Search

Due to their high prevalence, gastrointestinal cancers are one of the key causes of cancer-related death globally. The development of drug-resistant cancer cell populations is a major factor in the high mortality rate, and it affects about half of all cancer patients. Because of advances in our understanding of cancer molecular biology, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as critical factors in the initiation and development of gastrointestinal cancers. Gene expression can be controlled in several ways by ncRNAs, including through epigenetic changes, interactions between microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and proteins, and the function of lncRNAs as miRNA precursors or pseudogenes. As lncRNAs may be detected in the blood, circulating ncRNAs have emerged as a promising new class of non-invasive cancer biomarkers for use in the detection, staging, and prognosis of gastrointestinal cancers, as well as in the prediction of therapy efficacy. In this review, we assessed the role lncRNAs play in the progression, and maintenance of colorectal cancer, and how they might be used as therapeutic targets in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin (MLT) is an endogenous hormone produced by pineal gland which possess promising anti-tumor effects. Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of MLT, along with its immunomodulatory, proapoptotic, and anti-angiogenic properties, are often referred to the main mechanisms of its anti-tumor effects. Recent evidence has suggested that epigenetic alterations are also involved in the anti-tumor properties of MLT. Among these MLT-induced epigenetic alterations is modulation of the expression of several oncogenic and tumor suppressor microRNAs(miRNAs). MiRNAs are among the most promising and potential therapeutic and diagnostic tools in different diseases and enhanced the development of better therapeutic drugs. Suppression of oncomicroRNAs such as microRNA-21, − 20a, and − 27a as well as, up-regulation of microRNA-34 a/c are among the most important effects of MLT on microRNAs homeostasis. Recently, miR-21 has attracted the attention of scientists due to the its wide range of effects on different cancers and diseases. Regulation of this RNA may be a key to the development of better therapeutic targets. The present review will summarize the findings of in vitro and experimental studies of MLT-induced impacts on the expression of microRNAs which are involved in different models and numerous stages of tumor initiation, growth, metastasis, and chemo-resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]