EZH2: A Critical Competing Endogenous RNA in Cancer Research - A Scoping Review

Abstract

AbstractIn recent years, research on the competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) in cancer is in full swing. These investigations are discovering the importance of critical RNAs in cancer progression. Enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2) is one of these RNAs that has been identified as a potential therapeutic target in many types of cancer. Up to now, many studies have been conducted to elucidate ceRNA role ofEZH2in cancer. Due to EZH2’s dual role as an oncogene and tumor suppressor in cancer, a more thorough exploration of its ceRNA functions may enhance clinical approaches to cancer treatment. In the current scoping review, we searched online databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar to identify experimentally-validated ceRNA axes includingEZH2in human cancers. We identified 62 unique axes consisting of 30 microRNAs (miRNAs), 31 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), 9 messenger RNAs (mRNAs), and 14 circular RNAs (circRNAs). Notably,SPRY4-IT1- miR-101-3p -EZH2andXIST- miR-101-3p -EZH2were recurrent axes observed in multiple cancer types. Among the most frequent miRNAs were miR-101-3p, miR-144-3p, and miR-124-3p, and ceRNAs includingSPRY4-IT1,XIST,SNHG6,HOXA11-AS,MALAT1, andTUG1emerged as frequent competitors ofEZH2for miRNA binding. This scoping review highlights the prevalence and diversity ofEZH2-containing ceRNA axes in cancer, suggesting their potential as therapeutic targets. Future research should delve deeper into these axes to elucidate their functional significance and assess their clinical applicability.