Interplays between non-coding RNAs and chemokines in digestive system cancers

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Immunology

Background:

• Chemokines and their receptors are crucial in tumor microenvironments, affecting leukocyte infiltration, cancer cell behavior, and metastasis.
• Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, play significant roles in physiological and pathophysiological processes, including cancer.
• Dysregulated expression of chemokines/chemokine receptors and ncRNAs is implicated in the development and progression of digestive system malignancies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the intricate communication between ncRNAs and chemokines/chemokine receptors in digestive system cancers.
• To elucidate the dual roles of ncRNAs (pro- and anti-tumorigenic) in modulating chemokine/chemokine receptor expression.
• To explore the therapeutic potential arising from understanding this crosstalk.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on ncRNA-chemokine/chemokine receptor interactions in digestive cancers.
• Analysis of studies investigating the impact of ncRNAs on leukocyte infiltration, EMT, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis.
• Synthesis of findings on how chemokines influence ncRNA expression and vice versa.

Main Results:

• ncRNAs can exert both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting effects by regulating chemokine/chemokine receptor expression.
• Specific miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs have been identified as key players in mediating these interactions.
• The interplay between ncRNAs and chemokines significantly impacts key hallmarks of cancer in gastric, colorectal, pancreatic cancers, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Conclusions:

• The crosstalk between ncRNAs and chemokines/chemokine receptors is a critical determinant of digestive cancer progression.
• Targeting these interactions offers promising avenues for novel therapeutic strategies in oncology.
• Further research into this complex network is essential for developing effective cancer treatments.