Noncoding RNAs as Predictive Biomarkers of Therapeutic Response to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Metastatic Cancer

Since their discovery, noncoding RNAs have acquired extensive attention due to their eminent role in the regulation of gene expression and thus also in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Currently, strong evidence is showing that noncoding RNAs are integral parts of key cancer-related cellular pathways, and the deregulation of their levels is pathogenetic on one hand but feasible as a biomarker of pathogenesis itself on the other hand. In cancer, diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of therapy outcome can be derived from levels of various noncoding RNAs. This chapter is focused on potential application of noncoding RNAs in prediction of therapeutic response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors commonly used as targeted therapy in a wide range of metastatic cancers

Case report: rapid and durable response to PDGFR targeted therapy in a child with refractory multiple infantile myofibromatosis and a heterozygous germline mutation of the PDGFRB gene

Timeline. This file shows timeline of both described cases. (PDF 466 kb

MicroRNAs in colorectal cancer: translation of molecular biology into clinical application

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs 18-25 nucleotides in length that downregulate gene expression during various crucial cell processes such as apoptosis, differentiation and development. Changes in the expression profiles of miRNAs have been observed in a variety of human tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Functional studies indicate that miRNAs act as tumor suppressors and oncogenes. These findings significantly extend Vogelstein's model of CRC pathogenesis and have shown great potential for miRNAs as a novel class of therapeutic targets. Several investigations have also described the ability of miRNA expression profiles to predict prognosis and response to selected treatments in CRC patients, and support diagnosis of CRC among cancer of unknown primary site. miRNAs' occurrence has been repeatedly observed also in serum and plasma, and miRNAs as novel minimally invasive biomarkers have indicated reasonable sensitivity for CRC detection and compare favorably with the fecal occult blood test. In this review, we summarize the knowledge regarding miRNAs' functioning in CRC while emphasizing their significance in pathogenetic signaling pathways and their potential to serve as disease biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets

Non-Coding RNAs in Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: From Bench to Bedside

Peritoneal carcinomatosis represents an advanced stage of tumors within the peritoneal cavity. Once considered an incurable terminal cancer metastasis, contemporary medicine is on the hunt for certain potentially curative options alongside the present day’s palliative disease management. However, for most patients, peritoneal carcinomatosis continues to pose a fatal late-stage prognosis with a grim future outlook. Over the past two decades, non-coding RNAs have garnered significant attention due to their undeniable significance in regulating cellular processes across all levels. Disruption of the intricate regulation led by non-coding RNAs has been demonstrated to have a substantial impact on various human diseases, particularly in cancer, including solid tumors originating from the organs of the peritoneal cavity. This review aims to offer a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge in the under-researched field of peritoneal carcinomatosis, focusing specifically on the role of non-coding RNAs in the development of this condition and delineating potential avenues for future research

The role of ncRNAs in solid tumors prognosis: from laboratory to clinical utility

Today we know that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) represent most of the transcribed human genome and participate in relevant cellular processes. NcRNAs regulate from RNA transcription to protein translation, have important epigenetic roles or facilitate protein–protein interactions among other functions. In consequence, their dysregulation has been associated with tumor development and progression. Recently, their expression has also been detected in body fluids, opening the use of circulating ncRNAs for diagnosis and for evaluation and monitoring cancer prognosis

lncRNA and mechanisms of drug resistance in cancers of the genitourinary system

Available systemic treatment options for cancers of the genitourinary system have experienced great progress in the last decade. However, a large proportion of patients eventually develop resistance to treatment, resulting in disease progression and shorter overall survival. Biomarkers indicating the increasing resistance to cancer therapies are yet to enter clinical routine. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are non-protein coding RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that exert multiple types of regulatory functions of all known cellular processes. Increasing evidence supports the role of lncRNAs in cancer development and progression. Additionally, their involvement in the development of drug resistance across various cancer entities, including genitourinary malignancies, are starting to be discovered. Consequently, lncRNAs have been suggested as factors in novel therapeutic strategies to overcome drug resistance in cancer. In this review, the existing evidences on lncRNAs and their involvement in mechanisms of drug resistance in cancers of the genitourinary system, including renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer, will be highlighted and discussed to facilitate and encourage further research in this field. We summarize a significant number of lncRNAs with proposed pathways in drug resistance and available reported studies