Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Combined Use of Tail Vein Metastasis Assays and Real-Time In Vivo Imaging to Quantify Breast Cancer Metastatic Colonization and Burden in the Lungs
10:32

Combined Use of Tail Vein Metastasis Assays and Real-Time In Vivo Imaging to Quantify Breast Cancer Metastatic Colonization and Burden in the Lungs

Published on: December 19, 2019

11.8K

THAP7-AS1 orchestrates IGF2BP3-m6A-dependent CCN2 mRNA stabilization to promote lymphatic metastasis in bladder

Qiuyan Li1,2, Junjie Bai1,2, Shiwen Zheng3

  • 1Shengli Clinical College of Fujian Medical University Fuzhou 350001, Fujian, P. R. China.

American Journal of Cancer Research
|April 20, 2026
PubMed

Insights

THAP7-AS1, a long noncoding RNA, promotes bladder cancer spread to lymph nodes by stabilizing CCN2 mRNA. This pathway highlights THAP7-AS1 as a potential therapeutic target for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • RNA Biology

Background:

  • Lymphatic metastasis is a key factor in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) treatment failure.
  • The specific RNA mechanisms driving lymphatic spread in bladder cancer are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel RNA regulators involved in bladder cancer lymphatic metastasis.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which THAP7-AS1 influences bladder cancer progression.

Main Methods:

  • Identification and characterization of THAP7-AS1 in bladder cancer tissues.
  • In vitro assays for cell invasion and transendothelial migration.
  • In vivo studies of lymph node metastasis.
  • RNA immunoprecipitation and Western blot analyses to investigate molecular interactions.

Main Results:

  • THAP7-AS1 is upregulated in lymph node metastatic bladder cancer and linked to poor outcomes.
  • THAP7-AS1 enhances bladder cancer cell invasion, migration, and lymph node metastasis.
  • THAP7-AS1 interacts with IGF2BP3 to stabilize CCN2 mRNA, increasing CCN2 protein levels.

Conclusions:

  • A novel THAP7-AS1-IGF2BP3-m6A-CCN2 pathway promotes lymphatic metastasis in bladder cancer.
  • THAP7-AS1 is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for bladder cancer (BCa).
Keywords:
CCN2IGF2BP3Lymphatic metastasisN6-methyladenosine (m6A)THAP7-AS1

More Related Videos

Induction of Invasive Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma in Immune Intact Human MUC1 Transgenic Mice: A Model for Immunotherapy Development11:02

Induction of Invasive Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma in Immune Intact Human MUC1 Transgenic Mice: A Model for Immunotherapy Development

Published on: October 30, 2013

21.9K
3-D Cell Culture System for Studying Invasion and Evaluating Therapeutics in Bladder Cancer09:24

3-D Cell Culture System for Studying Invasion and Evaluating Therapeutics in Bladder Cancer

Published on: September 13, 2018

9.6K

Related Concept Videos

Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
7.0K
Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia01:35

Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia

Invadosome is a broad category of cell surface structures with proteolytic activity that  degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM). Invadosomes are present in normal cell types, including macrophages, endothelial cells, and neurons, as well as tumor cells. Although the macrophage podosomes and tumor cell invadopodia are classified as invadosomes, they have different structures, molecular pathways, and functions. Podosomes are short structures that last for a few minutes. However,...
3.5K