5’tiRNA-Pro-TGG,a novel tRNA halve,promotes oncogenesis in sessile serrated lesions and serrated pathway of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND Transfer RNA(tRNA)-derived small RNAs(tsRNAs)are small fragments that form when tRNAs severe.tRNA halves(tiRNAs),a subcategory of tsRNA,are involved in the oncogenic processes of many tumors.However,their specific role in sessile serrated lesions(SSLs),a precancerous lesion often observed in the colon,has not yet been elucidated.AIM To identify SSL-related tiRNAs and their potential role in the development of SSLs and serrated pathway of colorectal cancer(CRC).METHODS Small-RNA sequencing was conducted in paired SSLs and their adjacent normal control(NC)tissues.The expression levels of five SSL-related tiRNAs were validated by q-polymerase chain reaction.Cell counting kit-8 and wound healing assays were performed to detect cell proliferation and migration.The target genes and sites of tiRNA-1:33-Pro-TGG-1(5′tiRNA-Pro-TGG)were predicted by TargetScan and miRanda algorithms.Metabolism-associated and immune-related pathways were analyzed by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis.Functional analyses were performed to establish the roles of 5′tiRNA-Pro-TGG based on the target genes.RESULTS In total,we found 52 upregulated tsRNAs and 28 downregulated tsRNAs in SSLs compared to NC.The expression levels of tiRNA-1:33-Gly-CCC-2,tiRNA-1:33-Pro-TGG-1,and tiRNA-1:34-Thr-TGT-4-M25′tiRNAs were higher in SSLs than those in NC,while that of 5′tiRNA-Pro-TGG was associated with the size of SSLs.It was demonstrated that 5′tiRNAPro-TGG promoted cell proliferation and migration of RKO cell in vitro.Then,heparanase 2(HPSE2)was identified as a potential target gene of 5′tiRNA-Pro-TGG.Its lower expression was associated with a worse prognosis in CRC.Further,lower expression of HPSE2 was observed in SSLs compared to normal controls or conventional adenomas and in BRAF-mutant CRC compared to BRAF-wild CRC.Bioinformatics analyses revealed that its low expression was associated with a low interferonγresponse and also with many metabolic pathways such as riboflavin,retinol,and cytochrome p450 drug metabolism pathways.CONCLUSION tiRNAs may profoundly impact the development of SSLs.5′tiRNA-Pro-TGG potentially promotes the progression of serrated pathway CRC through metabolic and immune pathways by interacting with HPSE2 and regulating its expression in SSLs and BRAF-mutant CRC.In the future,it may be possible to use tiRNAs as novel biomarkers for early diagnosis of SSLs and as potential therapeutic targets in serrated pathway of CRC.

What could microRNA expression tell us more about colorectal serrated pathway carcinogenesis?

In the last two decades,the vision of a unique carcinogenesis model for colorectal carcinoma(CRC)has completely changed.In addition to the adenoma to carcinoma transition,colorectal carcinogenesis can also occur via the serrated pathway.Small non-coding RNA,known as microRNAs(miRNAs),were also shown to be involved in progression towards malignancy.Furthermore,increased expression of certain miRNAs in premalignant sessile serrated lesions(SSLs)was found,emphasizing their role in the serrated pathway progression towards colon cancer.Since miRNAs function as post-transcriptional gene regulators,they have enormous potential to be used as useful biomarkers for CRC and screening in patients with SSLs particularly.In this review,we have summarized the most relevant information about the specific role of miRNAs and their relevant signaling pathways among different serrated lesions and polyps as well as in serrated adenocarcinoma.Additional focus is put on the correlation between gut immunity and miRNA expression in the serrated pathway,which remains unstudied.

Missed colorectal cancers in a fecal immunochemical test-based screening program: Molecular profiling of interval carcinomas

BACKGROUND For optimizing fecal immunochemical test(FIT)-based screening programs,reducing the rate of missed colorectal cancers(CRCs)by FIT(FIT-interval CRCs)is an important aspect.Knowledge of the molecular make-up of these missed lesions could facilitate more accurate detection of all(precursor)lesions.AIM To compare the molecular make-up of FIT-interval CRCs to lesions that are detected by FIT[screen-detected CRCs(SD-CRCs)].METHODS FIT-interval CRCs observed in a Dutch pilot-program of FIT-based screening were compared to a control group of SD-CRCs in a 1:2 ratio,resulting in 27 FIT-interval CRC and 54 SD-CRCs.Molecular analyses included microsatellite instability(MSI),CpG island methylator phenotype(CIMP),DNA sequence mutations and copy number alterations(CNAs).RESULTS Although no significant differences were reached,FIT-interval CRCs were more often CIMP positive and MSI positive(33%CIMP in FIT-interval CRCs vs 21%in SD-CRCs(P=0.274);19%MSI in FIT-interval CRCs vs 12%in SD-CRCs(P=0.469)),and showed more often serrated pathway associated features such as BRAF(30%vs 12%,P=0.090)and PTEN(15%vs 2.4%,P=0.063)mutations.APC mutations,a classic feature of the adenoma-carcinoma-sequence,were more abundant in SD-CRCs(68%vs 40%in FIT-interval CRCs P=0.035).Regarding CNAs differences between the two groups;FIT-interval CRCs less often showed gains at the regions 8p11.22-q24.3(P=0.009),and more often gains at 20p13-p12.1(P=0.039).CONCLUSION Serrated pathway associated molecular features seem to be more common in FIT-interval CRCs,while classic adenoma carcinoma pathway associated molecular features seem to be more common in SD-CRCs.This indicates that proximal serrated lesions may be overrepresented among FITinterval CRCs.