Novel insights into circular RNAs in clinical application of carcinomas

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), formed by nonsequential back-splicing of pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) transcripts, have been widely concerned in recent years. With advances in high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology, previous work has revealed that a large number of circRNAs, which are endogenous, abundant and stable in mammalian cells, may be involved in atherosclerotic vascular disease risk, neurological disorders, prion diseases and carcinomas. Remarkably, interaction between circRNAs and microRNA has already been observed to perform a significant role in a variety of cancers, including gastric cancer and colorectal cancer. Recent work has suggested that circRNAs may play critical roles in the initiation and development of cancers and could become potential new biomarkers for cancers. Herein, we review the current understanding of the roles of circRNAs in cancers and the potential implications of circRNAs in cancer-targeted therapy

Role of Small Molecule Targeted Compounds in Cancer: Progress, Opportunities, and Challenges

Research on molecular targeted therapy of tumors is booming, and novel targeted therapy drugs are constantly emerging. Small molecule targeted compounds, novel targeted therapy drugs, can be administered orally as tablets among other methods, and do not draw upon genes, causing no immune response. It is easily structurally modified to make it more applicable to clinical needs, and convenient to promote due to low cost. It refers to a hotspot in the research of tumor molecular targeted therapy. In the present study, we review the current Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved use of small molecule targeted compounds in tumors, summarize the clinical drug resistance problems and mechanisms facing the use of small molecule targeted compounds, and predict the future directions of the evolving field

Exploring hypotheses on karez initiation and decline in the Flaming Mountains from a photo modelling campaign

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MDM2 SNP309 rs2279744 polymorphism and gastric cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

MDM2 is a major negative regulator of p53, and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the MDM2 promoter region SNP309 has been demonstrated to be associated with an increased MDM2 expression and a significantly earlier age of onset of several tumors, including gastric cancer. Several studies were published to evaluate the association between SNP309 and gastric cancer risk. However, the results remain conflicting rather than conclusive.The aim of this study was to assess the association between the MDM2 SNP309 polymorphism and gastric risk.We performed a meta-analysis to investigate this relationship. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of the association. The pooled ORs were performed for codominant model, dominant model, and recessive model, respectively.Five published case-control studies, including 1,621 gastric cancer cases and 2,639 controls were identified. We found that the MDM2 SNP309 polymorphism was associated with a significantly increased risk of gastric cancer risk when all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis (GG versus TT, OR = 1.54; 95%CI = 1.04-2.29, and GG versus GT/TT, OR = 1.49, 95%CI = 1.30-1.72). Furthermore, Egger's test did not show any evidence of publication bias (P = 0.799 for GG versus TT).Our results suggest that the MDM2 SNP309 polymorphism may be a low-penetrant risk factor for the development of gastric cancer

Meta-analysis of the <i>MDM2</i> SNP309 T>G polymorphism on gastric cancer.

a<p>Random-effects model was used when <i>P</i> value for heterogeneity test <0.05; otherwise, fix-effects model was used.</p>b<p><i>P</i> value of Q-test for heterogeneity test.</p

Characteristics of literatures included in the meta-analysis.

a<p>HWE, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.</p

Begg's funnel plot for publication bias test (GG vs. TT).

<p>Each point represents a separate study for the indicated association. Log[or], natural logarithm of odds ratio. Horizontal line, mean effect size.</p

Studies identification, inclusion and exclusion.

<p>Studies identification, inclusion and exclusion.</p

Forest plot of gastric cancer risk associated with the <i>MDM2</i> SNP309 (GG vs. TT).

<p>The squares and horizontal lines correspond to the study-specific OR and 95% CI. The area of the squares reflects the study-specific weight (inverse of the variance). The diamond represents the summary OR and 95% CI.</p