNA-host-genes (lnc-MIRHGs) whose processed transcripts function as lncRNAs and also as short RNAs named microRNAs (miRNAs). MIR31HG functions as a modulator of important biological and cellular processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, EMT process, metastasis, angiogenesis, hypoxia, senescence, and inflammation. However, in most cases, the role of MIR31HG is documented only by one study and there is a lack of exact description of molecular pathways implicated in these processes, and for some of them, such as response to irradiation, no studies have been done. In this review, MIR31HG, as an example of lnc-MIRHGs, was described in the context of its known function and its potential uses as a biomarker in oncology.

Midsize noncoding RNAs in cancers: a new division that clarifies the world of noncoding RNA or an unnecessary chaos?

Most of the human genome is made out of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). These ncRNAs do not code for proteins but carry a vast number of important functions in human cells such as: modification and processing other RNAs (tRNAs, rRNAs, snRNAs, snoRNAs, miRNAs), help in the synthesis of ribosome proteins, initiation of DNA replication, regulation of transcription, processing of pre-messenger mRNA during its maturation and much more. The ncRNAs also have a significant impact on many events that occur during carcinogenesis in cancer cells, such as: regulation of cell survival, cellular signaling, apoptosis, proliferation or even influencing the metastasis process. The ncRNAs may be divided based on their length, into short and long, where 200 nucleotides is the "magic" border. However, a new division was proposed, suggesting the creation of the additional group called midsize noncoding RNAs, with the length ranging from 50-400 nucleotides. This new group may include: transfer RNA (tRNA), small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) with 7SK and 7SL, small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), small Cajal body-specific RNAs (scaRNAs) and YRNAs. In this review their structure, biogenesis, function and influence on carcinogenesis process will be evaluated. What is more, a question will be answered of whether this new division is a necessity that clears current knowledge or just creates an additional misunderstanding in the ncRNA world?

YRNAs and YRNA-Derived Fragments as New Players in Cancer Research and Their Potential Role in Diagnostics.

YRNAs are a type of short, noncoding RNAs. A total of four different transcripts can be distinguished, which are YRNA1, YRNA3, YRNA4 and YRNA5. All YRNAs are relatively small, made up of about 100 nucleotides each. YRNAs are characterized by a stem-loop structure and each part of that structure carries a different function. YRNAs are transcribed in the nucleus by RNA polymerase III. Then, the YRNA molecule is bound to the polyuridine tail of the La protein responsible for both its nuclear retention and protection from degradation. They also bind to the Ro60 protein, making the molecule more stable. In turn, YRNA-derived small RNAs (YsRNAs) are a class of YRNAs produced in apoptotic cells as a result of YRNA degradation. This process is performed by caspase-3-dependent pathways that form two groups of YsRNAs, with lengths of either approximately 24 or 31 nucleotides. From all four YRNA transcripts, 75 well-described pseudogenes are generated as a result of the mutation. However, available data indicates the formation of up to 1000 pseudogenes. YRNAs and YRNA-derived small RNAs may play a role in carcinogenesis due to their altered expression in cancers and influence on cell proliferation and inflammation. Nevertheless, our knowledge is still limited, and more research is required. The main aim of this review is to describe the current state of knowledge about YRNAs, their function and contribution to carcinogenesis, as well as their potential role in cancer diagnostics. To confirm the promising potential of YRNAs and YRNA-derived fragments as biomarkers, their significant role in several tumor types was taken into consideration.

Good or not good: Role of miR-18a in cancer biology.

miR-18a is a member of primary transcript called miR-17-92a (C13orf25 or MIR17HG) which also contains five other miRNAs: miR-17, miR-19a, miR-20a, miR-19b and miR-92a. This cluster as a whole shows specific characteristics, where miR-18a seems to be unique. In contrast to the other members, the expression of miR-18a is additionally controlled and probably functions as its own internal controller of the cluster. miR-18a regulates many genes involved in proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, response to different kinds of stress, autophagy and differentiation. The disturbances of miR-18a expression are observed in cancer as well as in different diseases or pathological states. The miR-17-92a cluster is commonly described as oncogenic and it is known as 'oncomiR-1', but this statement is a simplification because miR-18a can act both as an oncogene and a suppressor. In this review we summarize the current knowledge about miR-18a focusing on its regulation, role in cancer biology and utility as a potential biomarker.

cfRNAs as biomarkers in oncology - still experimental or applied tool for personalized medicine already?

Currently, the challenges of contemporary oncology are focused mainly on the development of personalized medicine and precise treatment, which could be achieved through the use of molecular biomarkers. One of the biological molecules with great potential are circulating free RNAs (cfRNAs) which are present in various types of body fluids, such as blood, serum, plasma, and saliva. Also, different types of cfRNA particles can be distinguished depending on their length and function: microRNA (miRNA), PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA), tRNA-derived RNA fragments (tRFs), circular RNA (circRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA). Moreover, cfRNAs occur in various forms: as a free molecule alone, in membrane vesicles, such as exosomes, or in complexes with proteins and lipids. One of the modern approaches for monitoring patient's condition is a "liquid biopsy" that provides a non-invasive and easily available source of circulating RNAs. Both the presence of specific cfRNA types as well as their concentration are dependent on many factors including cancer type or even reaction to treatment. Despite the possibility of using circulating free RNAs as biomarkers, there is still a lack of validated diagnostic panels, defined protocols for sampling, storing as well as detection methods. In this work we examine different types of cfRNAs, evaluate them as possible biomarkers, and analyze methods of their detection. We believe that further research on cfRNA and defining diagnostic panels could lead to better and faster cancer identification and improve treatment monitoring.

Low let-7d and high miR-205 expression levels positively influence HNSCC patient outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most invasive types of cancer with high mortality. A previous study has indicated that low levels of let-7d and miR-205 in HNSCC patients are correlated with poor survival. Let-7d and miR-205 are tumor suppressors and regulators of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, it is unclear if let-7d and miR-205 together influence cancer cells. AIM: To determine if let-7d and miR-205 expression levels influence HNSCC patient outcome. METHODS: The TCGA expression data for let-7d, miR-205 and their targets as well as clinical data were downloaded from cBioPortal and starBase v2.0 for 307 patients. The expression levels of let-7d and miR-205 were verified according to clinicopathological parameters. The let-7d and miR-205 high- and low-expression groups as well as disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS) and expression levels of genes related to EMT, cancer stem cells, metastasis, cell cycle, drug response and irradiation response were investigated. RESULTS: Let-7d and miR-205 were frequently upregulated in HNSCC compared to normal samples, and ROC analysis showed high discrimination ability for let-7d and miR-205 (area 0.7369 and 0.7739, respectively; p < 0.0001). Differences between expression levels of let-7d or miR-205 and grade, angiolymphatic invasion, perineural invasion and alcohol consumption were indicated. No differences were observed in N-stage, tumor localization, gender or patient age. Patients with lower let-7d levels and higher miR-205 levels had significantly better OS (p = 0.0325) than patients with higher let-7d levels and lower miR-205 levels. In the low let-7d level and high miR-205 level group, a lower percentage of more advanced cancers was observed. The analysis of genes related to EMT, cancer stem cells, metastasis, cell cycle, drug response and irradiation response revealed a distinct phenotype of analyzed groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings indicated that let-7d down-regulation and miR-205 overexpression create a unique cell phenotype with different behavior compared to cells with upregulated let-7d and down-regulated miR-205. Thus, let-7d and miR-205 are good candidates for new HNSCC biomarkers.

EGOT lncRNA in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are one of the most challenging cancers to cure. In this study, we focused on eosinophil granule ontogeny transcript (EGOT), a transcriptional regulator of granule protein expression during eosinophil development that has been previously associated with cancers. Expression levels of EGOT and other selected genes as well as clinical pathology data from HNSCC samples, were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and analysed using GraphPad Prism 5. Our results indicated that the expression of EGOT is slightly down-regulated in HNSCC, depending on tumour grade and location, and is only up-regulated in grade 4 tumours and those located in the pharynx. EGOT expression levels were found to vary according to age, N-stage, grade, lymph node dissection and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Patients with higher levels of EGOT expression have longer disease-free survival and overall survival outcomes. Further analysis revealed that EGOT targets are associated with cell division, proliferation, protein modification, drug response and cell motility. Taken together, our findings suggest that the EGOT is involved in the progression of HSNCC and seems particularly associated with virus-related forms of HNSCC.

Tumor microenvironment - Unknown niche with powerful therapeutic potential.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are in a group of cancers that are the most resistant to treatment. The survival rate of HNSCC patients has been still very low since last 20 years. The existence of relationship between oncogenic and surrounding cells is probably the reason for a poor response to treatment. Fibroblasts are an important element of tumor stroma which increases tumor cells ability to proliferate. Another highly resistance, tumorigenic and metastatic cell population in tumor microenvironment are cancer initiating cells (CICs). The population of cancer initiating cells can be found regardless of differentiation status of cancer and they seem to be crucial for HNSCC development. In this review, we describe the current state of knowledge about HNSCC biological and physiological tumor microenvironment.

lncRNA in HNSCC: challenges and potential.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cause of cancer mortality in the world. Some progress has been made in the therapy of HNSCC, however treatment remains unsatisfactory. Recent studies have shown that different types of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are dysregulated in HNSCC and correlate with tumor progression, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage and poor prognosis. lncRNAs are a class of functional RNA molecules that can not be translated into proteins but can modulate the activity of transcription factors or regulate changes in chromatin structure. The lncRNAs might have potential of biomarker in HNSCC diagnosis, prognosis, prediction and targeted treatment. In this review we describe the potential role of lncRNAs as new biomarkers and discuss their features including source of origin, extraction methods, stability, detection methods and data normalization and potential function as biomarkers in HNSCC.

Biological role of long non-coding RNA in head and neck cancers.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are one of the worst prognosis cancers with high mortality of patients. The treatment strategy is primarily based on surgery and radiotherapy but chemotherapy is also used. Every year the knowledge concerning HNSCC biology is updated with new elements such as the recent discovered molecules - long non-coding RNAs. Long non-coding RNAs are involved in regulatory processes in the cells. It has been revealed that the expression levels of lncRNAs are disturbed in tumor cells what results in the acquisition of their specific phenotype. lncRNAs influence cell growth, cell cycle, cell phenotype, migration and invasion ability as well as apoptosis. Development of the lncRNA panel characteristic for HNSCC and validation of specific lncRNA functions are yet to be elucidated. In this work, we collected available data concerning lncRNAs in HNSCC and characterized their biological role. We believe that the tumor examination, in the context of lncRNA expression, may lead to understanding complex biology of the cancer and improve therapeutic methods in the future.

The mystery of let-7d - a small RNA with great power.

miRNAs belong to a class of small non-coding RNAs which can modulate gene expression. Disturbances in their expression and function may cause cancer formation, progression and cell response to various types of stress. The let-7 family is one of the most studied groups of miRNAs. The family contains 13 members with similar sequences and a wide spectrum of target genes. In this paper, we mostly focus on one member of the family - let-7d. This miRNA is dysregulated in many types of cancers. It can be over- or down-expressed, and it acts as a tumor suppressor or oncogene. It regulates various genes such as LIN28, C-MYC, K-RAS, HMGA2 and IMP-1. Moreover, let-7d has a significant impact on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and formation of cancer initiating cells which are resistant to irradiation and chemical exposure and responsible for cancer metastasis. Let-7d can serve as a prognostic and predictive marker for personalization of the treatment. Let-7d is a small RNA with great power, but in different cell genetic backgrounds it acts in different ways, which makes this molecule still mysterious.

The Impact of YRNAs on HNSCC and HPV Infection.

HPV infection is one of the most important risk factors for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma among younger patients. YRNAs are short non-coding RNAs involved in DNA replication. YRNAs have been found to be dysregulated in many cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In this study, we investigated the role of YRNAs in HPV-positive HNSCC using publicly available gene expression datasets from HNSCC tissue, where expression patterns of YRNAs in HPV(+) and HPV(-) HNSCC samples significantly differed. Additionally, HNSCC cell lines were treated with YRNA1-overexpressing plasmid and RNA derived from these cell lines was used to perform a NGS analysis. Additionally, a deconvolution analysis was performed to determine YRNA1's impact on immune cells. YRNA expression levels varied according to cancer pathological and clinical stages, and correlated with more aggressive subtypes. YRNAs were mostly associated with more advanced cancer stages in the HPV(+) group, and YRNA3 and YRNA1 expression levels were found to be correlated with more advanced clinical stages despite HPV infection status, showing that they may function as potential biomarkers of more advanced stages of the disease. YRNA5 was associated with less-advanced cancer stages in the HPV(-) group. Overall survival and progression-free survival analyses showed opposite results between the HPV groups. The expression of YRNAs, especially YRNA1, correlated with a vast number of proteins and cellular processes associated with viral infections and immunologic responses to viruses. HNSCC-derived cell lines overexpressing YRNA1 were then used to determine the correlation of YRNA1 and the expression of genes associated with HPV infections. Taken together, our results highlight the potential of YRNAs as possible HNSCC biomarkers and new molecular targets.

Radio-lncRNAs: Biological Function and Potential Use as Biomarkers for Personalized Oncology.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) consist of at least 200 nucleotides. Although these molecules do not code proteins, they carry many regulatory functions in normal cells, as well as in cancer cells. For instance, many of these molecules have been previously correlated with tumorigenesis of different cancers and their reaction to various stress factors, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or reactive oxygen species (ROS). The lncRNAs are associated not only with dysregulation in cancers after applied treatment but also with beneficial effects that may be achieved by modulating their expression, often significantly enhancing the patients' outcomes. A multitude of these molecules was previously considered as potential biomarkers of tumor development, progression, or cells' response to radio- or chemotherapy. Irradiation, which is often used in treating numerous cancer types, is not always sufficient due to cells gaining resistance in multiple ways. In this review, studies considering lncRNAs and their reaction to radiotherapy were examined. These molecules were divided regarding their role in specific processes strictly related to irradiation, and their influence on this type of treatment was explained, showing how vast an impact they have on IR-supported combat with the disease. This review aims to shed some light on potential future lncRNA-based biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

C10orf55, CASC2, and SFTA1P lncRNAs Are Potential Biomarkers to Assess Radiation Therapy Response in Head and Neck Cancers.

Long non-coding RNAs have proven to be important molecules in carcinogenesis. Due to little knowledge about them, the molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis are still being explored. The aim of this work was to study the effect of ionizing radiation on the expression of lncRNAs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in patients responding and non-responding to radiotherapy. The experimental model was created using a group of patients with response (RG, n = 75) and no response (NRG, n = 75) to radiotherapy based on the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) data. Using the in silico model, statistically significant lncRNAs were defined and further validated on six HNSCC cell lines irradiated at three different doses. Based on the TCGA model, C10orf55, C3orf35, C5orf38, CASC2, MEG3, MYCNOS, SFTA1P, SNHG3, and TMEM105, with the altered expression between the RG and NRG were observed. Analysis of pathways and immune profile indicated that these lncRNAs were associated with changes in processes, such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, regulation of spindle division, and the p53 pathway, and differences in immune cells score and lymphocyte infiltration signature score. However, only C10orf55, CASC2, and SFTA1P presented statistically altered expression after irradiation in the in vitro model. In conclusion, the expression of lncRNAs is affected by ionization radiation in HNSCC, and these lncRNAs are associated with pathways, which are important for radiation response and immune response. Potentially presented lncRNAs could be used as biomarkers for personalized radiotherapy in the future. However, these results need to be verified based on an in vitro experimental model to show a direct net of interactions.

Zinc Finger Proteins in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas: ZNF540 May Serve as a Biomarker.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the ten most common cancers. Most cancer cases originate from alcohol and tobacco consumption. However, studies have demonstrated that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, particularly HPV-16, may also significantly influence disease progression. The KRAB-ZNF family of genes is involved in epigenetic suppression, and its involvement in carcinogenesis is the subject of extensive studies. The available literature data demonstrate that they may play different roles, both as tumor suppressors and oncogenes. In this study, six ZNF genes, ZFP28, ZNF132, ZNF418, ZNF426, ZNF540, and ZNF880, were tested using several in silico approaches based on the TCGA and GEO datasets. Our analyses indicate that the expression of the analyzed ZNFs was significantly downregulated in tumor tissues and depended on tumor localization. The expression levels of ZNFs differed between HPV-positive vs. HPV-negative patients depending on the clinical-pathological parameters. More specifically, the patients with higher levels of ZNF418 and ZNF540 showed better survival rates than those with a lower expression. In addition, the level of ZNF540 expression in HPV-positive (HPV(+)) patients was higher than in HPV-negative (HPV(-)) patients (p < 0.0001) and was associated with better overall survival (OS). In conclusion, we demonstrate that ZNF540 expression highly correlates with HPV infection, which renders ZNF540 a potential biomarker for HNSCC prognosis and treatment.

Quantification of long non-coding RNAs using qRT-PCR: comparison of different cDNA synthesis methods and RNA stability.

INTRODUCTION: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of regulatory RNA molecules, are over 200 nucleotides long and could be used as a new potential biomarker, but their detection methods such as qRT-PCR are still not validated, and the influence of RNA degradation on lncRNA quantification is not clear. In this study, commercially available cDNA synthesis kits were tested and the influence of RNA degradation was compared. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Total RNA from FaDu cells was isolated and high quality RNA and highly degraded RNA samples were used. Reverse transcription was performed using three different commercially available kits and quantifications were performed using lncRNA Primer Plate and SYBR Green I Master by LightCycler 96. qRT-PCR was performed using three different cDNA samples and results are presented as the mean Ct values. A p-value < 0.05 was considered to be significant. RESULTS: Lower lncRNA Ct values (61/90; 67.78%) after qRT-PCR quantification were observed for cDNA synthesized using random hexamer primers preceded by polyA-tailing and adaptor-anchoring steps. It was observed that 9/90 (10.00%) lncRNAs were not detectable using different cDNA synthesis methods. For 75/90 (83%) lncRNAs, RNA degradation weakly influenced lncRNA Ct values and no differences were observed between high quality RNA and degraded samples. Seventy percent of examined lncRNAs showed significantly different Ct values depending on RNA degradation. CONCLUSIONS: cDNA synthesis kits with random hexamer primers preceded by polyA-tailing and adaptor-anchoring steps allows enhancement of lncRNA quantification specificity and sensitivity. In most cases degradation of RNA samples does not affect lncRNA quantification because these molecules have good stability.

Long Intergenic Non-Coding RNAs in HNSCC: From "Junk DNA" to Important Prognostic Factor.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common and fatal cancers worldwide. Even a multimodal approach consisting of standard chemo- and radiotherapy along with surgical resection is only effective in approximately 50% of the cases. The rest of the patients develop a relapse of the disease and acquire resistance to treatment. Especially this group of individuals needs novel, personalized, targeted therapy. The first step to discovering such solutions is to investigate the tumor microenvironment, thus understanding the role and mechanism of the function of coding and non-coding sequences of the human genome. In recent years, RNA molecules gained great interest when the complex character of their impact on our biology allowed them to come out of the shadows of the "junk DNA" label. Furthermore, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), specifically the intergenic subgroup (lincRNA), are one of the most aberrantly expressed in several malignancies, which makes them particularly promising future diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This review contains characteristics of known and validated lincRNAs in HNSCC, such as XIST, MALAT, HOTAIR, HOTTIP, lincRNA-p21, LINC02487, LINC02195, LINC00668, LINC00519, LINC00511, LINC00460, LINC00312, and LINC00052, with a description of their prognostic abilities. Even though much work remains to be done, lincRNAs are important factors in cancer biology that will become valuable biomarkers of tumor stage, outcome prognosis, and contribution to personalized medicine.

The World of Pseudogenes: New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets in Cancers or Still Mystery Molecules?

Pseudogenes were once considered as "junk DNA", due to loss of their functions as a result of the accumulation of mutations, such as frameshift and presence of premature stop-codons and relocation of genes to inactive heterochromatin regions of the genome. Pseudogenes are divided into two large groups, processed and unprocessed, according to their primary structure and origin. Only 10% of all pseudogenes are transcribed into RNAs and participate in the regulation of parental gene expression at both transcriptional and translational levels through senseRNA (sRNA) and antisense RNA (asRNA). In this review, about 150 pseudogenes in the different types of cancers were analyzed. Part of these pseudogenes seem to be useful in molecular diagnostics and can be detected in various types of biological material including tissue as well as biological fluids (liquid biopsy) using different detection methods. The number of pseudogenes, as well as their function in the human genome, is still unknown. However, thanks to the development of various technologies and bioinformatic tools, it was revealed so far that pseudogenes are involved in the development and progression of certain diseases, especially in cancer.