Non-coding RNAs and cancer: microRNAs and beyond

Non-coding RNAs were previously thought to have little importance because they are not directly translated into a protein like their coding counterparts. However, it was recently found that non-coding RNAs do in fact have a much bigger role than previously thought. They are involved in cancer predisposition, development and progression. MicroRNAs, very short non-coding RNAs, are abnormally expressed in cancer and some harbor mutations that affect expression levels. MicroRNA alterations have been observed in all forms of cancer that have been researched to the current date. MicroRNAs are also located in cancer- associated genomic regions, which have been previously shown to affect gene expression leading to the activation or inhibition of cancer growth. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms within microRNAs can predispose someone to cancer. MicroRNAs have been shown to target both tumor suppressors, inhibiting cancer development, as well as oncogenes, stimulating cancer development. Some microRNAs can switch between these two functions and behave as a tumor suppressor at one time and an oncogene at another time. MicroRNAs can be used for diagnostic purposes as well as prognostic evaluations. Outside of microRNAs, ultraconserved genes, another group of non-coding RNAs, also express differently in cancer patients. Large intervening non-coding RNAs, specifically one termed HOTAIR, have been quantified in very high levels in cancer cells and have been implicated in metastasis. Further research into noncoding RNAs may allow for the development of therapies that will target non-coding RNAs creating better treatment options for cancer patients, improving their prognosis. This review discusses the most current discoveries about non-coding RNAs, revealing their associations with cancer.

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Genetic Variants in Smoking-Related Genes in Two Smoking Cessation Programs: A Cross-Sectional Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18126597 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (12) ◽

pp. 6597

Author(s):

Gloria Pérez-Rubio ◽

Luis Alberto López-Flores ◽

Ana Paula Cupertino ◽

Francisco Cartujano-Barrera ◽

Luz Myriam Reynales-Shigematsu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Genotype Frequencies ◽

Quitting Smoking ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Genomic Regions

Previous studies have identified variants in genes encoding proteins associated with the degree of addiction, smoking onset, and cessation. We aimed to describe thirty-one single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven candidate genomic regions spanning six genes associated with tobacco-smoking in a cross-sectional study from two different interventions for quitting smoking: (1) thirty-eight smokers were recruited via multimedia to participate in e-Decídete! program (e-Dec) and (2) ninety-four attended an institutional smoking cessation program on-site. SNPs genotyping was done by real-time PCR using TaqMan probes. The analysis of alleles and genotypes was carried out using the EpiInfo v7. on-site subjects had more years smoking and tobacco index than e-Dec smokers (p < 0.05, both); in CYP2A6 we found differences in the rs28399433 (p < 0.01), the e-Dec group had a higher frequency of TT genotype (0.78 vs. 0.35), and TG genotype frequency was higher in the on-site group (0.63 vs. 0.18), same as GG genotype (0.03 vs. 0.02). Moreover, three SNPs in NRXN1, two in CHRNA3, and two in CHRNA5 had differences in genotype frequencies (p < 0.01). Cigarettes per day were different (p < 0.05) in the metabolizer classification by CYP2A6 alleles. In conclusion, subjects attending a mobile smoking cessation intervention smoked fewer cigarettes per day, by fewer years, and by fewer cumulative pack-years. There were differences in the genotype frequencies of SNPs in genes related to nicotine metabolism and nicotine dependence. Slow metabolizers smoked more cigarettes per day than intermediate and normal metabolizers.

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miR-146a and miR-196a-2 genes polymorphisms and its circulating levels in lung cancer patients

The Journal of Biochemistry ◽

10.1093/jb/mvz044 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 166 (4) ◽

pp. 323-329 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Randa H Mohamed ◽

Heba F Pasha ◽

Doaa M Gad ◽

Mostafa M Toam

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Cancer Risk ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Lung Cancer Risk ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Lung Cancer Patients ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Increase Risk ◽

Circulating Levels

AbstractRecently, MicroRNAs polymorphisms and their serum expression have been linked to increase risk of various cancers. The aim of this study was to elucidate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of miR-146a and miR-196a-2 and their serum expression and lung cancer risk. One hundred and twenty lung cancer patients and 120 health controls were included in this study. Genotyping and expression for miR-146a and miR-196a-2 were performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism and quantitative real-time PCR. Individuals carrying miR-146a CG and CC genotypes had significantly increased risk for lung cancer than those carrying miR-146a GG genotype. MiR-146a expression significantly decreased in miR-146a CG and CC genotypes carriers as compared with GG genotype carriers. MiR-196a-2 CT and TT genotypes were significantly associated with increased lung cancer while the highest expression of MiR-196a-2 was detected in miR-196a-2 CC genotype carriers. Serum miR-146a was significantly decreased in lung cancer patients while serum miR-196a-2 expression was significantly increased in lung cancer patients. In conclusion, miR-146a and miR-196a-2 genes polymorphisms and their circulating levels were associated with lung cancer risk in Egyptians and may be helpful in early detection of lung cancer.

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Single nucleotide polymorphisms to predict taxanes toxicities and effectiveness in cancer patients

The Pharmacogenomics Journal ◽

10.1038/s41397-021-00227-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sara Demurtas ◽

Nicla La Verde ◽

Selene Rota ◽

Giovanni Casazza ◽

Cristina Montrasio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Single Nucleotide

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Analysis of 4 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Relation to Cervical Dysplasia and Cancer Development Using a High-Throughput Ligation-Detection Reaction Procedure

International Journal of Gynecological Cancer ◽

10.1097/igc.0b013e31822b6299 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 21 (9) ◽

pp. 1664-1671 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Helmut von Keyserling ◽

Thomas Bergmann ◽

Miriam Schuetz ◽

Ursula Schiller ◽

Jonas Stanke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Genetic Markers ◽

Cervical Dysplasia ◽

Semantic Integration ◽

Cancer Development ◽

Large Sample Size ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Genetic Characteristics

BackgroundHost genetic characteristics and environmental factors may correlate with risk for cervical cancer development. Here we describe a retrospective screening study for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genetic markersTP53, MTHFR, CYP1A1,andCYP2E1in 749 patients.MethodsA multiplex ligation-dependent polymerase chain reaction approach was applied. We used archived material from human papillomavirus tests and correlated SNP genotypes to the corresponding clinical data. Semantic integration was used to identify and evaluate the clinical status from electronic health records.ResultsAn association with cervical cancer and high-grade dysplasia was found for the rare homozygous CC genotype (rs4646903) inCYP1A1(odds ratio [OR], 8.862). Odds ratios were also significantly elevated for heterozygousMTHFRCT genotype (rs1801133; OR, 1.457). No significant association was found inTP53(rs1042522) andCYP2E1(rs3813867). In addition, we found smokers at higher risk (OR, 2.688) and identified pregnancies as a significant risk factor (OR, 1.54).ConclusionsOur protocol enables a feasible way for further retrospective large sample size evaluation of potential genetic markers. This study revealed genetic associations of a rare SNP genotype with cervical dysplasia in one of the largest patient sample to date that warrants further investigation.

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A NOTE ON PHASING LONG GENOMIC REGIONS USING LOCAL HAPLOTYPE PREDICTIONS

Journal of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology ◽

10.1142/s0219720006002272 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 04 (03) ◽

pp. 639-647 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

ELEAZAR ESKIN ◽

RODED SHARAN ◽

ERAN HALPERIN

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Computational Cost ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Maximum Likelihood Criterion ◽

The Common ◽

Genomic Regions ◽

High Computational Cost ◽

Combining Information

The common approaches for haplotype inference from genotype data are targeted toward phasing short genomic regions. Longer regions are often tackled in a heuristic manner, due to the high computational cost. Here, we describe a novel approach for phasing genotypes over long regions, which is based on combining information from local predictions on short, overlapping regions. The phasing is done in a way, which maximizes a natural maximum likelihood criterion. Among other things, this criterion takes into account the physical length between neighboring single nucleotide polymorphisms. The approach is very efficient and is applied to several large scale datasets and is shown to be successful in two recent benchmarking studies (Zaitlen et al., in press; Marchini et al., in preparation). Our method is publicly available via a webserver at .

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