Y RNA: An Overview of Their Role as Potential Biomarkers and Molecular Targets in Human Cancers

Abstract

Y RNA are a class of small non-coding RNA that are largely conserved. Although their discovery was almost 40 years ago, their function is still under investigation. This is evident in cancer biology, where their role was first studied just a dozen years ago. Since then, only a few contributions were published, mostly scattered across different tumor types and, in some cases, also suffering from methodological limitations. Nonetheless, these sparse data may be used to make some estimations and suggest routes to better understand the role of Y RNA in cancer formation and characterization. Here we summarize the current knowledge about Y RNA in multiple types of cancer, also including a paragraph about tumors that might be included in this list in the future, if more evidence becomes available. The picture arising indicates that Y RNA might be useful in tumor characterization, also relying on non-invasive methods, such as the analysis of the content of extracellular vesicles (EV) that are retrieved from blood plasma and other bodily fluids. Due to the established role of Y RNA in DNA replication, it is possible to hypothesize their therapeutic targeting to inhibit cell proliferation in oncological patients.

Molecular Signature of Extracellular Vesicular Small Non-Coding RNAs Derived from Cerebrospinal Fluid of Leptomeningeal Metastasis Patients: Functional Implication of miR-21 and Other Small RNAs in Cancer Malignancy

“…Another interesting smRNA species, Y RNAs, also showed markedly biased expression patterns between LM CSF EVs and HC. The members of this well-characterized smRNA subpopulation act as components of the Ro60 ribonucleoprotein particle, which is a target of autoimmune antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus [ 33 ]. Y RNAs are also necessary for DNA replication through their interactions with chromatin and initiation proteins [ 34 ].…”

“…These smRNAs are components of the Ro60 ribonucleoprotein particle, which is a target of autoimmune antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. These RNAs are involved in various basic intracellular processes, such as DNA replication and RNA quality control [ 33 ]. Several studies have reported the abundant presence of Y RNAs in cell culture EV and body fluids.…”

Non-Coding RNAs as Prognostic Markers for Endometrial Cancer

“…In addition, we believe that it would be also very interesting to investigate additional potential ncRNA markers that, to date, have not been explored in this cancer, such as YRNA, which might highlight additional actors in EC etiology and would suggest novel potential therapeutic targets [ 238 ]. The genetic and epigenetic characterization of patients could lead to surgical strategies (lymphadenectomy versus sentinel lymph node sampling versus total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-ophorectomy), adjuvant therapies (BRT versus EBRT versus chemotherapy), and patients’ surveillance (strict follow up versus watchful waiting strategy).…”

Non-Coding RNAs in Glioma Microenvironment and Angiogenesis

“…The loop domain is the least conserved element that regulates chromatin binding. Studies have shown that YRNAs function to initiate chromosomal DNA replication, which is related to cell proliferation (Gulia et al, 2020 ). Christov et al ( 2008 ) found that the expression of all the four YRNAs was dramatically higher in solid tumors relative to corresponding normal tissues.…”