Lung microRNAs Expression in Lung Cancer and COPD: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the deadliest diseases worldwide and represents an impending burden on the healthcare system. Despite increasing attention, the mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis in cancer-related diseases such as COPD remain unclear, making novel biomarkers necessary to improve lung cancer early diagnosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA that interfere with several pathways and can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. This study aimed to compare miRNA lung expression between subjects with NSCLC and COPD and healthy controls to obtain the miRNA expression profile by analyzing shared pathways. Lung specimens were collected from a prospective cohort of 21 sex-matched subjects to determine the tissue miRNA expression of hsa-miR-34a-5p, 33a-5p, 149-3p, 197-3p, 199-5p, and 320a-3p by RT-PCR. In addition, an in silico prediction of miRNA target genes linked to cancer was performed. We found a specific trend for has-miR-149-3p, 197-3p, and 34a-5p in NSCLC, suggesting their possible role as an index of the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, we identified novel miRNA targets, such as the Cyclin-Dependent Kinase (CDK) family, linked to carcinogenesis by in silico analysis. In conclusion. this study identified lung miRNA signatures related to the tumorigenic microenvironment, suggesting their possible role in improving the evaluation of lung cancer onset.

Effectiveness of Immunotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with a Diagnosis of COPD: Is This a Hidden Prognosticator for Survival and a Risk Factor for Immune-Related Adverse Events?

“…• miR 197-3p [111] • miR 199a-5p [111] • • miR 320a-3p [111] • • miR-34a-5p [111] • • miR 197-3p [111] • could significantly differentiate the immune cell proportions in the TME, including TILs [99], whereas the methylation of promoters CTLA4, LAG3, and PD-L1 was largely associated with longer survival and a longer duration of response when immunotherapy was used [100]. Some studies have shed light on the role of DNA methylation in COPD development and as a potential biomarker in patients with NSCLC and COPD [100][101][102], and the profiling of DNA methylation signatures in NSCLC and COPD patients revealed important differences between patients with or without COPD [101,102].…”

“…• miR 197-3p [111] • miR 199a-5p [111] • • miR 320a-3p [111] • • miR-34a-5p [111] • • miR 199a-5p [111] • •…”

“…Other post-translational modifications altering gene expression patterns in patients with NSCLC, COPD, or both are reported in Table 2. • UCA1 [107] • HOTAIR [108,109] • H19 [110] • [111] • miR 197-3p [111] • miR 199a-5p [111] • • miR 320a-3p [111] • • miR-34a-5p [111] • • miR 320a-3p [111] • •…”

“…Other post-translational modifications altering gene expression patterns in patients with NSCLC, COPD, or both are reported in Table 2. • UCA1 [107] • HOTAIR [108,109] • H19 [110] • • miRNA miR-675 [110] • • miR-33a-5p [111] • • • miR 149-3p [111] • miR 197-3p [111] • miR 199a-5p [111] • • miR 320a-3p [111] • • miR-34a-5p [111] • • miR-34a-5p [111] • • circ-RNA ment for cancer development and compromise the response to therapy. DNA methylation and its modulatory mechanisms have long been investigated as potential biomarkers for ICIs' effectiveness [98].…”

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer an association

“…It has been observed that high protein concentration in the everyday nutrition reduces COPD exacerbations 13 . Moreover; the nutritional status of lung cancer patients has been closely associated with treatment efficiency and survival 14 - 18 . In our current study we evaluated the chronic obstructive disease of the patients along with their cancer treatment and their nutritional status and metabolic rate, in an effort to identify how these three parameters interact.…”