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The role of epigenetics and long noncoding RNA MIAT in neuroendocrine prostate cancer

Francesco Crea1,2, Erik Venalainen1, Xinpei Ci1,3

  • 1Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Agency Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Epigenomics
|April 21, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) arises from adenocarcinoma cells. Epigenetic factors, including long noncoding RNAs like MIAT, drive NEPC initiation and progression, offering new therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is the most lethal form of prostate cancer.
  • NEPC is hypothesized to arise from the transdifferentiation of androgen receptor (AR)-positive adenocarcinoma cells.
  • The epigenetic/noncoding interactome (ENI) has been implicated in cancer cell plasticity, leading to metastatic and drug-resistant disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the role of ENI components, such as Polycomb genes and microRNAs (miRNAs), in NEPC initiation and progression.
  • To explore the largely uninvestigated role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) within the ENI in NEPC.
  • To present preliminary evidence for the lncRNA MIAT as a potential player in NEPC.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing evidence on ENI components in cancer plasticity and NEPC.
  • Analysis of preliminary data on MIAT expression in NEPC.
  • Investigation of potential interactions between MIAT and Polycomb genes.

Main Results:

  • Specific ENI components, including Polycomb genes and miRNAs, are crucial for NEPC development.
  • The lncRNA MIAT is found to be selectively upregulated in NEPC.
  • Preliminary findings suggest MIAT may interact with Polycomb genes, implicating lncRNAs in NEPC pathogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • Long noncoding RNAs, exemplified by MIAT, are integral to the ENI and play a significant role in NEPC.
  • MIAT and other lncRNAs represent promising novel biomarkers for NEPC detection and prognosis.
  • Targeting lncRNAs offers a potential new therapeutic strategy for combating lethal NEPC.
Keywords:
MIATPolycombepigenetic/noncoding interactomelong noncoding RNAsneuroendocrine prostate cancertransdifferentiation

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