Long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs in tumor angiogenesis: From mechanisms to clinical significance

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) execute a wide array of functions in physiological and pathological processes, including tumor progression. Angiogenesis, an elaborate multistep process driving new blood vessel formation, accelerates cancer progression by supplying nutrients and energy. Dysregulated lncRNAs and circRNAs can reportedly impact cancer progression by influencing angiogenesis. However, the expanding landscape of lncRNAs and circRNAs in tumor progression-dependent angiogenesis remains largely unknown. This review summarizes the major functions of angiogenic lncRNAs (Angio-LncRs) and angiogenic circRNAs (termed Angio-CircRs) and their cancer mechanisms. Moreover, we highlight the commonalities of lncRNAs and circRNAs in epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional regulation as well as illustrate how Angio-LncRs and Angio-CircRs induce cancer onset and progression. We also discuss their potential clinical applications in diagnosis, prognosis, and anti-angiogenic therapies.

The potential role of exosomal circRNAs in the tumor microenvironment: insights into cancer diagnosis and therapy

“…Furthermore, certain inhibitors (such as bevacizumab) can markedly decrease the expression of angiogenic factors (VEGF), thereby inhibiting angiogenesis 65 . Therefore, advancing our current understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with tumor angiogenesis will enable the development of novel anti-angiogenic therapies 66 .…”

Repurposing Artemisinin and its Derivatives as Anticancer Drugs: A Chance or Challenge?

“…Angiogenesis is a key factor in tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. It is partly mediated by the transcription factor NF-κB and pro-angiogenic factors (including VEGF, IL-8, COX-2 and MMP-9) (Ferrara and Kerbel, 2005;Liu et al, 2021). Dihydroartemisinin showed anti-angiogenic effect in both in vitro angiogenesis models and in vivo pancreatic cancer-derived tumor models (Wang et al, 2011).…”

“…Animal xenograft models showed that the combination of artemisinins with onconase (Shen et al, 2016), gemcitabine (Yang et al, 2019a), carboplatin (Chen T. et al, 2009), cisplatin (Zhang YJ. et al, 2013;Li W. et al, 2021), doxorubicin (Tai et al, 2016), Apo2L/TRAIL (Kong et al, 2012), allicin (Jiang et al, 2013), cytarabine (Drenberg et al, 2016), sorafenib (Jeong et al, 2015;Jing et al, 2019), triptolide [17], and temozolomide (Berte et al, 2016) can exert a synergistic effect on leukemia (Drenberg et al, 2016), renal cell carcinoma (Jeong et al, 2015), glioblastoma (Berte et al, 2016), lung (Zhang YJ. et al, 2013;Shen et al, 2016;Li W. et al, 2021), ovarian (Chen T. et al, 2009;Yang et al, 2019a), cervical (Tai et al, 2016), pancreatic (Kong et al, 2012;Liu and Cui, 2013), and liver (Jing et al, 2019) cancer.…”

“…et al, 2013;Li W. et al, 2021), doxorubicin (Tai et al, 2016), Apo2L/TRAIL (Kong et al, 2012), allicin (Jiang et al, 2013), cytarabine (Drenberg et al, 2016), sorafenib (Jeong et al, 2015;Jing et al, 2019), triptolide [17], and temozolomide (Berte et al, 2016) can exert a synergistic effect on leukemia (Drenberg et al, 2016), renal cell carcinoma (Jeong et al, 2015), glioblastoma (Berte et al, 2016), lung (Zhang YJ. et al, 2013;Shen et al, 2016;Li W. et al, 2021), ovarian (Chen T. et al, 2009;Yang et al, 2019a), cervical (Tai et al, 2016), pancreatic (Kong et al, 2012;Liu and Cui, 2013), and liver (Jing et al, 2019) cancer. Many studies reported the synergistic effect of ART with conventional chemotherapy on the inhibition of tumor growth without a significant decrease in body weight (Kong et al, 2012;Liu and Cui, 2013;Shen et al, 2016;Tai et al, 2016;Yang et al, 2019a;Li W. et al, 2021), suggesting improved efficacy without an overt increase in toxicity.…”

“…et al, 2013;Shen et al, 2016;Li W. et al, 2021), ovarian (Chen T. et al, 2009;Yang et al, 2019a), cervical (Tai et al, 2016), pancreatic (Kong et al, 2012;Liu and Cui, 2013), and liver (Jing et al, 2019) cancer. Many studies reported the synergistic effect of ART with conventional chemotherapy on the inhibition of tumor growth without a significant decrease in body weight (Kong et al, 2012;Liu and Cui, 2013;Shen et al, 2016;Tai et al, 2016;Yang et al, 2019a;Li W. et al, 2021), suggesting improved efficacy without an overt increase in toxicity. The complete elimination of an ovarian cancer tumor was observed in a study that used DHA and gemcitabine combination therapy.…”