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Non-coding RNA-based therapeutics in cancer therapy: An emphasis on Wnt/β-catenin control

Afshin Taheriazam1, Seyedeh Delaram Bayanzadeh2, Melika Heydari Farahani3

  • 1Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

European Journal of Pharmacology
|May 13, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), lncRNAs, and circRNAs, interact with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This interaction influences cancer progression, offering potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) regulate gene expression and are implicated in disease pathogenesis, particularly cancer.
  • Abnormal ncRNA expression contributes to cancer progression by affecting cellular processes.
  • The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is a key oncogenic pathway involved in tumor growth, invasion, and therapy resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the intricate interactions between different types of ncRNAs (miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs) and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in cancer.
  • To elucidate the role of these ncRNA-Wnt interactions in tumorigenesis and cancer progression.
  • To assess the potential of the ncRNA/Wnt/β-catenin axis as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in cancer patients.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing literature on ncRNA function and Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancer.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms by which miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs regulate Wnt/β-catenin activity.
  • Examination of experimental evidence linking ncRNA-Wnt interactions to cancer hallmarks like proliferation, migration, and therapy resistance.

Main Results:

  • miRNAs can suppress Wnt signaling by binding to the 3'-UTR of Wnt mRNA.
  • LncRNAs exhibit diverse regulatory roles, including direct modulation of Wnt and indirect sponging of miRNAs.
  • CircRNAs emerge as potent stimulators of Wnt signaling, promoting tumor progression, often through circRNA/miRNA interactions.

Conclusions:

  • The ncRNA/Wnt/β-catenin axis plays a critical role in regulating cancer cell proliferation, migration, and response to therapy.
  • Dysregulation of this axis is a significant driver of cancer development and progression.
  • Targeting the ncRNA/Wnt/β-catenin pathway or utilizing it as a biomarker holds promise for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
Keywords:
BiomakerNon-coding RNA moleculescircRNAslncRNAs

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