Adrija Mohanta

Despite strides in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for ESCC, patient survival rates remain relatively low. Recent studies highlight the pivotal role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating diverse cellular activities in humans. Dysregulated lncRNAs have emerged as potential diagnostic indicators across various cancers, including ESCC. However, further research is necessary to effectively leverage ESCC-associated lncRNAs in clinical settings. Understanding their clinical significance for ESCC diagnosis and their mechanisms can pave the way for more effective therapeutic strategies. Our qRT-PCR analysis revealed significant downregulation of SOX2-OT (~ 2.02-fold) and NEAT1 (~ 1.53-fold) in ESCC blood samples. These lncRNAs show potential as biomarkers for distinguishing ESCC patients from healthy individuals, with ROC curves and AUC values of 0.736 for SOX2-OT and 0.621 for NEAT1. Further analysis examined the correlation between SOX2-OT and NEAT1 expression and various clinicopathological factors, including age, gender, smoking, alcohol use, hot beverage intake, tumor grade, and TNM stages. In-silico studies highlighted their roles in miRNA sponging via mTOR and MAPK pathways, while co-expression network analysis identified associated genes. This research paves the way for future studies on ESCC prognosis using SOX2-OT and NEAT1 as predictive markers. By thoroughly investigating the functions of these lncRNAs, we aim to deepen our understanding of their potential as diagnostic markers and their role in facilitating effective therapeutic interventions for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) within clinical contexts.

Lung cancer is a severe challenge to the health care system with intrinsic resistance to first and second-line chemo/radiotherapies. In view of the sterile environment of lung cancer, several immunotherapeutic drugs including nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, and durvalumab are currently being used in clinics globally with the intention of releasing exhausted T-cells back against refractory tumor cells. Immunotherapies have a limited response rate and may cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in some patients. Hence, a deeper understanding of regulating immune checkpoint interactions could significantly enhance lung cancer treatments. In this review, we explore the role of miRNAs in modulating immunogenic responses against tumors. We discuss various aspects of how manipulating these checkpoints can bias the immune system’s response against lung cancer. Specifically, we examine how altering the miRNA profile can impact the activity of various immune checkpoint inhibitors, focusing on the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway within the complex landscape of lung cancer. We believe that a clear understanding of the host’s miRNA profile can influence the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors and significantly contribute to existing immunotherapies for lung cancer patients. Additionally, we discuss ongoing clinical trials involving immunotherapeutic drugs, both as standalone treatments and in combination with other therapies, intending to advance the development of immunotherapy for lung cancer.

A specialized biomarker(s) for lung cancer is imperative owing to its high mortality. Continuing our earlier work demonstrating the role of miR-320a as a tumor suppressor, here we discuss the most ...