LncRNA FLVCR1-AS1 promotes proliferation, migration and activates Wnt/ß-catenin pathway through miR-381-3p/CTNNB1 axis in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the molecular mechanism of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in carcinogenesis is conducive for providing potential target for cancers. The role of FLVCR1-AS1 in breast cancer (BC) has not been probed yet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: qRT-PCR and western blot assays were used to estimate relevant expressions of mRNAs and proteins. CCK8, MTT and EdU were implemented to assess cell proliferation ability. TUNEL was performed to investigate cell apoptosis, whereas transwell assay was performed to test cell migration and invasion capacities. TOP/FOP Flash assay was conducted to determine the activity of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Luciferase reporter, RNA pull down and RIP assays were performed to verify interaction between genes. RESULTS: FLVCR1-AS1 was abnormally up-regulated in BC cells. Silencing FLVCR1-AS1 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, yet accelerating apoptosis. Inhibition of miR-381-3p reversed the tumor restraining impacts of FLVCR1-AS1 depletion on BC progression. Additionally, CTNNB1 was recognized to be targeted by miR-381-3p. FLVCR1-AS1 aggravated BC malignant progression via up-regulation CTNNB1 through sponging miR-381-3p. CONCLUSION: FLVCR1-AS1 regulates BC malignant behavior via sequestering miR-381-3p and then freeing CTNNB1, implying a promising target for BC therapy.

Hypermethylation of lncRNA MEG3 impairs chemosensitivity of breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Chemoresistance posed a barrier to successful treatment of breast cancer (BC), and lncRNA MEG3 has been documented to implicate in BC development. However, whether MEG3 methylation, which led to low MEG3 expression, was relevant to BC progression and chemoresistance remained uncertain. METHODS: In the aggregate, 374 pairs of tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues were collected from pathologically confirmed BC patients, and four BC cell lines, including MDA-MB-231, Bcap-37, MCF-7, and SK-BR-3, were purchased. Moreover, methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was adopted to evaluate the methylation status of BC tissues and cell lines, and chemo-tolerance of BC cell lines was assessed by performing MTT assay. Concurrently, transwell assay and scratch assay were carried out to estimate the migratory and invasive capability of BC cell lines. RESULTS: Methylated MEG3, lowly expressed MEG3, large tumor size (≥2 cm), advanced TNM grade and lymphatic metastasis were potentially symbolic of poor prognosis among BC patients (P < .05). Besides, MDA-MB-231 cell line exhibited the strongest resistance against paclitaxel, adriamycin, and vinorelbine (P < .05), while MCF-7 cell line seemed more sensitive against these drugs than any other BC cell line (P < .05). Furthermore, pcDNA3.1-MEG3 and 5-Aza-dC markedly sensitized MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines against the drug treatments (P < .05). Simultaneously, proliferation and metastasis of the BC cell lines were slowed down under the force of pcDNA3.1-MEG3 and 5-Aza-dC (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Preventing methylation of MEG3 might matter in lessening BC chemoresistance, owing to its hindering proliferation and metastasis of BC cells.

KLF8 is associated with poor prognosis and regulates glycolysis by targeting GLUT4 in gastric cancer.

Krüppel-like transcription factor (KLF) family is involved in tumorigenesis in different types of cancer. However, the importance of KLF family in gastric cancer is unclear. Here, we examined KLF gene expression in five paired liver metastases and primary gastric cancer tissues by RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry was used to study KLF8 expression in 206 gastric cancer samples. The impact of KLF8 expression on glycolysis, an altered energy metabolism that characterizes cancer cells, was evaluated. KLF8 showed the highest up-regulation in liver metastases compared with primary tumours among all KLF members. Higher KLF8 expression associated with larger tumour size (P < 0.001), advanced T stage (P = 0.003) and N stage (P < 0.001). High KLF8 expression implied shorter survival outcome in both TCGA and validation cohort (P < 0.05). Silencing KLF8 expression impaired the glycolysis rate of gastric cancer cells in vitro. Moreover, high KLF8 expression positively associated with SUVmax in patient samples. KLF8 activated the GLUT4 promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Importantly, KLF8 and GLUT4 showed consistent expression patterns in gastric cancer tissues. These findings suggest that KLF8 modulates glycolysis by targeting GLUT4 and could serve as a novel biomarker for survival and potential therapeutic target in gastric cancer.

Docetaxel-resistant triple-negative breast cancer cell-derived exosomal lncRNA LINC00667 reduces the chemosensitivity of breast cancer cells to docetaxel via targeting miR-200b-3p/Bcl-2 axis.

Development of docetaxel (TXT) resistance is a major obstacle for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment. Additionally, chemoresistant cell-derived exosomes were able to change the chemo-response of chemosensitive recipient cells via transportation of lncRNAs. It has been shown that lncRNA LINC00667 level was significantly elevated in breast cancer tissues. Therefore, we explored whether LINC00667 level is increased in TXT-resistant TNBC cell-derived exosomes. In addition, whether exosomal LINC00667 derived from TXT-resistant TNBC cell could affect TXT sensitivity in TXT-sensitive TNBC cells was investigated as well. In the present study, exosomes were isolated from the TXT-resistant TNBC cells and from TXT-sensitive TNBC cells. Next, the level of LINC00667 in the isolated exosomes was detected with RT-qPCR. We found that LINC00667 expression was obviously elevated in TXT-resistant TNBC cell-derived exosomes compared to that in TXT-sensitive TNBC cell-derived exosomes. In addition, LINC00667 could be transferred from TXT-resistant TNBC cells to TNBC cells via exosomes. Moreover, TXT-resistant TNBC cell secreted exosomal LINC00667 markedly reduced the sensitivity of TNBC cells to TXT via upregulation of Bcl-2. Meanwhile, downregulation of LINC00667 notably enhanced the sensitivity of TXT-resistant TNBC cells to TXT through downregulation of Bcl-2. Additionally, LINC00667 was considered to be a ceRNA to sponge miR-200b-3p, thereby elevating Bcl-2 expression. Collectively, TXT-resistant TNBC cell-derived exosomal LINC00667 could decrease the chemosensitivity of TNBC cells to TXT via regulating miR-200b-3p/Bcl-2 axis. These findings suggested that LINC00667 might serve as a promising target for enhancing sensitivity of TNBC cells to TXT therapy.

Downregulation of PDGF-D Inhibits Proliferation and Invasion in Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cells.

BACKGROUND: The platelet derived growth factor-D (PDGF-D) plays an important role in breast tumor aggressiveness. However, limited study has investigated the effect of silencing PDGF-D on the biological function of breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to clarify the potential value of PDGF-D as a target for breast cancer treatment. METHODS: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to detect PDGF-D expression in 5 different breast cancer cells. The lentiviral vector was usd to silence PDGF-D in MDA-MB-231 cells. Then, Methyl Thiazolyl Tetrazolium was used to detect cell viability, 5-Ethynyl-2'- deoxyuridine and a soft agar assay were used to detect cell proliferation and clonality. Additionally, cell apoptosis after PDGF-D knockdown was measured by Annexin V/ Prodium Iodide staining, and cell migration was detected by trans-well assay. Survival rate and tumor size were measured by nude mice transplantation. RESULTS: The MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 cell lines showed higher PDGF-D expression than the MCF7 cell lines (P<.05). After the PDGF-D gene was silenced, the growth and colony forming abilitys ignificantly decreased (P<.05) together with the induction of apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells (P<.05). Moreover, MDA-MB-231 cells with PDGF-D silencing showed significantly diminished aggressive migration and invasion potential compared to other cells (P<.05). In vivo experiments also indicated that PDGF-D silencing inhibited tumor growth and improved the survival rate of tumor-bearing mice. CONCLUSION: Downregulation of PDGF-D had dramatic effects on breast cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration, which indicates that it plays an important role in breast cancer development and progression.

YY1-inudced activation of lncRNA DUXAP8 promotes proliferation and suppresses apoptosis of triple negative breast cancer cells through upregulating SAPCD2.

Double homeobox A pseudogene 8 (DUXAP8) belongs to long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which has been proven to promote the biological processes of multiple human cancers. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. However, the specific role of lncRNA DUXAP8 and its underlying mechanism in TNBC remains to be unclear. We detected the expression of DUXAP8 in TNBC cells through qRT-PCR analysis. The effects of DUXAP8 silencing on TNBC cell proliferation and apoptosis were identified using CCK-8 assay, EdU assay, flow cytometry analysis and TUNEL assay. The downstream microRNA (miRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) of DUXAP8 were searched out through bioinformatics analysis and mechanism experiments. Rescue assays were conducted to verify the involvement of suppressor APC domain containing 2 (SAPCD2) in DUXAP8-mediated TNBC cell proliferation and apoptosis. DUXAP8 was highly expressed in TNBC cells compared to that in normal breast cells. Knockdown of DUXAP8 inhibited TNBC cell proliferation and accelerated cell apoptosis. DUXAP8 interacted with miR-29a-3p and thus enhanced the expression of SAPCD2. Moreover, YY1 transcription factor could bind to DUXAP8 promoter to activate the transcription of DUXAP8. YY1-induced transcriptional activation of DUXAP8 promotes TNBC cell growth through miR-29a-3p/SAPCD2 axis.

Astragalus IV Undermines Multi-Drug Resistance and Glycolysis of MDA-MB-231/ADR Cell Line by Depressing hsa_circ_0001982-miR-206/miR-613 Axis.

BACKGROUND: Allowing for the power of astragalus in improving cancer patients' response to chemotherapy, we endeavored to clarify if hsa_circ_0001982-centered miRNA axes participated in the impact of astragaloside IV on multi-drug resistance (MDR) of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS: TNBC patients were recruited into an Astragalus detoxification decoction (ADD) treatment group (N=62) and a non-ADD treatment group (N=78), according to whether they consumed ADD after chemotherapy or not. Furthermore, drug resistance of the MDA-MB-231/ADR cell line in response to gemcitabine (GEM), adriamycin (ADM), oxaliplatin (OXA), and cisplatin (DDP) was evaluated, and glycolytic potential of MDA-MB-231/ADR cells was determined after astragaloside IV treatment or si-hsa_circ_0001982/miR-206 inhibitor/miR-613 inhibitor transfection. RESULTS: TNBC patients receiving ADD adjuvant therapy after chemotherapy, with decreased serum level of hsa_circ_0001982 and increased serum level of miR-206/miR-613 as relative to non-ADD treatment group (P<0.05), were less likely to relapse than TNBC population not undergoing ADD treatment (P<0.05). In addition, GEM/ADM/OXA/DDP-resistance and glycolysis of MDA-MB-231/ADR cell line were debilitated after exposure to astragaloside IV or transfection by si-hsa_circ_0001982 (P<0.05). Nonetheless, miR-206/miR-613 inhibitor transfection reversed inhibitory effects of si-hsa_circ_0001982 and astragaloside IV on glycolysis and MDR of MDA-MB-231/ADR cell line (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Astragaloside IV undermined MDR and glycolysis of MDA-MB-231/ADR cell line by blocking hsa_circ_0001982-miR-206/miR-613 axis.

Hsa_circ_0000199 facilitates chemo-tolerance of triple-negative breast cancer by interfering with miR-206/613-led PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling.

Increasing attentions have been paid to the role of circRNAs in the etiology of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and we strived to figure out the association of circRNA AKT3/miRNA axis with TNBC chemo-resistance. Altogether 207 BC patients were divided into TNBC group (n=83) and non-TNBC group (n=124), and MCF-10A, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, SK-BR-3 and MCF-7 cell lines were prepared in advance. Expressions of AKT3-derived circRNAs and relevant miRNAs in the TNBC tissues and cell lines were determined by employing real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It was indicated that hsa_circ_0000199 expression was higher in TNBC tissues than in non-TNBC tissues, and high hsa_circ_0000199 expression was predictive of large tumor size, advanced TNM grade, high Ki-67 level and poor 3-year survival of TNBC patients (all P<0.05). Furthermore, miR-613 and miR-206 were sponged and negatively regulated by hsa_circ_0000199 (P<0.001), and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling was depressed by si-hsa_circ_0000199 in TNBC cell lines (P<0.01). Ultimately, miR-206/miR-613 inhibitor reversed impacts of si-hsa_circ_0000199 on PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling, proliferation, migration, invasion, chemo-sensitivity and autophagy of TNBC cells (all P<0.01). Conclusively, silencing of hsa_circ_0000199 enhanced TNBC chemo-sensitivity by promoting miR-206/miR-613 expression and deactivating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling, which was conducive to improving chemotherapeutic efficacy of TNBC patients.

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0061825 (circ-TFF1) contributes to breast cancer progression through targeting miR-326/TFF1 signalling.

OBJECTIVES: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are RNA transcripts that belong to non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), whose implication in human cancers has been recently demonstrated. However, the specific role of multiple circRNAs in breast cancer remains unidentified. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Microarray analysis and bioinformatics analysis were applied to select circRNA and miRNA, respectively. The loop structure of circ-TFF1 was confirmed using RNase R treatment, divergent primer PCR and Sanger sequencing. qRT-PCR and Western blot were employed for gene expressions. In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to assess the function of circ-TFF1 in biological processes in breast cancer cells. FISH and subcellular separation indicated circ-TFF1 cellular distribution. Luciferase reporter and RIP assays and Pearson's correlation analysis were performed to evaluate relationships between genes. RESULTS: Circ-TFF1 and TFF1 were both upregulated and positively associated with each other in breast cancer. Knockdown of circ-TFF1 hindered breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT in vitro and controlled tumour growth in vivo. Circ-TFF1 acted as a ceRNA of TFF1 by sponging miR-326, and its contribution to breast cancer progression was mediated by miR-326/TFF1 axis. CONCLUSIONS: Circ-TFF1 is a facilitator in breast cancer relying on TFF1 by absorbing miR-326, providing a novel promising target for BC treatment.

circFAT1(e2) Promotes Papillary Thyroid Cancer Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion via the miRNA-873/ZEB1 Axis.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an extremely important regulatory role in the occurrence and development of various malignant tumors including papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). circFAT1(e2) is a new type of circRNA derived from exon 2 of the FAT1 gene, which is distributed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of PTC cells. However, so far, the role of circFAT1(e2) in PTC is still unclear. In this study, circFAT1(e2) was found to be highly expressed in PTC cell lines and tissues. circFAT1(e2) knockdown suppressed PTC cell growth, migration, and invasion. Also, circFAT1(e2) acted as a sponge for potential microRNAs (miRNAs) to modulate cancer progression. A potential miRNA target was discovered to be miR-873 which was targeted by circFAT1(e2) in PTC. The dual-luciferase assay conducted later also confirmed that there was indeed a direct interaction between circFAT1(e2) and miR-873. This study also confirmed that circFAT1(e2) inhibited the miR-873 expression and thus promoted the ZEB1 expression, thus affecting the proliferation, metastasis, and invasion of PTC cells. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that circFAT1(e2) played a carcinogenic role by targeting the miR-873/ZEB1 axis to promote PTC invasion and metastasis, which might become a potential novel target for therapy of PTC.

Clinical significance of prognostic score based on age, tumor size, and grade in gastric cancer after gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative management and survival of gastric cancer is mainly determined by pathologic TNM stage. However, gastric cancer is a heterogeneity group, and the survival is quite different even when they are in the same TNM stage. Moreover, TNM stage system does not grasp other important clinicopathologic factors to determine the survival. The aim of the present study is to propose and validate prognostic score based on age, tumor size, and grade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with gastric cancer in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 1988 to 2012 were included in the present study. Kaplan-Meier methods were adopted and multivariable Cox regression models were built for the analysis of long-term survival outcomes and risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 26,091 eligible patients diagnosed with noncardia gastric cancer were included in the study. In the univariate and multivariate survival analysis, age at diagnosis, tumor grade, and tumor size were validated as independent prognostic factors (P<0.05). Then, we proposed a prognostic score calculated from the number of risk factors, with 0, 1, and 2 points each given for favorable, intermediate, and poor prognostic categories of age (≤50, 50-70, and >70), grade (well, moderate, and poor differentiation), and size (≤3, 3-6, ≥7 cm). The prognostic score was verified as independent predictor in both univariate and multivariate survival analyses (P<0.001). In addition, nomograms on cause-specific survival were established according to prognostic factor and all other significant factors, and c-index was 0.715 (95% CI: 0.706-0.725). CONCLUSION: Prognostic score based on age, tumor size, and grade is an independent predictor of survival after gastrectomy. The novel prognostic score can improve the accuracy of prediction for current TNM stage system. Patients who are with a high prognostic score should undergo extensive follow-up after surgery.