Gynecologic cancers and non-coding RNAs: Epigenetic regulators with emerging roles

Zahra Sadat Razavi; Vida Tajiknia; Shahab Majidi; Maryam Ghandali; Hamid Reza Mirzaei; Neda Rahimian; Michael R Hamblin; Hamed Mirzaei

doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.103192

Gynecologic cancers and non-coding RNAs: Epigenetic regulators with emerging roles

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2021 Jan:157:103192. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.103192. Epub 2020 Dec 5.

Authors

Zahra Sadat Razavi¹, Vida Tajiknia², Shahab Majidi³, Maryam Ghandali⁴, Hamid Reza Mirzaei⁵, Neda Rahimian⁶, Michael R Hamblin⁷, Hamed Mirzaei⁸

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
² Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Student Research Committee, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.
⁴ School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁵ Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁶ Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: rahimian.n@iums.ac.ir.
⁷ Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA; Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa. Electronic address: HAMBLIN@helix.mgh.harvard.edu.
⁸ Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. Electronic address: mirzaei-h@kaums.ac.ir.

PMID: 33290823
DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.103192

Abstract

Gynecologic cancers involve the female genital organs, such as the vulva, vagina, cervix, endometrium, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. The occurrence and frequency of gynecologic cancer depends on personal lifestyle, history of exposure to viruses or carcinogens, genetics, body shape, and geographical habitat. For a long time, research into the molecular biology of cancer was broadly restricted to protein-coding genes. Recently it has been realized that non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), including long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs), microRNAs, circular RNAs and piRNAs (PIWI-interacting RNAs), can all play a role in the regulation of cellular function within gynecological cancer. It is now known that ncRNAs are able to play dual roles, i.e. can exert both oncogenic or tumor suppressive functions in gynecological cancer. Moreover, several clinical trials are underway looking at the biomarker and therapeutic roles of ncRNAs. These efforts may provide a new horizon for the diagnosis and treatment of gynecological cancer. Herein, we summarize some of the ncRNAs that have been shown to be important in gynecological cancers.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; Circular RNAs; Endometrial cancer; Long noncoding RNAs; Micro-RNAs; Noncoding RNAs; Ovarian cancer; piRNAs.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Epigenesis, Genetic
Female
Humans
MicroRNAs* / genetics
Neoplasms*
Oncogenes
RNA, Long Noncoding* / genetics
RNA, Untranslated / genetics

Substances

MicroRNAs
RNA, Long Noncoding
RNA, Untranslated