Xiaoning Zhu1,2, Sethu Thakachy Subha3, Voon Hoong Fong3, Wee Lin Tan1 and Yoke Kqueen Cheah1,4*
Published June 27, 2024
Genet. Mol. Res. 23 (2): gmr2331
DOI :http://dx.doi.org/10.4238/gmr2331
About the Authors
Xiaoning Zhu1,2, Sethu Thakachy Subha3, Voon Hoong Fong3, Wee Lin Tan1 and Yoke Kqueen Cheah1,4*
Corresponding Author
Yoke Kqueen Cheah,
E-mail: ykcheah@upm.edu.my
ABSTRACT
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. The primary clinical issues in HNC are drug resistance and tumor recurrence attributed to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Dysfunction of mitochondria may prevent CSCs from apoptosis. MicroRNAs have been reported to be a potential target for diagnosis and treatment strategy in many types of cancers, including HNC. However, the roles of mitochondrial-associated miRNAs in head and neck cancer stem cells remain unclear. First, 18 mitochondrial-associated miRNAs of head and neck cancer stem cells were identified from the MitoCarta3.0 database, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma data in the TCGA database, and cancer stem cell surface markers of HNC by bioinformatic analysis. Then, the data mining determined let-7c-5p, the potential mitochondrial-associated miRNA of head and neck cancer stem cells related to drug resistance and tumor recurrence. Next, RT-qPCR verified the low expression of Let-7c-5pin head and neck cancer stem cells. After that, we further used bioinformatic analysis to predict that let-7c-5p might mainly target KRAS and BCL2L1 to regulate mitophagy and apoptosis pathways for keeping cancer stem cells alive. Hence, the treatment strategy based on let-7c-5p may provide novel solutions for drug resistance and recurrence in HNC.
Key words: MicroRNA, Mitochondrial; Cancer Stem Cell; Drug Resistance; Tumor Recurrence