miR-940 is a new biomarker with tumor diagnostic and prognostic value

Abstract

miR-940 is a microRNA located on chromosome 16p13.3, which has varying degrees of expression imbalance in many diseases. It binds to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) and affects the transcription or post-transcriptional regulation of target protein-coding genes. For a diversity of cellular processes, including cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell cycle, and osteogenic differentiation, miR-940 can affect them not only by regulating protein-coding genes but also long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in pathways. Intriguingly, miR-940 participates in four pathways that affect cancer development, including the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, PD-1 pathway, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway. Importantly, the expression of miR-940 is intimately correlated with the diagnosis and prognosis of tumor patients, as well as to the efficacy of tumor chemotherapy drugs. In conclusion, our main purpose is to outline the expression of miR-940 in various diseases and the molecular biological and cytological functions of target genes in order to reveal its potential diagnostic and prognostic value as well as its predictive value of drug efficacy.

Keywords: diagnosis; drug efficacy; miR-940; pathway; prognosis; target gene.

Graphical abstract

Figure 1

Research history of miR-940 In 2014, miR-940 was studied in cancer for the first time. It was thought that the intervention of miR-940 could be used for sensitive platinum-based chemotherapy, and it was found that miR-940 was involved in regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway. In 2015, a study found that salivary miR-940 has good sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of resectable pancreatic cancer. The abnormal expression of miR-940 in PDAC is significantly related to the prognosis of patients. In 2017, it was found that OC cells secreted tumor suppressor miR-940 into the extracellular environment through exosomes. In GBM, miR-940 was found to be a competitive endogenous RNA of lncHERG. In 2018, miR-940 was found to affect the regulation of the PD-1 checkpoint pathway through c-CBL. In 2020, it was found that the miR-940/MAPK1 axis was regulated by circ_0058124 in thyroid carcinoma (TC).

Figure 2

miR-940 affects the biological process of cells through target genes miR-940 affects cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, EMT, cell cycle, and osteogenic differentiation by regulating target genes. EMT, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. The →-shaped line represents promotion, and the T-shaped line represents inhibition.

Figure 3

miR-940 regulates the biological processes of cells by affecting signaling pathways miR-940 regulates the signal molecules in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, PD-1 checkpoint pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Figure 4

The regulatory role between miR-940 and other non-coding RNAs The interaction of miR-940 with other non-coding RNAs can affect cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. The →-shaped line represents promotion, and the T-shaped line represents inhibition.