Predição de RNAs longos não codificantes que regulam microRNAs diferencialmente expressos em câncer de pênis e a sua relação com fatores de pior prognóstico

Abstract

Non-coding long RNAs (lncRNAs) belong to the class of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with the ability to interact with other biomolecules. LncRNAs can be dysregulated in cancer, acting as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes. Given the lack of literature reports on the involvement of these biomolecules in penile cancer (CaPe), the present study aimed to identify, through in silico tools, lncRNAs that regulate differentially expressed miRNAs evaluated in samples from patients with CaPe and their relationship with worse prognosis factors. Eight patients diagnosed with CaPe participated in this study, with four patients with phimosis serving as control samples. The samples underwent microarray analysis on the Affymetrix platform to obtain the differential analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs). In silico tools were used to identify lncRNAs that regulate miRNAs, as well as to validate expression data. We selected 22 differentially expressed miRNAs based on clinical-pathological characteristics for the investigation of the lncRNAs that regulate them. Among the selected miRNAs, four (miR-23b-3p, miR-455-3p, miR-145-5p, and miR-200c-3p) are regulated by nine lncRNAs (GAS5, NEAT1, MALAT1, SNHG16, KCNQ1OT1, MEG3, LINC00667, XIST, and SNHG22). Regarding target validation, a comparison with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck (SCCHN) in the UALCAN tool revealed that only miR-570-5p has different expression between CaPe and SCCHN. Using the same tool, the expression analysis of lncRNAs was performed, identifying that MEG3 and XIST have low expression in SCCHN. These data constitute a significant contribution, providing insights that underscore the need for future investigations in CaPe to elucidate the role of lncRNAs more thoroughly in this malignant neoplasm. Additionally, the data suggest potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for CaPe