Identifying a panel of genes/proteins/miRNAs modulated by arsenicals in bladder, prostate, kidney cancers

Abstract

Arsenic and arsenic-derivative compounds, named as arsenicals, represent a worldwide problem for their effect on the human health and, in particular, for their capability to increase the risk of developing cancer such as kidney, bladder and prostate cancer. The main source of arsenical exposure is drinking water. Nowadays, it is well known that the chronic exposure to arsenicals leads to a series of epigenetic alterations that have a role in arsenic-induced effects on human health including cancer. Based on these observations, the aim of our study was to select by network analysis the genes/proteins/miRNAs implicated in kidney, bladder and prostate cancer development upon arsenical exposure. From this analysis we identified: (i) the nodes linking the three molecular networks specific for kidney, bladder and prostate cancer; (ii) the relative HUB nodes (RXRA, MAP3K7, NR3C1, PABPC1, NDRG1, RELA and CTNNB1) that link the three cancer networks; (iii) the miRNAs able to target these HUB nodes. In conclusion, we highlighted a panel of potential molecules related to the molecular mechanisms of arsenical-induced cancerogenesis and suggest their utility as biomarkers or therapeutic targets.