RNAs Are Altered in Melanoma

A long, noncoding (lnc) RNA is elevated in melanoma cells, where it promotes cellular survival and invasion.

Scientists have discovered that levels of a relatively understudied group of RNAs–long, non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs)–are altered in human melanoma. Dr. Ranjan Perera, associate professor at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham; Orlando, FL, USA), and collaborators at the University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia) compared lncRNAs in several laboratory cell-lines of melanoma and normal skin cells, as well as in 30 different human patient samples. They found that levels of the lncRNA, SPRY4-IT1, were particularly high in melanoma cells, but not in normal skin cells.

The study, published online May 10, 2011, in the journal Cancer Research showed that the elevated levels of SPRY4-IT1 in melanoma cells, promoted cellular survival and invasion.

To further probe the function of this lncRNA, they looked at what happens in a melanoma cell-line where SPRY4-IT1 levels are significantly reduced. Cellular growth was impaired and cell death was increased in the SPRY4-IT1-deficient melanoma cells, as compared to melanoma cells with fully functioning lncRNAs. In addition, the ability of melanoma cells to invade the extracellular matrix (an early step in cancer cell metastasis) was reduced in cells lacking SPRY4-IT1.

"The elevated expression of SPRY4-IT1 in melanoma cells, its accumulation in the cell cytoplasm, and effects on cell dynamics all suggest that increased SPRY4-IT1 may play an important role in the molecular underpinnings of human melanoma," said Prof. Perera. "Based on this information, we believe SPRY4-IT1 could be an early biomarker for the detection of melanoma."

In a separate study published in the journal PLoS ONE, in November 2010, Dr. Perera's group reported that melanoma cells have lower levels of a different non-coding RNA, called miR-211. Together, these two studies give scientists a better understanding of melanoma development, which in turn will help them design new diagnostics and therapeutics for this often-fatal disease.

Related Links:
Burnham Medical Research Institute
University of Queensland