Transcribed Ultraconserved Regions: New regulators in cancer signaling and potential biomarkers

Abstract

The ultraconserved regions (UCRs) are 481 genomic elements, longer than 200 bp, 100% conserved in human, mouse, and rat genomes. Usually, coding regions are more conserved, but more than 80% of UCRs are either intergenic or intronic, and many of them produce long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Recently, the deregulated expression of transcribed UCRs (T-UCRs) has been associated with pathological conditions. But, differently from many lncRNAs with recognized crucial effects on malignant cell processes, the role of T-UCRs in the control of cancer cell networks is understudied. Furthermore, the potential utility of these molecules as molecular markers is not clear. Based on this information, the present review aims to organize information about T-UCRs with either oncogenic or tumor suppressor role associated with cancer cell signaling, and better describe T-UCRs with potential utility as prognosis markers. Out of 481 T-UCRs, 297 present differential expression in cancer samples, 23 molecules are associated with tumorigenesis processes, and 12 have more clear potential utility as prognosis markers. In conclusion, T-UCRs are deregulated in several tumor types, highlighted as important molecules in cancer networks, and with potential utility as prognosis markers, although further investigation for translational medicine is still needed.

Epigenetic targets to enhance antitumor immune response through the induction of tertiary lymphoid structures

“…On the other hand, lncRNA lacks conservation among species, including long enhancer ncRNAs, long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs), and transcribed ultraconserved regions (T-UCR). T-UCRs are conserved in humans, mice, and rats ( 110 , 111 ). Dysregulation in both lncRNA and sncRNA is observed across various cancer types.…”

Transcribed-Ultra Conserved Regions (T-UCRs) a New Light on a Dark Matter

“…In recent years, the number of studies on the functions of T-UCRs in the biology of different diseases has rapidly increased. These studies have been summarized and commented on in a number of review articles [4,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. However, the need for discussions on this topic remains at this stage because what is known about T-UCRs and UCRs is less than what is unknown.…”