The Role of Noncoding RNAs in the Regulation of Anoikis and Anchorage-Independent Growth in Cancer

Abstract

Cancer is a global health concern, and the prognosis of patients with cancer is associated with metastasis. Multistep processes are involved in cancer metastasis. Accumulating evidence has shown that cancer cells acquire the capacity of anoikis resistance and anchorage-independent cell growth, which are critical prerequisite features of metastatic cancer cells. Multiple cellular factors and events, such as apoptosis, survival factors, cell cycle, EMT, stemness, autophagy, and integrins influence the anoikis resistance and anchorage-independent cell growth in cancer. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), are dysregulated in cancer. They regulate cellular signaling pathways and events, eventually contributing to cancer aggressiveness. This review presents the role of miRNAs and lncRNAs in modulating anoikis resistance and anchorage-independent cell growth. We also discuss the feasibility of ncRNA-based therapy and the natural features of ncRNAs that need to be contemplated for more beneficial therapeutic strategies against cancer.

Keywords: anchorage-independent growth; anoikis; apoptosis; cancer; long noncoding RNA; metastasis; microRNA; noncoding RNA.

Figure 1

Oncogenic miRNAs (red) and their relevant target genes (black) facilitating anoikis resistance and anchorage-independent cell growth in cancer. It is described in Table 1 and Section 2.

Figure 2

Tumor-suppressive miRNAs (blue) and their relevant target genes (black) suppressing anoikis resistance and anchorage-independent cell growth in cancer. It is described in Table 2 and Section 3.

Figure 3

Oncogenic (red), tumor-suppressive (blue) lncRNAs, and miRNAs (black) that are affected by lncRNAs affecting anoikis and anchorage-independent cell growth in cancer. It is described in Table 3 and Section 4.