Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Dual CRISPR-Interference Strategy for Targeting Synthetic Lethal Interactions Between Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer Cells
07:23

Dual CRISPR-Interference Strategy for Targeting Synthetic Lethal Interactions Between Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer Cells

Published on: May 30, 2025

1.3K

Long noncoding RNA linc00617 exhibits oncogenic activity in breast cancer

Hengyu Li1, Li Zhu1, Lu Xu1

  • 1Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, General Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.

Molecular Carcinogenesis
|July 25, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) linc00617 promotes breast cancer progression and metastasis by upregulating the stemness factor Sox2. Targeting linc00617 may offer a therapeutic strategy for aggressive breast cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Noncoding RNAs, particularly long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), play crucial roles in biological processes, including cancer.
  • The lncRNA TUNA is essential for pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the human ortholog of TUNA, linc00617, in breast cancer.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which linc00617 influences breast cancer progression and metastasis.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of linc00617 expression in breast cancer samples.
  • In vitro studies assessing the effects of linc00617 on cell motility, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT).
  • In vivo experiments evaluating the impact of linc00617 knockdown on lung metastasis.
  • Investigation of linc00617's effect on Sox2 expression and its downstream consequences.

Main Results:

  • Linc00617 was found to be upregulated in breast cancer tissues.
  • Overexpression of linc00617 enhanced breast cancer cell motility, invasion, and induced EMT with stem cell properties.
  • Knockdown of linc00617 significantly reduced lung metastasis in vivo.
  • Linc00617 was shown to upregulate Sox2 expression, promoting EMT and tumor-initiating capacity.

Conclusions:

  • Linc00617 is a key regulator of EMT and promotes breast cancer progression and metastasis by activating Sox2 transcription.
  • Linc00617 represents a potential therapeutic target for aggressive breast cancer.
Keywords:
breast cancercancer stem-like cellsepithelial-mesenchymal-transitionlinc00617long noncoding RNA

Related Concept Videos

lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs02:39

lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs

In humans, more than 80% of the genome gets transcribed. However, only around 2% of the genome codes for proteins. The remaining part produces non-coding RNAs which includes ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, telomerase RNAs, and regulatory RNAs, among other types. A large number of regulatory non-coding RNAs have been classified into two groups depending upon their length – small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNA, which are less than 200 nucleotides in length, and long non-coding RNA...
10.2K
lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs02:39

lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs

3.9K
Non-LTR Retrotransposons03:18

Non-LTR Retrotransposons

As the name suggests, non-LTR retrotransposons lack the long terminal repeats characteristic of the LTR retrotransposons. Additionally, both LTR and non-LTR retrotransposons use distinct mechanisms of mobilization. Non-LTR retrotransposons are further divided into two classes - Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), both of which occur abundantly in most mammals, including humans. Some of the active non-LTR retrotransposons in humans are L1...
14.1K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
4.3K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
24.7K
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
10.1K