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Dicer1 dysfunction promotes stemness and aggression in endometrial carcinoma
Xiao-Jun Wang1,2, Fei-Zhou Jiang3, Huan Tong1
11 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Endometrial carcinoma is one of the most common gynecological malignancies, but the molecular events involved in the development and progression of endometrial carcinoma remain unclear. Dicer1 and cancer stem cells play important roles in cell motility and survival. This study investigated the role of the let-7 family and Dicer1 in the stemness of endometrial carcinoma cells. We profiled Dicer1 expression in clinical samples and explored its relationship with stem cell-associated markers and clinical parameters. We showed that Dicer1 dysfunction leads to the enrichment of tumor stemness features and tumor aggression both in vitro and in vivo. We also identified the mechanism related to this potential tumor-predisposing phenotype: loss of Dicer1 induced abnormal expression of the let-7 family, which comprises well-known tumor suppressors, thus regulating stemness in endometrial carcinoma cells.
Insights
Dicer1 dysfunction in endometrial carcinoma promotes tumor stemness and aggression by disrupting the let-7 tumor suppressor family. This finding clarifies molecular events in gynecological malignancies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Gynecology
Background:
- Endometrial carcinoma is a common gynecological malignancy with unclear molecular underpinnings.
- Dicer1 and cancer stem cells are implicated in tumor cell motility and survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Dicer1 and the let-7 microRNA family in endometrial carcinoma stemness.
- To correlate Dicer1 expression with stem cell markers and clinical parameters in endometrial cancer.
Main Methods:
- Profiling Dicer1 expression in clinical endometrial carcinoma samples.
- In vitro and in vivo experiments to assess the impact of Dicer1 dysfunction on tumor stemness and aggression.
- Analysis of let-7 family expression in relation to Dicer1 levels.
Main Results:
- Dicer1 dysfunction was associated with enriched tumor stemness features and increased tumor aggression.
- Loss of Dicer1 led to abnormal expression of the let-7 microRNA family.
- The let-7 family, known tumor suppressors, were identified as regulators of stemness in endometrial carcinoma cells upon Dicer1 loss.
Conclusions:
- Dicer1 plays a critical role in regulating stemness in endometrial carcinoma.
- Dysregulation of the Dicer1-let-7 axis contributes to endometrial carcinoma progression and aggression.
- Targeting the Dicer1-let-7 pathway may offer therapeutic strategies for endometrial cancer.