Noncoding RNAs Regulate Cuproptosis-related Genes in Digestive Tract Tumors： Research Progress
10.13471/j.cnki.j.sun.yat-sen.univ（med.sci）.2025.0206
- VernacularTitle:非编码RNA调控铜死亡相关基因在消化道肿瘤中的研究进展
- Author:
Yuxin DU
1
;
Xiaoping WANG
1
Author Information
1. Key Laboratory of High Altitude Hypoxia Environment and Life Health， School of Medicine， Xizang Minzu University， Xianyang 712082， China
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
cuproptosis;
non-coding RNAs;
digestive tract tumors;
signal axis;
review
- From:
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences)
2025;46(2):230-237
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Copper is a trace element in the human body and is closely related to various signaling pathways and tumor-related biological behaviors. However， when its concentration exceeds the threshold maintained by homeostatic mechanisms， it becomes toxic and triggers cell death. Cuproptosis is a novel form of cell death， distinct from all other known cell death pathways. It occurs through the direct binding of copper to the lipoic acid components of the tricarboxylic acid cycle， leading to the aggregation of lipoic-acylated proteins and the loss of iron-sulfur cluster proteins. This triggers protein toxicity stress， ultimately resulting in cell death. Cuproptosis plays a role in the occurrence， development， and prognosis of digestive tract tumors. Noncoding RNAs （ncRNAs） such as long non-coding RNA （lncRNA）， micro RNA （miRNA） and circular RNA （circRNA） directly or indirectly regulate the expression of cuproptosis-related genes （FDX1，LIPT1，LIAS，DLD，DLAT，PDHA1，PDHB，MTF1，GLS and CDKN2A） in digestive tract tumors based on ceRNA mechanism， thereby inducing copper ion accumulation， driving oxidative stress response， protein fatty acylation and ubiquitin-proteasome system， inhibiting the occurrence and development of digestive tract tumor cells. NcRNAs’ implication in the genesis of tumor cells via regulating cuproptosis-related genes provides a new insight into precision-targeted therapy for tumors. This article introduces cuproptosis， outlines the various regulatory mechanisms of cuproptosis， and provides an overview of ncRNAs and their roles. It reviews recent research on ncRNAs involved in regulating cuproptosis in digestive tract tumors such as esophageal squamous cell carcinoma， gastric cancer， hepatocellular carcinoma， colorectal carcinoma， pancreatic cancer， along with their molecular mechanisms. The article also presents clinical perspectives， aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of digestive tract tumors.
