Noncoding RNAs and Colorectal Cancer: A General Overview

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most prevalent cancer in the world when nonmelanoma skin cases are not considered. Different epigenetic mechanisms play a role in the development of cancer. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are RNA molecules transcribed from noncoding regions of the genome. These are divided into sncRNAs (small noncoding RNAs: <200 nucleotides - including miRNAs [microRNAs], siRNAs [small interfering RNAs], piRNAs [piwi-interacting RNAs], snoRNAs [small nucleolar RNAs]) and lncRNAs (long noncoding RNAs: >200 nucleotides – includingcircular RNAs [circRNAs]). NcRNAs can act as oncogenes or as tumor suppressor genes in CRC and are potential biomarkers of diagnosis, with possible clinical implications. Objective: This article aims to make a general review around all types of non-coding RNAs and influence in colorectal cancer, focus in biomarkesof CRC and their possible applications in clinical practice, as well as review their biogenesis and functions. Furthermore, we seek to summarize possible databases available for new searches and studies that require sequence annotation, comparison sequences and target prediction for ncRNAs with the hope ofgathering information that can aid in the process of understanding and translating the use of ncRNAs into clinical practice.

Hsa_circ_0003602 Contributes to the Progression of Colorectal Cancer by Mediating the miR-149-5p/SLC38A1 Axis

“…An increasing body of proofs have attested that dysregulated circRNAs are connected with the advancement of CRC. 21 For instance, circASS1 overexpression inhibited the CRC cell malignant phenotypes through regulating the miR-1269a/VASH1 pathway. 22 And circ_0007334 deficiency restrained CRC cell growth, motility and angiogenesis via regulation of the miR-577/KLF12 axis.…”

Anti‐angiogenesis in colorectal cancer therapy

“…Acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes in CRC, they might be potential diagnostic biomarkers. 177 Long non-coding RNAs are longer than 200 nts non-coding transcripts, which recently became one of the largest and most significantly diverse RNA families. As small and long evolutionarily conserved ncRNA families, lncRNAs activate and repress genes through various mechanisms at both transcriptional and translational levels.…”

Knockdown of Methyltransferase-Like 3 in the Prevention of Malignant Progression of Colorectal Cancer by Downregulating circLMNB1

“…CircRNA has gradually become a key RNA studied in malignant cancers due to its closed loop structure, high stability, strong specificity and ease of detection [34] . Increasing evidence suggests that circRNA has the characteristics of tissue-specific expression and plays a regulatory role in malignant tumors [35][36][37] . Therefore, circRNA is expected to be the most promising molecular marker for use in tumor diagnosis, assessment and prognosis [38] .…”