A pan-cancer analysis of small nucleolar RNA host gene 14 (SNHG14) in human tumors

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are associated with tumorigenesis and progression. One of these, short nucleolar RNA host gene 14 (SNHG14), has exhibited significant prognostic value due to its aberrant expression across various tumor types. This study investigates the expression patterns, survival outcomes, and tumor stages associated with SNHG14 across various cancers, employing data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases. The Cancer Genome Atlas database showed SNHG14 overexpression in five tumor types and downregulation in 15 tumor types compared to normal tissues. In particular, patients with increased SNHG14 expression had reduced overall survival with mesothelioma and stomach adenocarcinoma. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore SNHG14′s upstream regulators and downstream target genes, shedding light on its role in tumorigenesis. The review underscores that SNHG14 is frequently overexpressed in numerous cancers and predominantly functions as an oncogene. SNHG14 exerts its effects by regulating various microRNAs, which subsequently modulate the expression of target genes and influence critical signaling pathways involved in tumor development and progression. Furthermore, biotin-DNA pulldown coupled with mass spectrometry identified several transcription factors, including c-Myc and CEBPB, as key regulators of SNHG14 transcription. These findings highlight the intricate transcriptional regulation of SNHG14 and its potential involvement in cancer-related processes. In this study, we systematically elucidated the upstream transcriptional regulators and downstream signaling pathways of SNHG14, providing novel insights into its critical role in cancer biology. This comprehensive research highlights SNHG14 as an effective biomarker for prognosis and a target for treating cancer.