From LncRNA to metastasis: The MALAT1-EMT axis in cancer progression

Riya Thapa; Obaid Afzal; Muhammad Afzal; Gaurav Gupta; Asif Ahmad Bhat; Waleed Hassan Almalki; Imran Kazmi; Sami I Alzarea; Shakir Saleem; Poonam Arora; Sachin Kumar Singh; Kamal Dua

doi:10.1016/j.prp.2023.154959

From LncRNA to metastasis: The MALAT1-EMT axis in cancer progression

Pathol Res Pract. 2024 Jan:253:154959. doi: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154959. Epub 2023 Nov 19.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Mahal Road, Jagatpura, Jaipur, India.
² Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy Program, Batterjee Medical College, P.O. Box 6231, Jeddah 21442, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, India; School of Pharmacy, Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun 248007, India. Electronic address: gauravpharma25@gmail.com.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Department of Public Health. College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁹ SGT College of Pharmacy, SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana, India.
¹⁰ School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India; Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
¹¹ Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.

PMID: 38029713
DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154959

Abstract

Cancer is a complex disease that causes abnormal genetic changes and unchecked cellular growth. It also causes a disruption in the normal regulatory processes that leads to the creation of malignant tissue. The complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and epigenetic variables influences its etiology. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) have emerged as pivotal contributors within the intricate landscape of cancer biology, orchestrating an array of multifaceted cellular processes that substantiate the processes of carcinogenesis and metastasis. Metastasis is a crucial driver of cancer mortality. Among these, MALAT1 (Metastasis-Associated Lung Adenocarcinoma Transcript 1) has drawn a lot of interest for its function in encouraging metastasis via controlling the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) procedure. MALAT1 exerts a pivotal influence on the process of EMT, thereby promoting metastasis to distant organs. The mechanistic underpinning of this phenomenon involves the orchestration of an intricate regulatory network encompassing transcription factors, signalling cascades, and genes intricately associated with the EMT process by MALAT1. Its crucial function in transforming tumor cells into an aggressive phenotype is highlighted by its capacity to influence the expression of essential EMT effectors such as N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and Snail. An understanding of the MALAT1-EMT axis provides potential therapeutic approaches for cancer intervention. Targeting MALAT1 or its downstream EMT effectors may reduce the spread of metastatic disease and improve the effectiveness of already available therapies. Understanding the MALAT1-EMT axis holds significant clinical implications. Therefore, directing attention towards MALAT1 or its downstream mediators could present innovative therapeutic strategies for mitigating metastasis and improving patient prognosis. This study highlights the importance of MALAT1 in cancer biology and its potential for cutting back on metastatic disease with novel treatment strategies.

Keywords: Cancer progression; Clinical implications; EMT; LncRNA; MALAT1; Metastasis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Cell Line, Tumor
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
Humans
Neoplasms* / genetics
RNA, Long Noncoding* / metabolism
Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

RNA, Long Noncoding
Transcription Factors