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Copy number variations (CNVs) represent one of the most common genomic alterations. This study aimed to evaluate the roles of genes within highly aberrant genome regions in the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). Exome sequencing data from 81 paired ESCC tissues were used to screen aberrant genomic regions. The associations between CNVs and gene expression were evaluated using gene expression data from the same individuals. Then, an RNA expression array profile from 119 ESCC samples was adopted for differential gene expression and prognostic analyses. Two independent ESCC cohorts with 315 subjects were further recruited to validate the prognostic value using immunohistochemistry tests. Finally, we explored the potential mechanism of our identified novel oncogene in ESCC. In total, 2003 genes with CNVs were observed, of which 76 genes showed recurrent CNVs in more than three samples. Among them, 32 genes were aberrantly expressed in ESCC tumor tissues and statistically correlated with CNVs. Strikingly, 4 (CTTN , SHANK2 , INPPL1 and ANO1) of the 32 genes were significantly associated with the prognosis of ESCC patients. Patients with a positive expression of ANO1 had a poorer prognosis than ANO1 negative patients (overall survival rate: 42.91% versus 26.22% for ANO1−/+ samples, P < 0.001). Functionally, ANO1 promoted ESCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion by activating transforming growth factor-β pathway. Knockdown of ANO1 significantly inhibited tumor progression in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, ANO1 is a novel oncogene in ESCC and may serve as a prognostic biomarker for ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Lung cancer is still a disease with high morbidity and mortality in the world. MicroRNAs have been proven to act as an indispensable role in the reuse of multiple solid tumours. Although miR‐1258 plays a vital role in suppressing metastasis in breast cancer and gastric cancer, the specific biological function of miR‐1258 in non‐small‐cell lung cancer remains unclear. Methods: The differential expression of miR‐1258 in NSCLC tissues and corresponding paracancerous tissues was detected by qRT‐PCR and ISH. Flow cytometry and CCK‐8, EdU, tubule formation, and senescence assays were performed, and xenograft models were studied to explore the function of miR‐1258. Potential targets of miR‐1258 were verified by dual luciferase reporter assay, qRT‐PCR, IHC and Western blotting. Results: In vitro and in vivo gain‐ and loss‐of‐function assays suggested that miR‐1258 inhibits NSCLC cell proliferation and induces senescence and apoptosis. The luciferase reporter assay, IHC and Western blotting analysis showed that GRB2 is one of the direct targets of miR‐1258. The GRB2 overexpression plasmid can reverse the functional changes after overexpression of miR‐1258. In contrast, miR‐1258 inhibitor significantly reversed si‐GRB2‐induced GRB2 down‐regulation. Mechanistically, overexpression of miR‐1258 inhibits GRB2 expression and then leads to inactivation of the Ras/Erk oncogenic pathway. Conclusions: Our results indicate that miR‐1258 can suppress NSCLC progression by targeting the GRB2/Ras/Erk pathway, which may lead to different insights into potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic strategies for NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The role of circ_0006168 in ESCC was first reported in our research. • circ_0006168 was highly expressed in ESCC tissues and cell lines. • circ_0006168 was associated with lymphatic metastasis and advanced ESCC TNM stage. • circ_0006168 downregulation inhibited ESCC proliferation, migration and invasion. • circ_0006168 might facilitate ESCC proliferation, migration and invasion through miR-100/mTOR axis. Circle RNAs (circRNAs) are the novel noncoding RNAs with the covalent closed-loop structure, which play a crucial role in a variety of pathological processes, including cancer. Nevertheless, the expression profiles and functions of circRNAs in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) remain largely unknown. In this paper, 10 pairs of ESCC tissues were utilized to screen the circRNA expression profiles by means of microarray assay; further, a novel circular RNA named hsa_circ_0006168 was investigated. Meanwhile, the expression of hsa_circ_0006168 was measured in 52 ESCC tissues and in cell lines. Our results suggested that, hsa_circ_0006168 was remarkably increased not only in ESCC tissues but also in cell lines compared with those in normal cases. Besides, high hsa_circ_0006168 expression was positively connected with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage of ESCC patients. In vitro, the proliferation, invasion and migration capacities of ESCC cells were suppressed through down-regulating hsa_circ_0006168 expression. Besides, RNase R digestion assay confirmed that hsa_circ_0006168 was more stable than its linear CNOT6L mRNA form. Moreover, nuclear and cytoplasmic fraction assay indicated that hsa_circ_0006168 was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm of Kyse450 and TE13 cells. Mechanically, it was discovered in this study that hsa_circ_0006168 might regulate the expression of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) by sponging microRNA-100 (miR-100). Taken together, hsa_circ_0006168 can promote ESCC proliferation, migration and invasion through the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism, which has been first confirmed in our results. In ESCC, hsa_circ_0006168 can serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]