Project description:Identifying robust diagnostic biomarkers for gastric cancer (GC) remains a significant challenge. Emerging studies highlight extracellular vesicle (EV)-derived RNAs in cancer biology, but the diagnostic potential of circulating EV-derived small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) in GC is poorly understood. Using panoramic RNA display by overcoming RNA modification aborted sequencing (PANDORA-seq), we mapped non-canonical sncRNAs—specifically ribosomal RNA-derived small RNAs (rsRNAs) and transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs)—in plasma EVs. We identified a three-rs/tsRNA signature that discriminates GC patients from healthy individuals with high sensitivity (80.42%) and specificity (87.43%) (143 GC vs 167 controls). For early_x0002_stage GC (stage I), sensitivity and specificity were 81.97% and 81.44%, respectively. Furthermore, the three_x0002_rs/tsRNA signature was evaluated in two independent cohorts, resulting in AUC values of 0.97 and 0.91 for distinguishing GC from healthy controls. Functional analyses revealed that these rs/tsRNAs regulate the ErbB/Hippo pathways, suggesting them in the underlying pathogenesis andtherapeutic potential. This study establishes a novel EV-derived sncRNA signature for early GC detection.
Project description:Extracellular vesicles are structures surrounded by a lipid bilayer that facilitate intercellular communication by transporting biomolecules. These vesicles are now commonly referred to as part of liquid biopsy. In this study, we examine the characterization of miRNAs found in extracellular vesicles from patients with both benign gastric diseases and gastric cancer. By studying these miRNAs, we aim to identify potential biomarkers for gastric cancer.
Project description:Despite the advances in the understanding of Huntington’s disease (HD), there is the need for molecular biomarkers to categorize mutation-carriers during the preclinical stage of the disease preceding functional decline. Small RNAs (sRNAs) are a promising source of biomarkers since their expression levels are highly sensitive to pathobiological processes. Here, using an optimized method for plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) purification and an exhaustive analysis pipeline of sRNA sequencing data, we show that EV-sRNAs are downregulated early in mutation-carriers and that this deregulation is associated with premanifest cognitive performance. Seven candidate sRNAs (tRF-Glu-CTC, tRF-Gly-GCC, miR-451a, miR-21-5p, miR-26a-5p, miR-27a-3p, and let7a-5p) were validated in additional subjects, showing a significant diagnostic accuracy at premanifest stages. Of these, miR-21-5p was significantly decreased over time in a longitudinal study; and miR-21-5p and miR-26a-5p levels correlated with cognitive changes in the premanifest cohort. In summary, the present results suggest that deregulated plasma EV-sRNAs define an early biosignature in mutation carriers with specific species highlighting the progression and cognitive changes occurring at the premanifest stage.
Project description:1. Evaluate the diagnostic value of long noncoding RNA (CCAT1) expression by RT-PCR in peripheral blood in colorectal cancer patients versus normal healthy control personal.
2. Evaluate the clinical utility of detecting long noncoding RNA (CCAT1) expression in diagnosis of colorectal cancer patients & its relation to tumor staging.
3. Evaluate the clinical utility of detecting long noncoding RNA (CCAT1) expression in precancerous colorectal diseases.
4. Compare long noncoding RNA (CCAT1) expression with traditional marker; carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) in diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
Project description:Background: The lack of non-invasive biomarkers imposes the dependence on endoscopy with biopsies for the diagnosis and monitoring of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a prevalent chronic inflammation of the esophagus mediated by a type 2 immune response. We aimed to identify potential non-invasive biomarkers using microRNAs (miRNAs) in plasma-derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs). Methods: This is a prospective single-center observational study including a discovery cohort of EoE patients (n=26) with active disease (EoE.Basal) and after anti-inflammatory treatment (EoE.Post.tx), and control subjects (n=16). Small-RNA-seq of RNA-pEVs was performed to identify differentially regulated small-RNAs (sRNAs) in EoE.Basal vs. controls and EoE.Basal vs. EoE.Post.tx comparisons. Candidate miRNAs were validated in an independent cohort (EoE patients, n=33; controls, n=14), and the diagnostic potential of miRNAs-pairs was assessed. Results: the pEVs-sRNA cargo differed among controls, EoE.Basal and EoE.Post.tx conditions. Compared with controls, Ser_Comb_22, Leu_Comb_5, miR-10b-5p and miR-125a-5 were upregulated in EoE.Basal, and miR-224-5p, miR-221-3p, let-7d-5p and miR-191-5p were downregulated. Combination of miR-221-3p and miR-10b-5p showed the best diagnostic performance in discovery (AUC=0.87) and validation (AUC=0.70) cohorts. Comparing EoE.Basal and EoE.Post.tx paired samples, miR-374a-5p and miR-30a-3p were upregulated in EoE.Basal, while miR-15a-5p and let-7d-5p were downregulated. Here, combination of mi-30a-3p and miR-15a-5p showed AUC values of 0.90 and 0.71 in discovery and validation cohorts respectively. MiR-30a-3p remained highly upregulated in EoE.Basal when compared to EoE.Post.tx in the validation cohort (p=0.001). Conclusions: The sRNA cargo of pEVs is related to the inflammatory activity in EoE. This study pioneers the use of pEVs as a non-invasive biomarker for EoE.
Project description:Most cancer-related deaths are caused by distant metastases, which are tumour cells that have escaped from a primary tumour and passed into the bloodstream to colonize a new organ. In this context, communication between tumour and stromal cells is essential. Indeed, tumor cells interact with cells in the tumor microenvironment and are able to modify them to their advantage. Both extracellular vesicles (EVs) and exosomes are heterogeneous populations of small vesicles present in the tumor microenvironment and in body fluids that have recently emerged as powerful mediators involved in this communication and their transport in fluids. Tumor cells release large quantities of exosomes containing tumor markers, which can then spread to distant locations.
The exosomes are of endosomal origin. They are composed of proteins, lipids, RNA and DNA, and they circulate in the bloodstream. They can be internalized by specific distant cells and thus deliver a functional message. It has recently been shown that tumor exosomes containing pro-metastatic factors form pre-metastatic niches, before the tumor cells actually arrive, while determining the metastatic organotropism of tumors. These properties are now opening up new avenues of research in tumor biomarkers. In recent years, several studies have highlighted different markers contained specifically in exosomes derived from cancer cells. Consequently, exosomes are considered as potential reservoirs of tumor biomarkers that could be clinically useful for the non-invasive diagnosis of cancer, with the advantage of being performed by liquid biopsy. The study of microRNA (miRNA) is of particular interest. Indeed, miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs (between 21 and 25 nucleotides) involved in the regulation of gene expression and which are frequently deregulated in cancer. Several studies underline that the variation of free miRNAs in the blood is correlated with the progression of the disease, particularly in colon cancer. However, the stability of free miRNAs is controversial. Therefore, exosomes represent a very advantageous means of transporting miRNAs in the blood, as they are able to protect miRNAs from degradation by RNAase.
The hypothesis of the project is that circulating exosomes derived from tumours contain markers including specific miRNAs that could be used as biomarkers of early prognosis (survival and progression), easily measured in blood samples from patients with colon cancer. But other molecules contained in exosomes could also be of interest.