Crosstalk between Non-Coding RNAs and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Head and Neck Cancer: Identification of Novel Biomarkers and Therapeutic Agents

Anjana Sajeev; Bandari BharathwajChetty; Ravichandran Vishwa; Mohammed S Alqahtani; Mohamed Abbas; Gautam Sethi; Ajaikumar B Kunnumakkara

doi:10.3390/ncrna9050063

Crosstalk between Non-Coding RNAs and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Head and Neck Cancer: Identification of Novel Biomarkers and Therapeutic Agents

Noncoding RNA. 2023 Oct 17;9(5):63. doi: 10.3390/ncrna9050063.

Authors

Anjana Sajeev¹, Bandari BharathwajChetty¹, Ravichandran Vishwa¹, Mohammed S Alqahtani^{2

3}, Mohamed Abbas⁴, Gautam Sethi⁵, Ajaikumar B Kunnumakkara¹

Affiliations

¹ Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India.
² Radiological Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia.
³ BioImaging Unit, Space Research Centre, Michael Atiyah Building, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.
⁴ Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore.

Abstract

Head and neck cancers (HNC) encompass a broad spectrum of neoplastic disorders characterized by significant morbidity and mortality. While contemporary therapeutic interventions offer promise, challenges persist due to tumor recurrence and metastasis. Central to HNC pathogenesis is the aberration in numerous signaling cascades. Prominently, the Wnt signaling pathway has been critically implicated in the etiology of HNC, as supported by a plethora of research. Equally important, variations in the expression of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been identified to modulate key cancer phenotypes such as cellular proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastatic potential, recurrence, and treatment resistance. This review aims to provide an exhaustive insight into the multifaceted influence of ncRNAs on HNC, with specific emphasis on their interactions with the Wnt/β-catenin (WBC) signaling axis. We further delineate the effect of ncRNAs in either exacerbating or attenuating HNC progression via interference with WBC signaling. An overview of the mechanisms underlying the interplay between ncRNAs and WBC signaling is also presented. In addition, we described the potential of various ncRNAs in enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic modalities. In summary, this assessment posits the potential of ncRNAs as therapeutic agents targeting the WBC signaling pathway in HNC management.

Keywords: Wnt/β-catenin signaling; anti-miR; head and neck cancer; non-coding RNAs.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The authors disclose receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by Ajaikumar B. Kunnumakkara’s Professional Development Fund (PDF), BSBE/ABK/01 from IIT Guwahati. The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University (KKU) for funding this research through the Research Group Program under the grant number R.G.P.2/431/44.