The role of ncRNAs in neuroblastoma: mechanisms, biomarkers and therapeutic targets

Abstract

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a malignant tumor in young children that originates from the neural crest of the sympathetic nervous system. Generally, NB occurs in the adrenal glands, but it can also affect the nerve tissues of the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Understanding the pathophysiology of NB and developing novel therapeutic approaches are critical. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are associated with crucial aspects of pathology, metastasis and drug resistance in NB. Here, we summarized the pretranscriptional, transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms of ncRNAs involved in NB, especially focusing on regulatory pathways. Furthermore, ncRNAs with the potential to serve as biomarkers for risk stratification, drug resistance and therapeutic targets are also discussed, highlighting the clinical application of ncRNAs in NB.

Long Non-Coding RNAs in Neuroblastoma: Pathogenesis, Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets

“…Cell-free lncRNA is released by dying tumors and other cells [ 131 ], making lncRNAs potentially valuable biomarkers of tumor characteristics such as resistance to particular chemotherapeutic agents, encompassing tumor heterogeneity. In addition to freely circulating lncRNAs, lncRNAs can be detected in apoptotic bodies and exosomes, where they are shielded from extracellular RNases, making them more stable biomarkers [ 132 ]. LncRNAs could also be used to improve the detection of residual tumor tissue during treatment and follow-up.…”

“…Also of interest would be the exploration of whether the determination of the expression levels of certain lncRNAs during the diagnostic evaluation of neuroblastoma could increase the accuracy of predictions for personalized therapeutic decision making. Finally, ncRNAs other than lncRNAs (mainly miRNAs and circular RNAs) may also play roles in resistance to multiple chemotherapeutic agents, but these roles are currently unclear [ 132 ].…”

Circular RNA circEMB promotes osteosarcoma progression and metastasis by sponging miR-3184-5p and regulating EGFR expression

“…Epigenetic alterations, including DNA and m6A methylation, and noncoding RNAs involved in tumour development, invasion, metastasis and drug resistance play an important role in guiding clinical treatment [ 31 – 35 ]. circRNAs, noncoding RNAs, are potential biomarkers for evaluating tumour metastasis and drug resistance outcomes in several cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer and glioma [ 36 – 39 ]. However, the mechanisms through which circRNAs affect the development, metastasis and drug resistance of OSA remain unclear.…”

6 ′ -O-Galloylpaeoniflorin Exerts Inhibitory Bioactivities in Human Neuroblastoma Cells via Modulating AMPK/miR-489/XIAP Pathway

“…Unfortunately, although modest improvements have yielded in the prognosis of NBM patients with common treatments, the median overall survival (OS) in drug-resistant NBM remains poor [ 3 ]. Recently, more and more attention has been paid to the precise molecular regulatory mechanisms in the tumorigenesis of NBM, aiming at developing novel effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies [ 4 – 6 ].…”