ABSTRACT
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer has become the primary concern of today's society due to its aggressive nature and poor prognosis. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), a subgroup of non-coding RNAs, are mainly expressed in the germline and have emerged as a critical regulator in gene expression and the epigenetic silencing of DNA transposable elements by interacting with PIWI proteins. piRNAs' dysregulations were reported to promote or suppress the initiation and development of different malignancies, especially gastrointestinal cancers. Recently, several studies suggested the use of piRNAs as potential cancer biomarkers associated with the progression and chemoresistance of GI cancer. Hence, this review article aims to focus on the role of piRNAs in GI cancer progression, metastasis, and their molecular mechanisms as therapeutic markers for GI cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Early Detection of Cancer , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/genetics , RNA, Small Interfering/genetics , Animals , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics , Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism , Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/metabolism , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/pathology , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Humans , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , Liver Neoplasms/metabolism , Liver Neoplasms/pathology , Pancreatic Neoplasms/genetics , Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolism , Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology , Predictive Value of Tests , Prognosis , RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism , Stomach Neoplasms/genetics , Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism , Stomach Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third and second cancer for incidence and mortality worldwide, respectively, and is becoming prevalent in developing countries. Most CRCs derive from polyps, especially adenomatous polyps, which can gradually transform into CRC. The family of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of CRC. Prominent MMPs, including MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-12, MMP-13, MMP-14, and MMP-21, have been detected in CRC patients, and the expression of most of them correlates with a poor prognosis. Moreover, many studies have explored the inhibition of MMPs and targeted therapy for CRC, but there is not enough information about the role of MMPs in polyp malignancy. In this review, we discuss the role of MMPs in colorectal cancer and its pathogenesis.
