Zonghao Liu, Xiaofang Zhang, Tianru Ben, Mo Li, Yi Jin, Tianlu Wang, Yingqiu Song
{"title":"Focal adhesion in the tumour metastasis: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic targets.","authors":"Zonghao Liu, Xiaofang Zhang, Tianru Ben, Mo Li, Yi Jin, Tianlu Wang, Yingqiu Song","doi":"10.1186/s40364-025-00745-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40364-025-00745-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The tumour microenvironment is the \"hotbed\" of tumour cells, providing abundant extracellular support for growth and metastasis. However, the tumour microenvironment is not static and is constantly remodelled by a variety of cellular components, including tumour cells, through mechanical, biological and chemical means to promote metastasis. Focal adhesion plays an important role in cell-extracellular matrix adhesion. An in-depth exploration of the role of focal adhesion in tumour metastasis, especially their contribution at the biomechanical level, is an important direction of current research. In this review, we first summarize the assembly of focal adhesions and explore their kinetics in tumour cells. Then, we describe in detail the role of focal adhesion in various stages of tumour metastasis, especially its key functions in cell migration, invasion, and matrix remodelling. Finally, we describe the anti-tumour strategies targeting focal adhesion and the current progress in the development of some inhibitors against focal adhesion proteins. In this paper, we summarize for the first time that focal adhesion play a positive feedback role in pro-tumour metastatic matrix remodelling by summarizing the five processes of focal adhesion assembly in a multidimensional way. It is beneficial for researchers to have a deeper understanding of the role of focal adhesion in the biological behaviour of tumour metastasis and the potential of focal adhesion as a therapeutic target, providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of metastases.</p>","PeriodicalId":54225,"journal":{"name":"Biomarker Research","volume":"13 1","pages":"38"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11884212/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143568821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Folate receptor 1 is a stemness trait-associated diagnostic and prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma.","authors":"Yuto Shiode, Takahiro Kodama, Yu Sato, Ryo Takahashi, Takayuki Matsumae, Kumiko Shirai, Akira Doi, Yuki Tahata, Hayato Hikita, Tomohide Tatsumi, Moto Fukai, Akinobu Taketomi, Mathuros Ruchirawat, Xin Wei Wang, Tetsuo Takehara","doi":"10.1186/s40364-025-00752-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40364-025-00752-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be classified into several subtypes based on molecular traits, aiding in prognostic stratification. The subtype with a poor prognosis is often associated with stem/progenitor features. This study focused on identifying circulating biomarkers for aggressive HCC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We searched for secretory proteins whose expression was positively associated with the stem/progenitor markers KRT19, EPCAM, and PROM1 in 2 independent HCC cohorts. Serum folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) levels were measured in 238 chronic liver disease and 247 HCC patients, evaluating their diagnostic and prognostic capabilities.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>FOLR1 was identified as a secretory protein that was positively correlated with all 3 stem/progenitor markers and a poor prognosis in both the discovery and validation cohorts. Higher FOLR1 expression was detected in tumor than nontumor tissues and was associated with aggressive subtypes, and activation of p53, DNA repair, Myc, E2F, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways. Serum FOLR1 levels correlated with tumoral FOLR1 expression in HCC patients and were significantly elevated compared with those in patients with chronic hepatitis or nonliver disease. Serum FOLR1 levels demonstrated diagnostic performance for HCC comparable to that of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and their combination increased the diagnostic accuracy. Elevated serum FOLR1 levels were associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients, regardless of treatment, especially in patients with early-stage disease. The multivariate analysis revealed that the serum FOLR1 level and the Gender, Age, AFP-L3, AFP, and Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (GALAD) score were independent predictors of a poor prognosis with their combination further stratifying prognosis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>FOLR1 is a stemness-associated biomarker for HCC, with serum levels serving as a diagnostic marker for HCC and a prognostic indicator for early-stage disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":54225,"journal":{"name":"Biomarker Research","volume":"13 1","pages":"37"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11877696/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143558778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jiu Jie Yang, Zhi Li, Lin Na Wang, Bai Xiong Huang, Jerome P L Ng, Xiong Fei Xu, Yu Ping Wang, David Wei Zhang, Bo Qin, Ding Qi Zhang, Chang Liu, Wei Dan Luo, Betty Yuen Kwan Law, Hui Miao Wang, Meng Han Liu, Xiao Yun Yun, Joyce Tsz Wai Chan, Wan Yu Wu, Yi Ting Li, Peter Kam Fai Cheung, Man Chon Pou, Kat Sang Ha, Wang Fai Ao Ieong, Chi Hou Leong, Kit Ieng Leong, Chan Wang Lei, Lek Hang Cheang, Vincent Kam Wai Wong
{"title":"X-chromosome-linked miR-542-5p as a key regulator of sex disparity in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis by promoting Th17 differentiation.","authors":"Jiu Jie Yang, Zhi Li, Lin Na Wang, Bai Xiong Huang, Jerome P L Ng, Xiong Fei Xu, Yu Ping Wang, David Wei Zhang, Bo Qin, Ding Qi Zhang, Chang Liu, Wei Dan Luo, Betty Yuen Kwan Law, Hui Miao Wang, Meng Han Liu, Xiao Yun Yun, Joyce Tsz Wai Chan, Wan Yu Wu, Yi Ting Li, Peter Kam Fai Cheung, Man Chon Pou, Kat Sang Ha, Wang Fai Ao Ieong, Chi Hou Leong, Kit Ieng Leong, Chan Wang Lei, Lek Hang Cheang, Vincent Kam Wai Wong","doi":"10.1186/s40364-025-00741-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40364-025-00741-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Studies have indicated that X-linked microRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its gender-specific differences. However, research on specific miRNAs remains limited. This study aims to investigate the possible role of X-linked miR-542-5p in RA pathogenesis and gender differences.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We investigated the impact of miR-542-5p on RA pathogenesis and gender differences by manipulating its expression in various rat models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings revealed a significant overexpression of miR-542-5p in RA patients compared with healthy individuals, with a notable gender difference among RA patients. In vivo experiments confirmed that upregulation of miR-542-5p could accelerate RA pathogenesis. Further analysis showed that the onset of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats exhibited significant gender differences, with more severe clinical phenotypes found in female rats. This may be attributed to their stronger immune responses and elevated levels of miR-542-5p. Subsequent in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that miR-542-5p contributes to the regulation of gender differences in RA pathogenesis by promoting the differentiation of Th17 cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study offers new insights into the sex-specific nature of RA, suggesting X-linked miR-542-5p as a potential target for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. These findings lay the groundwork for the development of gender-specific therapeutic strategies for RA and underscore the importance of gender consideration in RA research.</p>","PeriodicalId":54225,"journal":{"name":"Biomarker Research","volume":"13 1","pages":"36"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11872315/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143538165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fei Du, Guojun Wang, Qian Dai, Jiang Huang, Junxin Li, Congxing Liu, Ke Du, Hua Tian, Qiwei Deng, Longxiang Xie, Xin Zhao, Qimin Zhang, Lan Yang, Yaling Li, Zhigui Wu, Zhuo Zhang
{"title":"Targeting novel regulated cell death: disulfidptosis in cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors.","authors":"Fei Du, Guojun Wang, Qian Dai, Jiang Huang, Junxin Li, Congxing Liu, Ke Du, Hua Tian, Qiwei Deng, Longxiang Xie, Xin Zhao, Qimin Zhang, Lan Yang, Yaling Li, Zhigui Wu, Zhuo Zhang","doi":"10.1186/s40364-025-00748-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40364-025-00748-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The battle against cancer has evolved over centuries, from the early stages of surgical resection to contemporary treatments including chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies. Despite significant advances in cancer treatment over recent decades, these therapies remain limited by various challenges. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), a cornerstone of tumor immunotherapy, have emerged as one of the most promising advancements in cancer treatment. Although ICIs, such as CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, have demonstrated clinical efficacy, their therapeutic impact remains suboptimal due to patient-specific variability and tumor immune resistance. Cell death is a fundamental process for maintaining tissue homeostasis and function. Recent research highlights that the combination of induced regulatory cell death (RCD) and ICIs can substantially enhance anti-tumor responses across multiple cancer types. In cells exhibiting high levels of recombinant solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) protein, glucose deprivation triggers a programmed cell death (PCD) pathway characterized by disulfide bond formation and REDOX (reduction-oxidation) reactions, termed \"disulfidptosis.\" Studies suggest that disulfidptosis plays a critical role in the therapeutic efficacy of SLC7A11<sup>high</sup> cancers. Therefore, to investigate the potential synergy between disulfidptosis and ICIs, this study will explore the mechanisms of both processes in tumor progression, with the goal of enhancing the anti-tumor immune response of ICIs by targeting the intracellular disulfidptosis pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":54225,"journal":{"name":"Biomarker Research","volume":"13 1","pages":"35"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11866848/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143517278","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Long-term kinetics of proviral load in HTLV-1 carriers: defining risk for the development of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.","authors":"Koji Jimbo, Masanori Nojima, Keiko Toriuchi, Makoto Yamagishi, Makoto Nakashima, Yoshihisa Yamano, Kaoru Uchimaru, Yasuhito Nannya","doi":"10.1186/s40364-025-00747-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40364-025-00747-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Assessment of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) development among human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1)-infected individuals (carriers) constitute a significant issue. A high HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL) in carriers has been used as a risk factor for ATL development and PVLs are considered to remain unchanged over time among carriers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This single-center analysis used a cohort from a prospective observational study of HTLV-1 carriers in Japan (JSPFAD). Carriers whose PVL was measured at least twice between October 2004 and March 2023 were included. We used trajectory analysis to construct a kinetic model of the PVL.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analysis of 1371 samples from 252 carriers revealed a slight but significant increase in the PVL with age (P < 0.001). Trajectory analysis of PVL kinetics classified the carriers into six groups, in three of which increased over time. When we applied the model to 15 carriers who subsequently developed ATL, 12 (80%) were classified into the highest PVL group, with an estimated 15-year ATL development of 47.5% (95% confidence interval: 20.4-74.2%). Notably, younger patients are at greater risk of developing ATL if their PVL values are comparable. Our risk estimation model is available online ( https://atlriskpredictor.shinyapps.io/ATL_risk_calculator/ ).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study demonstrated that the PVLs increases over time, allowing for prospective risk estimation for ATL development. Further validation is needed to assess the validity of this model.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Retrospectively registered.</p>","PeriodicalId":54225,"journal":{"name":"Biomarker Research","volume":"13 1","pages":"34"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11863581/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143517357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Single-cell multi-omics analysis identifies SPP1<sup>+</sup> macrophages as key drivers of ferroptosis-mediated fibrosis in ligamentum flavum hypertrophy.","authors":"Chengshuo Fei, Yanlin Chen, Ruiqian Tan, Xinxing Yang, Guanda Wu, Chenglong Li, Jiawei Shi, Shiyong Le, Wenjie Yang, Jiajia Xu, Liang Wang, Zhongmin Zhang","doi":"10.1186/s40364-025-00746-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40364-025-00746-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (LFH) is a primary contributor to lumbar spinal stenosis. However, a thorough understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving LFH fibrotic progression remains incomplete.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed to construct the single-cell map of human ligamentum flavum (LF) samples. An integrated multi-omics approach, encompassing scRNA-seq, bulk RNA sequencing (bulk RNA-seq), and Mendelian randomization (MR), was applied to conduct comprehensive functional analysis. Clinical tissue specimens and animal models were employed to further confirm the multi-omics findings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>ScRNA-seq provided a single-cell level view of the fibrotic microenvironment in LF, revealing significantly increased proportions of fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, and macrophages in LFH. Using transmission electron microscopy, single-cell gene set scoring, and MR analysis, ferroptosis was identified as a critical risk factor and pathway within LFH. Subcluster analysis of fibroblasts revealed functional heterogeneity among distinct subpopulations, highlighting the functional characteristics and the metabolic dynamics of fibroblast with a high ferroptosis score (High Ferro-score FB). The quantification of gene expression at single-cell level revealed that ferroptosis increased along with fibrosis in LFH specimens, a finding further validated in both human and mice tissue sections. Consistently, bulk RNA-seq confirmed increased proportions of fibroblasts and macrophages in LFH specimens, underscoring a strong correlation between these cell types through Spearman correlation analysis. Notably, subcluster analysis of the mononuclear phagocytes identified a specific subset of SPP1<sup>+</sup> macrophages (SPP1<sup>+</sup> Mac) enriched in LFH, which exhibited activation of fibrosis and ferroptosis-related metabolic pathways. Cell-cell communication analysis highlighted that SPP1<sup>+</sup> Mac exhibited the strongest outgoing and incoming interactions among mononuclear phagocytes in the LFH microenvironment. Ligand-receptor analysis further revealed that the SPP1-CD44 axis could serve as a key mediator regulating the activity of High Ferro-score FB. Multiplex immunofluorescence confirmed substantial Collagen I deposition and reduced Ferritin Light Chain expression in regions with SPP1-CD44 co-localization in LFH specimens.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings indicated that SPP1<sup>+</sup> Mac may contribute to LFH fibrosis by regulating ferroptosis in High Ferro-score FB through the SPP1-CD44 axis. This study enhances our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying LFH progression, potentially improving early diagnostic strategies and identifying new therapeutic targets.</p>","PeriodicalId":54225,"journal":{"name":"Biomarker Research","volume":"13 1","pages":"33"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11863437/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143505953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marvin L Hsieh, Daisuke Nishizaki, Jacob J Adashek, Shumei Kato, Razelle Kurzrock
{"title":"Toll-like receptor 3: a double-edged sword.","authors":"Marvin L Hsieh, Daisuke Nishizaki, Jacob J Adashek, Shumei Kato, Razelle Kurzrock","doi":"10.1186/s40364-025-00739-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40364-025-00739-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The discovery of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and their role in dendritic cells earned the Nobel Prize for 2011 because TLRs profoundly enhanced our understanding of the immune system. Specifically, TLR3 is located within the endosomal compartments of dendritic cells and plays a crucial role in the immune response by acting as a pattern recognition receptor that detects both exogenous (viral) and endogenous (mammalian) double-stranded RNA. However, TLR3 activation is a double-edged sword in various immune-mediated diseases. On one hand, it can enhance anti-viral defenses and promote pathogen clearance, contributing to host protection. On the other hand, excessive or dysregulated TLR3 signaling can lead to chronic inflammation and tissue damage, exacerbating conditions such as autoimmune diseases, chronic viral infections, and cancer. In cancer, TLR3 expression has been linked to both favorable and poor prognoses, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Recent clinical and preclinical advances have explored the use of TLR3 agonists in cancer immunotherapy, attempting to capitalize on their potential to enhance anti-tumor responses. The dual role of TLR3 highlights its complexity as a therapeutic target, necessitating careful modulation to maximize its protective effects while minimizing potential pathological consequences. In this review, we explore the intricate roles of TLR3 in immune responses across different disease contexts, including cancer, infections, autoimmune disorders, and allergies, highlighting both its protective and detrimental effects in these disorders, as well as progress in developing TLR3 agonists as part of the immunotherapy landscape.</p>","PeriodicalId":54225,"journal":{"name":"Biomarker Research","volume":"13 1","pages":"32"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11849352/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143484712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) testing landscape: clinical applications and technical validation for routine diagnostics.","authors":"Andréa Witz, Julie Dardare, Margaux Betz, Cassandra Michel, Marie Husson, Pauline Gilson, Jean-Louis Merlin, Alexandre Harlé","doi":"10.1186/s40364-025-00740-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40364-025-00740-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The use of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) revolutionized the treatment of BRCA-mutated cancers. Identifying patients exhibiting homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) has been proved useful to predict PARPi efficacy. However, obtaining HRD status remains an arduous task due to its evolution over the time. This causes HRD status to become obsolete when obtained from genomic scars, rendering PARPi ineffective for these patients. Only two HRD tests are currently FDA-approved, both based on genomic scars detection and BRCA mutations testing. Nevertheless, new technologies for obtaining an increasingly reliable HRD status continue to evolve. Application of these tests in clinical practice is an additional challenge due to the need for lower costs and shorter time to results delay.In this review, we describe the currently available methods for HRD testing, including the methodologies and corresponding tests for assessing HRD status, and discuss the clinical routine application of these tests and their technical validation.</p>","PeriodicalId":54225,"journal":{"name":"Biomarker Research","volume":"13 1","pages":"31"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11846297/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143477253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alessandro Camandona, Amedeo Gagliardi, Nicola Licheri, Sonia Tarallo, Giulia Francescato, Eva Budinska, Martina Carnogurska, Barbora Zwinsová, Barbara Martinoglio, Lorenzo Franchitti, Gaetano Gallo, Santina Cutrupi, Michele De Bortoli, Barbara Pardini, Alessio Naccarati, Giulio Ferrero
{"title":"Multiple regulatory events contribute to a widespread circular RNA downregulation in precancer and early stage of colorectal cancer development.","authors":"Alessandro Camandona, Amedeo Gagliardi, Nicola Licheri, Sonia Tarallo, Giulia Francescato, Eva Budinska, Martina Carnogurska, Barbora Zwinsová, Barbara Martinoglio, Lorenzo Franchitti, Gaetano Gallo, Santina Cutrupi, Michele De Bortoli, Barbara Pardini, Alessio Naccarati, Giulio Ferrero","doi":"10.1186/s40364-025-00744-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40364-025-00744-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) significantly improves its management and patients' survival. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are peculiar covalently closed transcripts involved in gene expression modulation whose dysregulation has been extensively reported in CRC cells. However, little is known about their alterations in the early phases of colorectal carcinogenesis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, we performed an integrative analysis of circRNA profiles in RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) data of 96 colorectal cancers, 27 adenomas, and matched adjacent mucosa tissues. We also investigated the levels of cognate linear transcripts and those of regulating RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Levels of circRNA-interacting microRNAs (miRNAs) were explored by integrating data of small RNA-Seq performed on the same samples.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our results revealed a significant dysregulation of 34 circRNAs (paired adj. p < 0.05), almost exclusively downregulated in tumor tissues and, prevalently, in early disease stages. This downregulation was associated with decreased expression of circRNA host genes and those encoding for RBPs involved in circRNA biogenesis, including NOVA1, RBMS3, and MBNL1. Guilt-by-association analysis showed that dysregulated circRNAs correlated with increased predicted activity of cell proliferation, DNA repair, and c-Myc signaling pathways. Functional analysis showed interactions among dysregulated circRNAs, RBPs, and miRNAs, which were supported by significant correlations among their expression levels. Findings were validated in independent cohorts and public datasets, and the downregulation of circLPAR1(2,3) and circLINC00632(5) was validated by ddPCR.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results support that multiple altered regulatory mechanisms may contribute to the reduction of circRNA levels that characterize early colorectal carcinogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":54225,"journal":{"name":"Biomarker Research","volume":"13 1","pages":"30"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11844049/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143470016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}