Dual Effects of Non-Coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in Cancer Stem Cell Biology

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 21; no. 18; p. 6658
• Main Authors: Kyriazi, Athina A, Papiris, Efstathios, Kitsos Kalyvianakis, Konstantinos, Sakellaris, George, Baritaki, Stavroula
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 11-09-2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Binding sites; Biology; Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Cancer; cancer metastasis; cancer stem cells; Carcinogenesis; Carcinogens; Cell growth; Cell self-renewal; circular RNAs; Coding; Diagnostic systems; Epigenetics; Gene expression; Humans; Invasiveness; long non coding RNAs; Metastasis; micro-RNAs; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - genetics; miRNA; Molecular modelling; Neoplasms - genetics; Neoplasms - pathology; Neoplastic Stem Cells - metabolism; Neoplastic Stem Cells - pathology; Non-coding RNA; Pathophysiology; Phenotypes; Prognosis; Proteins; Review; RNA, Untranslated - genetics; Signal transduction; Signal Transduction - genetics; Stem cells; Therapeutic targets; Wnt protein; long non coding RNAs; cancer stem cells; micro-RNAs; circular RNAs; cancer metastasis
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186658

The identification of cancer stem cells (CSCs) as initiators of carcinogenesis has revolutionized the era of cancer research and our perception for the disease treatment options. Additional CSC features, including self-renewal and migratory and invasive capabilities, have further justified these cells as putative diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets. Given the CSC plasticity, the identification of CSC-related biomarkers has been a serious burden in CSC characterization and therapeutic targeting. Over the past decades, a compelling amount of evidence has demonstrated critical regulatory functions of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) on the exclusive features of CSCs. We now know that ncRNAs may interfere with signaling pathways, vital for CSC phenotype maintenance, such as Notch, Wnt, and Hedgehog. Here, we discuss the multifaceted contribution of microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), as representative ncRNA classes, in sustaining the CSC-like traits, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms of their action in various CSC types. We further discuss the use of CSC-related ncRNAs as putative biomarkers of high diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value.