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5-Fluorouracil: A Narrative Review on the Role of Regulatory Mechanisms in Driving Resistance to This Chemotherapeutic Agent

Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard, Atefe Abak, Farhad Tondro Anamag and 5 more

Frontiers in Oncology · 2021 · Review · CC BY

doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.658636

Abstract

5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is among the mostly administrated chemotherapeutic agents for a wide variety of neoplasms. Non-coding RNAs have a central impact on the determination of the response of patients to 5-FU. These transcripts via modulation of cancer-related pathways, cell apoptosis, autophagy, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and other aspects of cell behavior can affect cell response to 5-FU. Modulation of expression levels of microRNAs or long non-coding RNAs may be a suitable approach to sensitize tumor cells to 5-FU treatment via modulating multiple biological signaling pathways such as Hippo/YAP, Wnt/β-catenin, Hedgehog, NF-kB, and Notch cascades. Moreover, there is an increasing interest in targeting these transcripts in various kinds of cancers that are treated by 5-FU. In the present article, we provide a review of the function of non-coding transcripts in the modulation of response of neoplastic cells to 5-FU.

Full text

From PubMed Central, U.S. National Library of Medicine, as current on Oct 25, 2026. Paragraph numbers are ours, so an answer can point at one.

Introduction

5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and its oral prodrugs including S1 and capecitabine are among the main components of most chemotherapeutic regimens whose efficiencies have been established in the treatment of several neoplasms such as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), gastrointestinal SCC and adenocarcinoma (ADC), and SCC of the uterine cervix. This agent was introduced by Heidelberger et al. during the 1950s. Afterward, it has been increasingly used during the last decades and remained as the backbone of most of chemotherapy regimens. 5-FU has also been used in combination with novel cancer therapies especially targeted therapeutics including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors [bevacizumab, ziv-aflibercept, regorafenib and ramucirumab] and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies [cetuximab and panitumumab]. The cytotoxic effect of 5-FU is mainly induced through inhibition of cellular thymidylate synthase (TS) leading to the prevention of DNA replication and also inhibition of RNA synthesis by the integration of its metabolites into RNA after intracellular activation. These mechanisms of action are, however, only applicable when 5-FU is administered as a single agent chemotherapeutic drug. Since 5-FU has been used in combination with other chemotherapeutics, mostly platinum-based drugs and/or taxanes, and also concurrently during radiotherapy, as a radiosensitizer; other mechanisms of action might be involved that are less clear. Fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate (FdUMP), fluorodeoxyuridine triphosphate (FdUTP), and fluorouridine triphosphate (FUTP) are all the final active metabolites of 5-FU which are produced after the active transportation of 5-FU into cells by the uracil transport system in addition to the passive paracellular and transcellular routes and also passive diffusion. Each of these metabolites prevents cell growth in a specific way. FdUMP inhibits TS leading to indirect DNA damage by deoxynucleotide imbalances and raised levels of deoxyuridine triphosphate. However, FdUTP damages DNA directly by misincorporation into it. In other hand, FUTP is incorporated into RNA resulting in substantial damage in this molecule. Finally, 5-FU causes cell death through simultaneous induction of apoptosis and autophagy. Xiong et al. showed that treatment of Bax or PUMA deficient human colon cancer cells with 5-FU resulted in reduction of mTOR activity and subsequent up-regulation of autophagy in this cell line resulting in considerable inhibition of cell proliferation. Moreover, Yang et al. have shown that treatment of human gastric cancer cells with 5-FU resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation through autophagic process resulting from 5-FU-related miR-30 suppression and Beclin-1 upregulation. Besides, mTOR activity and miR-30 suppression as potential pathways for 5-FU-related autophagy activation, Cottone et al. showed that 5-FU can stimulate the inflammatory cells which are responsible for High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) release resulting in the exacerbation of the autophagy activation. In this context, Nyhan et al. used HMGB1 as a marker of non-apoptotic cell death showing the increase of autophagy after the treatment of human oesophageal cancer cell lines with 5-FU in the presence of miR-193b overexpression. In addition to tumoral cells, non-malignant cells are also influenced by 5-FU-related autophagy. Focaccetti et al. showed clear signs of autophagy along with the significant increase in apoptosis in endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes after treatment with 5-FU. Interestingly, more recently autophagy is proposed as a potential way of acquired resistance of tumoral cells towards 5-FU. Globally, the alternation of TS coding gene, i.e. TYMS, single nucleotide polymorphisms affecting the activity of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), and Dihydropyridine dehydrogenase (DPD) expression are considered as the main mechanisms of resistance.

Catabolic and Anabolic Way of 5-Fluorouracil Transformation

5-FU is a uracil analog with a fluorine atom at the C-5 position. After intravenous administration of 5-FU, this medication can rapidly enter target cells using the same transport mechanism as uracil. Accumulating evidence demonstrated that the transportation of 5-FU could be passively triggered via transcellular and paracellular pathways in tumor cell monolayers. In addition, 5-FU by passive diffusion can promptly pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB). 5-FU can be transformed to the following active metabolites in the target cells: 1) Fluorodeoxyuridine triphosphate (FdUTP) that could combine into DNA rather than deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP); 2) Fluorouridine triphosphate (FUTP) that could combine into RNA rather than uridine triphosphate (UTP). FUTP alters RNA function and processing, and FdUTP and FdUMP can induce DNA damage. Both of these procedures have a profound effect on RNA and DNA triggering cell death in tumor cells; and 3) FdUMP suppresses the function of Thymidylate synthase (TS) in the ternary complex. FdUMP can create a constant ternary complex with 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (CH2THF), and TS. TS can in turn catalyze conversion of deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) to deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP). The ternary complex could impede the availability of dUMP to the nucleotide-binding site (NBS) of TS via competing with FdUMP that could lead to imbalance in deoxynucleotides pool, particularly enhancing deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) levels and causing damage to DNA. Reduction of dTMP could induce reduction of dTTP, which disrupts the levels of the other deoxynucleotides. Another 5-FU activation cascade includes thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) that could trigger the transformation of 5-FU to fluorodeoxyuridine (FUDR) which could be phosphorylated via thymidine kinase (TK) to FdUMP. Phosphorylation reaction through the UrdPase needs ribose-1-phosphate as a cofactor that could play an effective role in creating FUMP. On the other hand, the phosphorylation reaction via dThdPase needs deoxyribose-1-phosphate as a cofactor resulting in the creation of FdUMP. Subsequently, FUMP could be phosphorylated to fluorouridine diphosphate (FUDP) that is either subsequently phosphorylated to the active metabolite FUTP or could be transformed to fluorodeoxyuridine diphosphate (FdUDP) via ribonucleotide reductase. Afterward, FdUDP is either phosphorylated to FdUTP or could be dephosphorylated to FdUMP. Therefore, both dUTP and FdUMP could effectively contribute to DNA damage. The transformation of 5-FU to FdUMP in the alimentary canal and bone marrow could in turn lead to digestive tract toxicity as well as myelotoxicity. Additionally, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD), which is a ubiquitous and rate-limiting enzyme of the uracil catabolic pathway and is present in the liver, gut, intestinal mucosa, and several other tissues, could be considered as a major enzyme for the degradation of 5-FU. 5-FU represents poor bioavailability because of its prompt catabolic degradation to 5, 6-dihydro-5-fluorouracil (DHFU) via DPYD. DPYD could catabolize 5-FU to 5, 6-dihydro-5-fluorouracil (DHFU), eventually resulting in the creation of α-fluoro-β-ureidopropionic acid (FUPA) as well as α-fluoro-β-alanine (FBAL) that subsequently could be excreted through the kidneys. Oral administration of 5-FU in the form of 5-FU pro-drugs (oral FPs) could result in imperfect and disordered bioavailability because of variation in the function of DPYD. Hence, it is correlated to unpredictable levels of 5-FU in the plasma because of noticeable intra- and inter-patient mutability in its adsorption/deletion.

Non-Coding RNAs and Response to 5-FU

Non-coding RNAs modulate several cellular pathways that are involved in the response of neoplastic cells to 5-FU or its oral prodrugs. In a broad classification, we categorize non-coding RNAs to long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) with sizes more than 200 nucleotides and about 22 nucleotides, respectively. These two main classes of non-coding RNAs vary in their mode of action in the regulation of gene expression, however, both regulate fundamental aspects of cellular activities among them are apoptosis, autophagy, and DNA repair. These cellular processes define the response of neoplastic cells to chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-FU.

miRNAs and 5-FU Response

The impact of miRNAs in the modulation of 5-FU resistance has been largely assessed in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. For instance, as a tumor suppressor miRNA, expression of miR-15b-5p has been down-regulated in tissues and cells obtained from patients with this kind of neoplasm. Up-regulation of miR-15b-5p has enhanced 5-FU-associated cell apoptosis and ameliorated cell response to 5-FU both in vitro and in animal models. NF-κB signaling pathway has been identified as the mediator of miR-15b-5p effect on response to 5-FU. This miRNA negatively regulates NF-κB1 and IKK-α. miR-15b-5p has also been shown to target the anti-apoptotic gene XIAP. In CRC cells, miR-21 influences response to 5-FU through targeting PDCD4 and hMSH2. Notably, PDCD4 has also been shown to be targeted by miR-1260b. This miRNA confers resistance to 5-FU and inhibits apoptosis in CRC cells via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Expression of miR-21 has been considerably increased in exosomes of CRC cells versus normal human colon epithelium. Exosomal miR-21 can enhance the expression of genes participating in cell proliferation, invasiveness, and extracellular matrix construction. Moreover, miR-21 through targeting PDCD4 can increase resistance to 5-FU. Another experiment in this kind of cancer has shown the role of miR-22 in the enhancement of sensitivity to 5-FU through inhibition of autophagy and boosting apoptosis. These effects of miR-22 are mediated through the suppression of expression of B-cell translocation gene 1 (BTG1). Treatment of CRC cells with 5-FU has resulted in enhancement of miR-23a while down-regulation of APAF-1 in these cells. miR-23a antisense has enhanced the activation of the caspases-3 and -7 through up-regulation of miR-231 target APAF-1 and increased the 5-FU-associated apoptosis. Yet, miR-23a antagonism did not surge the anticancer impact of 5-FU in the xenograft model of CRC. The tumor-suppressive miRNA miR-199b directly targets the PP2A inhibitor SET, a crucial factor in conferring resistance to 5-FU. An experiment in rectal cancer cells has shown that both miR-199b up-regulation and SET suppression can combat 5-FU resistance. Expression of miR-199b has been decreased in about one-fourth of cases in association with lymph node positivity following chemoradiotherapy and advanced stage. Table 1 summarizes the influence of miRNAs on response of CRC cells to 5-FU.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is another type of cancer in which the role of miRNAs in the regulation of response to 5-FU has been vastly assessed. Forced over-expression of miR-122 in hepatoblastoma cells has reduced expressions of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL while increasing P53 protein levels. These effects have been accompanied by enhancement of apoptosis and higher sensitivity to 5-FU, demonstrating the impact of this miRNA in response to 5-FU. Another experiment in several HCC cell liens has shown lower expression of miR-125b in 5-FU-resistant cells compared with sensitive cells. TRansfection of pre-miR-125b into HCC cells has led to the improvement of sensitivity to 5-FU. F-FU resistant cells also exhibited higher glucose uptake and lactate synthesis compared with 5-FU-sensitive cells. Remarkably, miR-125 has been shown to decrease glucose metabolism by influencing the expression of hexokinase II. miR-147 is a tumor suppressor miRNA whose expression has been reduced in HCC cell lines and clinical samples. Overexpression of miR-147 has suppressed in vitro proliferation and migration of HCC cells and enhanced cytotoxic effects of 5-FU. Moreover, it has decreased in vivo tumorigenicity of HCC cells. HOXC6 has been recognized as the downstream target of miR-147 through which this miRNA enhances 5-FU sensitivity. Another tumor suppressor miRNA in HCC namely miR-503 regulates the expression of EIF4E and enhances response to 5-FU. Table 2 demonstrates the impact of miRNAs modulation of response to 5-FU in HCC cells.

In gastric cancer, miR-31 enhances sensitivity to 5-FU, decreases migration and invasion capacity, and surges the fraction of cells in G1/pre-G1 phase. These effects are possibly mediated through down-regulation of E2F6 and SMUG1 genes. On the other hand, miR-147 is an oncogenic miRNA in gastric cancer cells whose silencing has reduced cell proliferation and improved sensitivity of these cells 5-FU via modulating apoptotic pathway. Mechanistically, miR-147 down-regulates the expression of PTEN in gastric cancer cells and consequently modulates PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Besides, the expression of miR-149 has been shown to be elevated in 5-FU-resistant gastric cancer cells compared with parental cells. miR-149 also enhances 5-FU resistance through reduction of TREM2 levels and regulation of β-catenin in vivo. Instead, the expression of miR-195 has been lower in 5-FU-resistant gastric cancer cells compared with the parental cells. Transfection of resistant cells with miR-195 has led to inhibition of HMGA1 expression and improvement of response to 5-FU. Figure 1 demonstrates the role of several miRNAs in regulating the sensitivity of cancer cells to 5-FU via modulating the Wnt-β-catenin pathway which is a highly conserved cascade and is activated in the development of various human cancers like colorectal cancer.

Table 3 provides a summary of experiments that reported the impact of miRNAs in the response of gastric cancer to 5-FU.

A comprehensive study in esophageal cancer has frequent down-regulation of miR-29c in tumors and sera of these patients. Functionally, miR-29c has been shown to reverse 5-FU resistance in vitro and in vivo through direct interaction with the 3'UTR of FBXO31, resulting in suppression of FBXO31 and activation of p38 MAPK. Systemic administration of miR-29c has significantly enhanced response to 5-FU in xenograft models of esophageal cancer. In cervical cancer, miR-138/-135 can target FAK, enhance 5-FU sensitivity, and inhibit invasion and tumor growth. In pancreatic cancer cells, miR-221-3p, miR-486-5p, miR-21, and miR-320a influence response to 5-FU through targeting RB1, PTEN, and PDCD4. Finally, in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), miR-378 suppresses FUS1 expression, promotes cell proliferation, inhibits apoptosis, and confers resistance to 5-FU. Table 4 provides an overview of researches that studied the role of miRNAs in the modulation of response to 5-FU in other types of cancer.

The expression pattern of several miRNAs that influence response to 5-FU is associated with the survival of patients with malignancies. Among oncogenic miRNAs, over-expression of miR-1229-3p in gastric cancer patients has been associated with shorter overall and relapse-free survival rates. On the other hand, down-regulation of several tumor-suppressive miRNAs such as miR-488, miR-145, and miR-199b has been associated with poor survival of cancer patients. The possible application of 5-FU-associated miRNAs as diagnostic markers has also been assessed showing the diagnostic power values of 0.807 and 0.77 for miR-1229-3p and miR-378 in gastric cancer and CML, respectively. Table 5 provides a summary of the importance of 5-FU-related miRNAs as diagnostic or prognostic markers in cancers.

LncRNAs and Response to 5-FU

Expression of HOTAIRM1 has been decreased in CRC tissues and cell lines, particularly in 5-FU resistant tissues and cells. In 5-FU resistant CRC cells, this lncRNA has been shown to suppress cell progression through acting as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-17-5p, thus enhancing the expression of BTG3. HOTAIR is another lncRNA that induces resistance to 5-FU in CRC. This lncRNA down-regulates miR-218 level via an EZH2-related mechanism. HOTAIR silencing has suppressed cell viability and arrested cells in the G1-phase through enhancing miR-218 expression. VOPP1 is a functional target of this miRNA. Moreover, NF-κB signaling has been shown to be inhibited by HOTAIR via repression of miR-218 expression. Inactivation of NF-κB signaling by HOTAIR silencing has also partly reversed 5-FU resistance. Another route of participation of HOTAIR in resistance to 5-FU is the enhancement of TS expression. A high throughput assessment of transcriptome in 5-FU-resistant CRC cells and parental cells has revealed differential expression of more than 2,000 lncRNAs which have been enriched in Jak-STAT, PI3K-Akt, and NF-κB signaling pathways, emphasizing the role of these pathways in conferring resistance to 5-FU. Table 6 summarizes the role of lncRNAs in the modulation of response to 5-FU in CRC. Figure 2 illustrates that 5-FU-induced changes in cell cycle regulation of several cancer cells might be associated with an alteration of G1 and G2 target genes expression through the modulation by various non-coding RNAs.

In addition to CRC, lncRNAs have fundamental roles in conferring resistance to 5-FU in other types of cancer, particularly gastric cancer and HCC. For instance, in gastric cancer cells, SNHG20 has been shown to mediate resistance to 5-FU via modulating the expression of miR-140-5p and subsequent up-regulation of its target gene NDRG3. The role of PVT1 in the progression of this kind of cancer and induction of chemoresistance is mediated via up-regulation of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl2. KRAL is a down-regulated lncRNA in HepG2/5-FU and SMMC-7721/5-FU cells compared with the corresponding parental cells. Up-regulation of KRAL has enhanced Keap1 expression. The resistance of these cells to 5-FU could be reversed through the inactivation of the Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway. KRAL serves as a sponge for miR-141 and subsequently restores Keap1 expression. NR2F1‐AS1 is involved in the modulation of response to 5-FU in breast cancer cells. This lncRNA increases IGF‐1 levels via sponging miRNA‐338‐3p and then activates IGF‐1R and ERK pathways. TMPO-AS1 is an over-expressed lncRNA in ovarian cancer tissues and SKOV3 cells. This lncRNA regulates TMEFF2 via sponging miR-200c. Moreover, it activates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. TMPO-AS1 silencing has suppressed epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasiveness, migration and 5-FU resistance in ovarian cancer cells. Table 7 summarizes the role of lnRNAs in modulation of response to 5-FU in other cancers.

In gastric cancer, Kaplan–Meier analysis has demonstrated that patients with over-expression of PVT1 do not benefit from 5-FU containing chemotherapeutic regimens. However, therapeutic regimens containing no 5-FU have been shown to increase the first progression survival and overall survival of this group of patients suggesting the role of PVT1 as a predictor of resistance to 5-FU treatment. Additional studies in CRC have shown the importance of expression levels of several lncRNAs namely HOTAIR, PCAT6, UCA1, XIST, TUG1, HAND2-AS1, LINC00152, and H19 in the determination of patients’ prognosis ( Table 8 ). Figure 3 depicts the regulation of the efficacy of 5-FU-based chemotherapy in cancer cells via multiple non-coding RNAs through the Notch signaling cascade.

Application of the CRISPR/Cas9 System With the Aim of Overcoming 5-FU Resistance in Human Cancer Cells

Accumulating evidence revealed that the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool can be considered as a potential approach in order to promote sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Due to the reason that gene mutation plays a remarkable role in developing drug resistance in tumor cells, CRISPR-Cas9 can be employed as an effective gene manipulation system with regards to permanently removing genes and attenuating resistance to cancer chemotherapy. Furthermore, this applicable method can be applied effectively and has a great advantage compared to other gene-editing technologies such as siRNAs, ZFNs, and TALENs in manipulating target genes involved in the chemotherapy resistance. Clinical evidence demonstrated that cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) has a substantial part in tumorigenesis, proliferation, and invasion of colon cancer cells. Utilizing the CRISPR/Cas9 system, it has been possible to create COMP-knockout cells via lentiviral vectors which could, in turn, enhance the sensitivity of tumor cells to 5-FU and suppress PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway. In addition, Lobo et al. figured out that employing the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing tool for manipulation of CD44 in addition to Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino oligomers (PMOs) can promote cisplatin and 5-FU sensitivity in gastric tumor cells. Furthermore, due to the association of GPRC5a with a worse prognosis, the CRISPR/Cas9 was employed to knock-out the expression level of this target gene to reduce proliferation and migration ability of tumor cells and inhibit resistance to oxaliplatin, 5-FU, and gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, current research indicated that upregulation of MUC5AC could widely affect colorectal cancer chemotherapy response via overexpression of β-catenin and its target genes CD44 and Lgr5 as well as suppression of p53 and its target gene p21, which is frequently associated with aggressiveness of colorectal cancer cells. RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9 systems were utilized to knock-out the expression of MUC5AC in tumor cells thereby enhancing the sensitivity of cancer cells to 5-FU and oxaliplatin. With the emergence of the CRISPR-Cas9, experimentations in the field of drug resistance in various human cancers have been advanced greatly. A summary of clinical researches related to the knockout of various genes causing 5-FU resistance in several human cancer cells via the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing tool is demonstrated in Table 9. Although these studies have targeted mRNA coding genes, they show the feasibility of targeting certain transcripts and the significant effects of these methods in sensitization of neoplastic cells to 5-FU. Similar strategies targeting lncRNAs/miRNAs would have similar effects on cancer cells.

Effect of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Combination With5-FU on Promoting the Chemotherapeutic Efficacy in Multiple Human Cancers

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that tumorigenesis not only occurs by a genetic mutation, but it also could be triggered via epigenetic alteration processes. Modification of histones by acetylation has an important part in epigenetic modulation of gene expression which is regulated by both histone acetyltransferases (HAT) and histone deacetylases (HDAC). Since dysregulation of histone acetylation is a hallmark of cancer in some cases, thereby employing HDAC inhibitors could shed novel insights into regulatory mechanisms of transcription as well as inducing differentiation and apoptosis. HDAC inhibitors are potential anticancer drugs because of their ability to induce tumor cell differentiation, cell cycle arrest, and cell death, attenuate angiogenesis, reverse transformed cell morphology, and regulate immune response. Importantly, the combination of HDAC with 5-FU can elevate the efficacy of this agent in tumor cells. The HDAC inhibitor SAHA has a key role in promoting sensitivity to 5-FU and irinotecan via triggering proapoptotic signals in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through overcoming MDR-mediated drug efflux, suppressing SN-38 glucuronidation and synchronization of the cell cycle by upregulation of CDK-inhibitor p21cip1/waf1. Additionally, Minegaki et al. have demonstrated that co-administration of 5−FU with VPA or SAHA as an inhibitor of histone deacetylases could downregulate the expression level of TS in 5−FU−resistant MDA−MB−468 breast cancer cells, and thereby promoting the sensitivity of both 5-FU-sensitive and −resistant breast cancer cells to 5-FU chemotherapy. Moreover, another research has illustrated that the combination of HDAC inhibitor depsipeptide and 5-FU could significantly enhance the sensitivity of colon cancer cells to chemotherapy. This sensitization of tumor cells could occur via triggering cell cycle arrest caused by overexpression of p21 (CDKN1A), modulating apoptosis represented by caspase-3/7 activation as well as regulating the expression level of MHC class II. In addition, Hamam et al. have detected that the effect of 5−FU against colon tumor cells could be promoted remarkably by the combination treatment with CUDC−907, a dual HDAC, and PI3K inhibitor. This could in turn lead to upregulation of apoptotic processes and necrosis, as well as enhancing polyploidy. Besides, Tan et al. have shown that the HDAC6 selective inhibitor ACY1215 could play an effective role in inhibiting colon cancer cell growth, migration, invasion, and triggering apoptosis in colon cancer cells, and thereby elevating the efficacy of 5-FU. On the other hand, another study showed that upregulation of HDAC4 could modulate TGFβ signaling cascade via reducing the expression levels of SMAD4, SMAD6, BMP6, iID1, TGFβ2, and TGFβ3 in breast cancer cells. HDAC4 could also regulate the expression of SMAD4 via histone h3 deacetylation which could in turn augment MDA-MB-231 cell resistance to 5-FU. The effects of epigenetic regulators on the expression of lncRNAs/miRNAs which are linked with cellular response to 5-FU have been less studied.

The Role of Autophagy in 5−FU Treatment in Multiple Human Cancers

Multidrug resistance (MDR) could occur mostly after long−term chemotherapy, leading to tumor recurrence. Autophagy, a self−degradative mechanism, generally occurs during the process of resistance to chemotherapy. Autophagy can enhance the MDR and protection of tumor cells from these drugs. Autophagy induced by anticancer agents could also trigger upregulation of apoptotic signaling pathways in MDR cells, simplifying MDR reversal. Accumulating evidence illustrated that suppression of autophagy by either pharmacological procedures or through regulatory gene silencing enhances 5−FU−induced tumor cell death. Furthermore, autophagy could have a pro−death role which may modulate cell death in various tumor cells to trigger apoptosis pathways. Therefore, autophagy could be a target to improve the sensitivity of multiple cancer cells to 5−FU. Zhang et al. have illustrated that a combination of 5-FU and β-Elemene could play an effective role in promoting the sensitivity of p53-deficient colorectal cancer cells to 5-FU via modulation pro-death autophagy by promoting the formation of autophagosome. Furthermore, another research has demonstrated that psilostachyin-A can attenuate 5-FU resistance in liver carcinoma via triggering autophagy in these cells. Psilostachyin-A could cause the enhancement of the autophagosomes via upregulating the expression levels of LC3B-II and Beclin-1 in the HepG2 cells. This could also induce G2/M arrest of the tumor cells through declining of cyclin B1 and CDK1 expression as well as suppressing the MAPK/ERK signaling cascade, and thereby inhibiting proliferation and invasion of the HepG2 cells to the large extent. Besides, Zhang et al. have detected that whilst autophagy could be activated by treatment of human colon carcinoma cells with 5-FU, treatment of these cells with curcumin followed by the 5-FU treatment could considerably attenuate autophagy activation and promote the cytotoxicity of this chemotherapeutic drug. This could occur via the alteration in LC3II/LC3I, beclin-1, and p62 expression levels in cancer cells which could, in turn, contribute to the downregulation of Akt/mTOR as well as AMPK/ULK1 signaling cascades in HCT116 cells. Furthermore, Yu et al. have represented that miR-125b could enhance 5-FU resistance in colorectal cancer cells via promoting cell autophagy. miR-125b remarkably upregulates the expression levels of beclin-1 and cleaved LC3B-II which could, in turn, play an important role in triggering autophagy and reducing the sensitivity of cancer cells to 5-FU. miR-125b was increased by the activation of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis, and thereby miR-125b could significantly augment EMT. Inhibition of this miRNA may be a suitable approach to attenuate the development of chemoresistance in tumor cells which could play a critical role in the regulation of autophagy. Similarly, several miRNAs/lncRNAs that affect response to 5-FU modulate autophagy in the neoplastic cells.

Discussion

A vast body of literature has revealed the impact of non-coding RNAs in the determination of the response of cancer cells to 5-FU. CRC and HCC are the most assessed cancer types in this regard possibly because of the vast application of this chemotherapeutic agent in these types of cancer. Yet, the influence of non-coding RNAs in the modulation of response to 5-FU has been mostly assessed in vitro needing confirmation in animal models and human subjects. Autophagy has been identified as the main route of the function of non-coding RNAs in the determination of the response of cancer cells to 5-FU. Moreover, the influence of non-coding RNAs on apoptotic-related pathways also affects the response of cancer cells to 5-FU. EMT is also influenced by these non-coding RNAs. The latter function of lncRNAs and miRNAs is consistent with the observed association between EMT and acquired resistance to 5-FU in cancer cells.

It is crucial to emphasize that the results of in vitro studies regarding the role of non-coding RNAs in the modulation of response to 5-FU should be verified in animal models as well as human subjects. Although the results of these three types of studies are mostly consistent, there are few examples of inconsistency. For instance, while miR-23a antisense has enhanced the activation of the caspases-3 and -7 and increased the 5-FU-associated apoptosis in CRC cells, this approach has not improved the anticancer impact of 5-FU in the xenograft model of CRC.

Exosome-mediated transfer of non-coding RNAs particularly miRNAs is implicated in conferring chemoresistance at a wide distance from the original cells. Moreover, these cell-free particles can modulate several cells in the tumor microenvironment in favor of tumor progression. On the other hand, it is possible to take advantage of exosomes as vehicles for the specific transfer of anti-cancer agents to cancer cells. A successful example of the latter function of exosomes has been provided by simultaneous delivery of 5-FU and miR-21 inhibitor oligonucleotide to Her2 expressing cancer cells via engineered exosomes.

LncRNAs mostly affect the response of cancer cells to 5-FU through the modulation of the expression of miRNAs. HOTAIRM1/miR-17-5p, HOTAIR/miR-218, PCAT6/miR‐204, NEAT1/miR-34a, NEAT1/miR-150-5p, ENST00000547547/miR-31, UCA1/miR-204-5p, TUG1/miR-197-3p, HAND2-AS1/miR-20a, KRAL/miR-141, SNHG20/miR-140-5p and LINC00152/miR-139-5p are examples of the roles of lncRNAs in sponging miRNAs in the context of 5-FU resistance. A number of lncRNAs such as XIST have been shown to directly influence the expression of 5-FU-related genes such as TS.

In spite of the comprehensive data about the effect of miRNAs and lncRNAs in the modulation of response of cancer cells to 5-FU, therapeutic efforts are scarce in this field. An important study in this field has shown the significant effect of systemic administration of miR-29c in the enhancement of response to 5-FU in the xenograft model of esophageal cancer. Conduction of similar studies using mimics or antamiRs for other miRNAs is a necessity for translation of the valuable basic science in this filed into clinical use.

Finally, the expression signature of miRNAs and lncRNAs which confer resistance to 5-FU has been associated with the survival of patients with different types of cancer. This observed association is not necessarily related to the role of these transcripts in chemoresistance particularly in cancer patients who have not been treated with this agent. Instead, it might merely reflect the oncogenic or tumor-suppressive effects of these transcripts.

Perspectives and Future Directions

Generally, this review provides convincing evidence for the role of miRNAs and lncRNAs as biomarkers of response to 5-FU treatment in a variety of solid tumors, especially in colorectal cancer cells. Patients with gastrointestinal cancer become resistant to 5-FU because of the aberrant expression of certain genes. This event is a prevalent phenomenon in clinical practice. Modulation of expression levels of miRNAs or lncRNAs may be a suitable approach to sensitize tumor cells to 5-FU treatment via modulating multiple biological signaling pathways like Hippo/YAP, Wnt/β-catenin, Hedgehog, NF-kB, and Notch cascades. There is an increasing interest in targeting miRNAs as well as lncRNAs in various kinds of cancers that are treated by 5-FU. However, due to the wide range of miRNAs and lncRNAs regulating the response to 5-FU and their aberrant expression in multiple cancers, it is required to characterize the most clinically relevant non-coding RNAs in these malignancies. Therefore, researchers should systematically investigate the correlations between genes, pathways, and drug sensitivity to find direct causal effects. Besides, the research procedures recently utilized are mainly phenotype-based, like in vitro cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and in vivo mouse specimens. To find practical strategies, novel gene editing systems such as the CRISPR/Cas9 method should be applied to figure out the biological role of various target genes as well as non-coding RNAs in human cancers. Additionally, the enhancement of human primary cell models and patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) animal models may also play a key role in scrutinizing the role of non-coding RNAs and improving non-coding RNA-targeting techniques. We also suggest that non-invasive liquid biopsies such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) should be employed to identify factors that are explicitly accompanied with 5-FU sensitivity and/or adverse reactions. These methods can help in the reduction of ineffective therapies and overdose as well as attenuating toxic side effects of 5-FU. Moreover, based on sufficient experimental data, we propose that the procedure of downregulating autophagy by either pharmacological methods or via silencing genes involved in the autophagy could also be considered as effective adjunctive therapy to improve the sensitivity of tumor cells to 5-FU. Besides, we propose that epigenetic processes such as modification of histones by acetylation can influence response to 5-FU. The obtained information from these studies will guide the advancement of precision medicine in the upcoming future.

Author Contributions

MT and SG-F supervised the study, wrote the draft, and edited the submission. HS, AA, FT, FF, and SJ performed the data collection and designed the tables and figures. All of the authors contributed equally and fully aware of submission. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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    Not in our library10.1016/j.annonc.2020.06.022

  4. 4.
  5. 5.

    Sakai M Sohda M Saito H Kuriyama K Yoshida T Kumakura Y. Docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil combination chemoradiotherapy for patients with cervical esophageal cancer: a single-center retrospective study. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol (2019 ) 83(6):1121–6.

    Not in our library10.1007/s00280-019-03835-0

  6. 6.

    Heidelberger C Chaudhuri NK Danneberg P Mooren D Griesbach L Duschinsky R. Fluorinated pyrimidines, a new class of tumour-inhibitory compounds. Nature (1957 ) 179(4561):663–6.

    Not in our library10.1038/179663a0

  7. 7.

    Hurwitz H Fehrenbacher L Novotny W Cartwright T Hainsworth J Heim W. Bevacizumab plus irinotecan, fluorouracil, and leucovorin for metastatic colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med (2004 ) 350(23):2335–42.

    Not in our library10.1056/nejmoa032691

  8. 8.

    Van Cutsem E Joulain F Hoff PM Mitchell E Ruff P Lakomý R. Aflibercept Plus FOLFIRI vs. Placebo Plus FOLFIRI in Second-Line Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: a Post Hoc Analysis of Survival from the Phase III VELOUR Study Subsequent to Exclusion of Patients who had Recurrence During or Within 6 Months of Completing Adjuvant Oxaliplatin-Based Therapy. Target Oncol (2016 ) (3):383–400.

    Not in our library10.1007/s11523-015-0402-9

  9. 9.

    Grothey A Van Cutsem E Sobrero A Siena S Falcone A Ychou M. Regorafenib monotherapy for previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer (CORRECT): an international, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet (2013 ) 381(9863):303–12.

    Not in our library10.1016/s0140-6736(12)61900-x

  10. 10.

    Tabernero J Yoshino T Cohn AL Obermannova R Bodoky G Garcia-Carbonero R. Ramucirumab versus placebo in combination with second-line FOLFIRI in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma that progressed during or after first-line therapy with bevacizumab, oxaliplatin, and a fluoropyrimidine (RAISE): a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, phase 3 study. Lancet Oncol (2015 ) 16(5):499–508.

    Not in our library10.1016/s1470-2045(15)70127-0

  11. 11.

    Cunningham D Humblet Y Siena S Khayat D Bleiberg H Santoro A. Cetuximab monotherapy and cetuximab plus irinotecan in irinotecan-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med (2004 ) 351(4):337–45.

    Not in our library10.1056/nejmoa033025

  12. 12.

    Van Cutsem E Peeters M Siena S Humblet Y Hendlisz A Neyns B. Open-label phase III trial of panitumumab plus best supportive care compared with best supportive care alone in patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. J Clin Oncol (2007 ) 25(13):1658–64.

    Not in our library10.1200/jco.2006.08.1620

  13. 13.

    Peters GJ van der Wilt CL van Groeningen CJ Smid K Meijer S Pinedo HM. Thymidylate synthase inhibition after administration of fluorouracil with or without leucovorin in colon cancer patients: implications for treatment with fluorouracil. J Clin Oncol (1994 ) 12(10):2035–42.

    Not in our library10.1200/jco.1994.12.10.2035

  14. 14.

    Silverstein RA González de Valdivia E Visa N. The Incorporation of 5-Fluorouracil into RNA Affects the Ribonucleolytic Activity of the Exosome Subunit Rrp6. Mol Cancer Res (2011 ) 9(3):332–40.

    Not in our library10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-10-0084

  15. 15.

    Wohlhueter RM McIvor RS Plagemann PG. Facilitated transport of uracil and 5-fluorouracil, and permeation of orotic acid into cultured mammalian cells. J Cell Physiol (1980 ) 4(3):309–19.

    Not in our library10.1002/jcp.1041040305

  16. 16.

    Longley DB Harkin DP Johnston PG. 5-Fluorouracil: mechanisms of action and clinical strategies. Nat Rev Cancer (2003 ) 3(5):330–8.

    Not in our library10.1038/nrc1074

  17. 17.

    Imoto M Azuma H Yamamoto I Otagiri M Imai T. Permeability of 5-fluorouracil and its prodrugs in Caco-2 cell monolayers: evidence for shift from paracellular to transcellular transport by prodrug formation. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol (2009 ) 19(1):37–41.

    Not in our library10.1016/s1773-2247(09)50005-6

  18. 18.

    Kerr IG Zimm S Collins JM O’Neill D Poplack DG. Effect of intravenous dose and schedule on cerebrospinal fluid pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil in the monkey. Cancer Res (1984 ) 44(11):4929–32.

    Not in our library

  19. 19.

    Xiong H-Y Guo X-L Bu X-X Zhang S-X Ma N-N Song J-R. Autophagic cell death induced by 5-FU in Bax or PUMA deficient human colon cancer cell. Cancer Lett (2010 ) 288(1):68–74.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.canlet.2009.06.039

  20. 20.

    Tang J-C Feng Y-L Liang X Cai X-J. Autophagy in 5-fluorouracil therapy in gastrointestinal cancer: Trends and challenges. Chin Med J (2016 ) 129(4):456.

    Not in our library10.4103/0366-6999.176069

  21. 21.

    Yang C Pan Y. Fluorouracil induces autophagy-related gastric carcinoma cell death through Beclin-1 upregulation by miR-30 suppression. Tumor Biol (2016 ) 37(12):15489–94.

    Not in our library10.1007/s13277-015-3775-6

  22. 22.

    Cottone L Capobianco A Gualteroni C Perrotta C Bianchi ME Rovere-Querini P. 5-Fluorouracil causes leukocytes attraction in the peritoneal cavity by activating autophagy and HMGB1 release in colon carcinoma cells. Int J Cancer (2015 ) 136(6):1381–9.

    Not in our library10.1002/ijc.29125

  23. 23.

    Nyhan MJ O’Donovan TR Boersma AWM Wiemer EAC McKenna SL. MiR-193b promotes autophagy and non-apoptotic cell death in oesophageal cancer cells. BMC Cancer (2016 ) 16(1):101.

    Not in our library10.1186/s12885-016-2123-6

  24. 24.
  25. 25.

    Vodenkova S Buchler T Cervena K Veskrnova V Vodicka P Vymetalkova V. 5-fluorouracil and other fluoropyrimidines in colorectal cancer: Past, present and future. Pharmacol Ther (2020 ) 206:107447.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.107447

  26. 26.

    Sun Z Zhou N Han Q Zhao L Bai C Chen Y. MicroRNA-197 influences 5-fluorouracil resistance via thymidylate synthase in colorectal cancer. Clin Transl Oncol (2015 ) 17(11):876–83.

    Not in our library10.1007/s12094-015-1318-7

  27. 27.

    Zhang W Press OA Haiman CA Yang DY Gordon MA Fazzone W. Association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms and sex-specific survival in patients with metastatic colon cancer. J Clin Oncol (2007 ) 25(24):3726–31.

    Not in our library10.1200/jco.2007.11.4710

  28. 28.

    Scartozzi M Maccaroni E Giampieri R Pistelli M Bittoni A Del Prete M. 5-Fluorouracil pharmacogenomics: still rocking after all these years? Pharmacogenomics (2011 ) 12(2):251–65.

    Not in our library10.2217/pgs.10.167

  29. 29.

    Tanaka F Fukuse T Wada H Fukushima M. The history, mechanism and clinical use of oral 5-fluorouracil derivative chemotherapeutic agents. Curr Pharm Biotechnol (2000 ) 1(2):137–64.

    Not in our library10.2174/1389201003378979

  30. 30.

    Santi DV McHenry CS. 5-Fluoro-2′-deoxyuridylate: covalent complex with thymidylate synthetase. Proc Natl Acad Sci (1972 ) 69(7):1855–7.

    Not in our library10.1073/pnas.69.7.1855

  31. 31.

    Milano G McLeod H. Can dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase impact 5-fluorouracil-based treatment? Eur J Cancer (2000 ) 36(1):37–42.

    Not in our library10.1016/s0959-8049(99)00211-7

  32. 32.

    D RB H BE. Clinical pharmacology of 5-fluorouracil. Clin Pharmacokinet (1989 ) 16(4):215–37.

    Not in our library10.2165/00003088-198916040-00002

  33. 33.

    Fraile RJ Baker LH Buroker TR Horwitz J Vaitkevicius V. Pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil administered orally, by rapid intravenous and by slow infusion. Cancer Res (1980 ) 40(7):2223–8.

    Not in our library

  34. 34.
  35. 35.

    Yin Q Feng W Shen X Ju S. Regulatory effects of lncRNAs and miRNAs on autophagy in malignant tumorigenesis. Biosci Rep (2018 ) 38(5):BSR20180516.

    Not in our library10.1042/bsr20180516

  36. 36.

    Thapar R. Regulation of DNA Double-Strand Break Repair by Non-Coding RNAs. Molecules (2018 ) 23(11):2789.

    Not in our library10.3390/molecules23112789

  37. 37.

    Zhao C Zhao Q Zhang C Wang G Yao Y Huang X. miR-15b-5p resensitizes colon cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil by promoting apoptosis via the NF-κB/XIAP axis. Sci Rep (2017 ) 7(1):1–12.

    Not in our library10.1038/s41598-017-04172-z

  38. 38.

    Sun L-H Tian D Yang Z-C Li J-L. Exosomal miR-21 promotes proliferation, invasion and therapy resistance of colon adenocarcinoma cells through its target PDCD4. Sci Rep (2020 ) 10(1):1–8.

    Not in our library10.1038/s41598-020-65207-6

  39. 39.

    Deng J Lei W Fu J-C Zhang L Li J-H Xiong J-P. Targeting miR-21 enhances the sensitivity of human colon cancer HT-29 cells to chemoradiotherapy in vitro. Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2014 ) 443(3):789–95.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.11.064

  40. 40.

    Zhao J Cao J Zhou L Du Y Zhang X Yang B. MiR-1260b inhibitor enhances the chemosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to fluorouracil by targeting PDCD4/IGF1. Oncol Lett (2018 ) (4):5131–9.

    Not in our library10.3892/ol.2018.9307

  41. 41.

    Zhang H Tang J Li C Kong J Wang J Wu Y. MiR-22 regulates 5-FU sensitivity by inhibiting autophagy and promoting apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. Cancer Lett (2015 ) 356(2):781–90.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.canlet.2014.10.029

  42. 42.

    Shang J Yang F Wang Y Wang Y Xue G Mei Q. MicroRNA-23a antisense enhances 5-fluorouracil chemosensitivity through APAF-1/caspase-9 apoptotic pathway in colorectal cancer cells. J Cell Biochem (2014 ) 115(4):772–84.

    Not in our library10.1002/jcb.24721

  43. 43.

    Cristóbal I Rubio J Santos A Torrejón B Caramés C Imedio L. MicroRNA-199b Downregulation Confers Resistance to 5-Fluorouracil Treatment and Predicts Poor Outcome and Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients. Cancers (Basel) (2020 ) 12(6):1655.

    Not in our library10.3390/cancers12061655

  44. 44.

    Valeri N Gasparini P Braconi C Paone A Lovat F Fabbri M. MicroRNA-21 induces resistance to 5-fluorouracil by down-regulating human DNA MutS homolog 2 (hMSH2). Proc Natl Acad Sci (2010 ) 107(49):21098–103.

    Not in our library10.1073/pnas.1015541107

  45. 45.

    Zhang Q Li W Liu G Tang W. MicroRNA-24 regulates the growth and chemosensitivity of the human colorectal cancer cells by targeting RNA-binding protein DND1. J Buon (2019 ) 24:1476–81.

    Not in our library

  46. 46.

    Wang B Lu F-Y Shi R-H Feng Y-D Zhao X-D Lu Z-P. MiR-26b regulates 5-FU-resistance in human colorectal cancer via down-regulation of Pgp. Am J Cancer Res (2018 ) 8(12):2518.

    Not in our library

  47. 47.

    Bai R Yang Q Xi R Li L Shi D Chen K. miR-941 as a promising biomarker for acute coronary syndrome. BMC Cardiovasc Disord (2017 ) 17(1):227.

    Not in our library10.1186/s12872-017-0653-8

  48. 48.

    Jiang S Miao D Wang M Lv J Wang Y Tong J. MiR-30-5p suppresses cell chemoresistance and stemness in colorectal cancer through USP 22/Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis. J Cell Mol Med (2019 ) 23(1):630–40.

    Not in our library10.1111/jcmm.13968

  49. 49.

    Nakagawa Y Kuranaga Y Tahara T Yamashita H Shibata T Nagasaka M. Induced miR-31 by 5-fluorouracil exposure contributes to the resistance in colorectal tumors. Cancer Sci (2019 ) 110(8):2540.

    Not in our library10.1111/cas.14090

  50. 50.

    Akao Y Noguchi S Iio A Kojima K Takagi T Naoe T. Dysregulation of microRNA-34a expression causes drug-resistance to 5-FU in human colon cancer DLD-1 cells. Cancer Lett (2011 ) 300(2):197–204.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.canlet.2010.10.006

  51. 51.

    Xie Z-Y Wang F-F Xiao Z-H Liu S-F Tang S-L Lai Y-L. Overexpressing microRNA-34a overcomes ABCG2-mediated drug resistance to 5-FU in side population cells from colon cancer via suppressing DLL1. J Biochem (2020 ) 167(6):557–64.

    Not in our library10.1093/jb/mvaa012

  52. 52.

    He J Xie G Tong J Peng Y Huang H Li J. Overexpression of microRNA-122 re-sensitizes 5-FU-resistant colon cancer cells to 5-FU through the inhibition of PKM2 in vitro and in vivo. Cell Biochem Biophys (2014 ) 70(2):1343–50.

    Not in our library10.1007/s12013-014-0062-x

  53. 53.

    Karaayvaz M Zhai H Ju J. miR-129 promotes apoptosis and enhances chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil in colorectal cancer. Cell Death Dis (2013 ) 4(6):e659–e.

    Not in our library10.1038/cddis.2013.193

  54. 54.

    Lv L Li Q Chen S Zhang X Tao X Tang X. miR-133b suppresses colorectal cancer cell stemness and chemoresistance by targeting methyltransferase DOT1L. Exp Cell Res (2019 ) 385(1):111597.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.yexcr.2019.111597

  55. 55.

    Liu B Liu Y Zhao L Pan Y Shan Y Li Y. Upregulation of microRNA-135b and microRNA-182 promotes chemoresistance of colorectal cancer by targeting ST6GALNAC2 via PI3K/AKT pathway. Mol Carcinogen (2017 ) 56(12):2669–80.

    Not in our library10.1002/mc.22710

  56. 56.

    Darabi F Aghaei M Movahedian A Pourmoghadas A Sarrafzadegan N. The role of serum levels of microRNA-21 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Mol Cell Biochem (2016 ) 422(1-2):51–60.

    Not in our library10.1007/s11010-016-2805-z

  57. 57.

    Liu H Yin Y Hu Y Feng Y Bian Z Yao S. miR-139-5p sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil by targeting NOTCH-1. Pathol-Res Pract (2016 ) 212(7):643–9.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.prp.2016.04.011

  58. 58.

    Borralho PM Kren BT Castro RE Moreira da Silva IB Steer CJ Rodrigues CM. MicroRNA-143 reduces viability and increases sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil in HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells. FEBS J (2009 ) 276(22):6689–700.

    Not in our library10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.07383.x

  59. 59.

    Liu R-L Dong Y Deng Y-Z Wang W-J Li W-D. Tumor suppressor miR-145 reverses drug resistance by directly targeting DNA damage-related gene RAD18 in colorectal cancer. Tumor Biol (2015 ) 36(7):5011–9.

    Not in our library10.1007/s13277-015-3152-5

  60. 60.

    Liu X Xie T Mao X Xue L Chu X Chen L. MicroRNA-149 increases the sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil by targeting forkhead box transcription factor FOXM1. Cell Physiol Biochem (2016 ) 39(2):617–29.

    Not in our library10.1159/000445653

  61. 61.

    Zhou C Kong W Ju T Xie Q Zhai L. MiR-185-3p mimic promotes the chemosensitivity of CRC cells via AQP5. Cancer Biol Ther (2020 ) 21(9):790–8.

    Not in our library10.1080/15384047.2020.1761238

  62. 62.

    Kim C Hong Y Lee H Kang H Lee EK. MicroRNA-195 desensitizes HCT116 human colon cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil. Cancer Lett (2018 ) 412:264–71.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.canlet.2017.10.022

  63. 63.

    Feng C Zhang L Sun Y Li X Zhan L Lou Y. GDPD5, a target of miR-195-5p, is associated with metastasis and chemoresistance in colorectal cancer. Biomed Pharmacother (2018 ) 101:945–52.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.biopha.2018.03.028

  64. 64.

    Heydari K Saidijam M reza Sharifi M Asl SS Shabab N Najafi R. The effect of miR-200c inhibition on chemosensitivity (5-fluorouracil) in colorectal cancer. Pathol Oncol Res (2018 ) 24(1):145–51.

    Not in our library10.1007/s12253-017-0222-6

  65. 65.

    Li T Gao F Zhang X-P. miR-203 enhances chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil by targeting thymidylate synthase in colorectal cancer. Oncol Rep (2015 ) 33(2):607–14.

    Not in our library10.3892/or.2014.3646

  66. 66.

    Wu H Liang Y Shen L Shen L. MicroRNA-204 modulates colorectal cancer cell sensitivity in response to 5-fluorouracil-based treatment by targeting high mobility group protein A2. Biol Open (2016 ) 5(5):563–70.

    Not in our library10.1242/bio.015008

  67. 67.

    Meng X Fu R. miR-206 regulates 5-FU resistance by targeting Bcl-2 in colon cancer cells. OncoTargets Ther (2018 ) 11:1757.

    Not in our library10.2147/ott.s159093

  68. 68.

    Pranzini E Leo A Rapizzi E Ramazzotti M Magherini F Giovannelli L. miR-210-3p mediates metabolic adaptation and sustains DNA damage repair of resistant colon cancer cells to treatment with 5-fluorouracil. Mol Carcinogen (2019 ) 58(12):2181–92.

    Not in our library10.1002/mc.23107

  69. 69.

    Shen X Zhong J Yu P Zhao Q Huang T. YY1-regulated LINC00152 promotes triple negative breast cancer progression by affecting on stability of PTEN protein. Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2019 ) 509(2):448–54.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.12.074

  70. 70.

    Li X Qiu S Zhang X. Overexpression of miR-215-3p sensitizes colorectal cancer to 5-fluorouracil induced apoptosis through regulating CXCR1. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci (2018 ) 22(21):7240–50.

    Not in our library10.26355/eurrev_201811_16258

  71. 71.

    Liu N Li J Zhao Z Han J Jiang T Chen Y. MicroRNA-302a enhances 5-fluorouracil-induced cell death in human colon cancer cells. Oncol Rep (2017 ) 37(1):631–9.

    Not in our library10.3892/or.2016.5237

  72. 72.

    Yin J Shen X Li M Ni F Xu L Lu H. miR-329 regulates the sensitivity of 5-FU in chemotherapy of colorectal cancer by targeting E2F1. In: Oncology letters. Greece: Spandidos Publications (2018 ). p. 3587–92.

    Not in our library10.3892/ol.2018.9121

  73. 73.

    Xu W Jiang H Zhang F Gao J Hou J. MicroRNA-330 inhibited cell proliferation and enhanced chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil in colorectal cancer by directly targeting thymidylate synthase. Oncol Lett (2017 ) 13(5):3387–94.

    Not in our library10.3892/ol.2017.5895

  74. 74.

    Zhang L Li B Zhang B Zhang H Suo J. miR−361 enhances sensitivity to 5−fluorouracil by targeting the FOXM1−ABCC5/10 signaling pathway in colorectal cancer. Oncol Lett (2019 ) 18(4):4064–73.

    Not in our library10.3892/ol.2019.10741

  75. 75.

    Xu F Ye ML Zhang YP Li WJ Li MT Wang HZ. MicroRNA-375-3p enhances chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil by targeting thymidylate synthase in colorectal cancer. Cancer Sci (2020 ) 111(5):1528.

    Not in our library10.1111/cas.14356

  76. 76.

    Zhang Y Hu X Miao X Zhu K Cui S Meng Q. Micro RNA-425-5p regulates chemoresistance in colorectal cancer cells via regulation of Programmed Cell Death 10. J Cell Mol Med (2016 ) 20(2):360–9.

    Not in our library10.1111/jcmm.12742

  77. 77.

    Deng X Li D Ke X Wang Q Yan S Xue Y. Mir-488 alleviates chemoresistance and glycolysis of colorectal cancer by targeting PFKFB3. J Clin Lab Anal (2020 ) 35(1):e23578.

    Not in our library10.1002/jcla.23578

  78. 78.

    Chai J Dong W Xie C Wang L Han DL Wang S. Micro RNA-494 sensitizes colon cancer cells to fluorouracil through regulation of DPYD. IUBMB Life (2015 ) 67(3):191–201.

    Not in our library10.1002/iub.1361

  79. 79.

    Huang R Lin J Chi Y. miR-519d reduces the 5-fluorouracil resistance in colorectal cancer cells by down-regulating the expression of CCND1. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci (2018 ) 22(9):2869–75.

    Not in our library10.26355/eurrev_201805_14989

  80. 80.

    Liu G Zhou J Dong M. Down-regulation of miR-543 expression increases the sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to 5-Fluorouracil through the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway. Biosci Rep (2019 ) 39(3):BSR20190249.

    Not in our library10.1042/bsr20190249

  81. 81.

    Zhao P Ma Y-G Zhao Y Liu D Dai Z-J Yan C-Y. MicroRNA-552 deficiency mediates 5-fluorouracil resistance by targeting SMAD2 signaling in DNA-mismatch-repair-deficient colorectal cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol (2019 ) 84(2):427–39.

    Not in our library10.1007/s00280-019-03866-7

  82. 82.

    Jiang H Ju H Zhang L Lu H Jie K. microRNA-577 suppresses tumor growth and enhances chemosensitivity in colorectal cancer. J Biochem Mol Toxicol (2017 ) 31(6):e21888.

    Not in our library10.1002/jbt.21888

  83. 83.

    Zhang Y Talmon G Wang J. MicroRNA-587 antagonizes 5-FU-induced apoptosis and confers drug resistance by regulating PPP2R1B expression in colorectal cancer. Cell Death Dis (2015 ) 6(8):e1845–e.

    Not in our library10.1038/cddis.2015.200

  84. 84.

    Han J Liu Z Wang N Pan W. MicroRNA-874 inhibits growth, induces apoptosis and reverses chemoresistance in colorectal cancer by targeting X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein. Oncol Rep (2016 ) 36(1):542–50.

    Not in our library10.3892/or.2016.4810

  85. 85.

    Zhao J Cao J Zhou L Du Y Zhang X Yang B. MiR−1260b inhibitor enhances the chemosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to fluorouracil by targeting PDCD4/IGF1. Oncol Lett (2018 ) 16(4):5131–9.

    Not in our library10.3892/ol.2018.9307

  86. 86.

    Yin J Tang HF Xiang Q Yu J Yang XY Hu N. MiR-122 increases sensitivity of drug-resistant BEL-7402/5-FU cells to 5-fluorouracil via down-regulation of bcl-2 family proteins. Die Pharmazie-An Int J Pharm Sci (2011 ) 66(12):975–81.

    Not in our library10.1691/ph.2011.1548

  87. 87.

    Jiang J-X Gao S Pan Y-Z Yu C Sun C-Y. Overexpression of microRNA-125b sensitizes human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to 5-fluorouracil through inhibition of glycolysis by targeting hexokinase II. Mol Med Rep (2014 ) 10(2):995–1002.

    Not in our library10.3892/mmr.2014.2271

  88. 88.

    Sui C-J Xu F Shen W-F Dai B-H Lu J-J Zhang M-F. MicroRNA-147 suppresses human hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation migration and chemosensitivity by inhibiting HOXC6. Am J Cancer Res (2016 ) 6(12):2787.

    Not in our library

  89. 89.

    Yang X Zang J Pan X Yin J Xiang Q Yu J. miR-503 inhibits proliferation making human hepatocellular carcinoma cells susceptible to 5−fluorouracil by targeting EIF4E. Oncol Rep (2017 ) 37(1):563–70.

    Not in our library10.3892/or.2016.5220

  90. 90.

    Ma J Wang T Guo R Yang X Yin J Yu J. MicroRNA−133a and microRNA−326 co−contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma 5−fluorouracil and cisplatin sensitivity by directly targeting B−cell lymphoma−extra large. Mol Med Rep (2015 ) 12(4):6235–40.

    Not in our library10.3892/mmr.2015.4134

  91. 91.

    Shi L Wu L Chen Z Yang J Chen X Yu F. MiR-141 activates Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway via down-regulating the expression of Keap1 conferring the resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma cells to 5-fluorouracil. Cell Physiol Biochem (2015 ) 35(6):2333–48.

    Not in our library10.1159/000374036

  92. 92.

    Zheng R-P Ma D-K Li Z Zhang H-F. MiR-145 Regulates the Chemoresistance of Hepatic Carcinoma Cells Against 5-Fluorouracil by Targeting Toll-Like Receptor 4. Cancer Manage Res (2020 ) 12:6165.

    Not in our library10.2147/cmar.s257598

  93. 93.

    Ma K He Y Zhang H Fei Q Niu D Wang D. DNA methylation-regulated miR-193a-3p dictates resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma to 5-fluorouracil via repression of SRSF2 expression. J Biol Chem (2012 ) 287(8):5639–49.

    Not in our library10.1074/jbc.m111.291229

  94. 94.

    Yang X Yin J Yu J Xiang Q Liu Y Tang S. miRNA-195 sensitizes human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to 5-FU by targeting BCL-w. Oncol Rep (2012 ) 27(1):250–7.

    Not in our library10.3892/or.2011.1472

  95. 95.

    Lee H Kim C Kang H Tak H Ahn S Yoon SK. microRNA-200a-3p increases 5-fluorouracil resistance by regulating dual specificity phosphatase 6 expression. Exp Mol Med (2017 ) 49(5):e327–e.

    Not in our library10.1038/emm.2017.33

  96. 96.

    Cai D He K Se C Tong D Huang C. MicroRNA-302b enhances the sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines to 5-FU via targeting Mcl-1 and DPYD. Int J Mol Sci (2015 ) 16(10):23668–82.

    Not in our library10.3390/ijms161023668

  97. 97.

    Korourian A Madjd Z Roudi R Shariftabrizi A Soleimani M. Induction of miR-31 causes increased sensitivity to 5-FU and decreased migration and cell invasion in gastric adenocarcinoma. Bratislava Med J (2019 ) 120(1):35–9.

    Not in our library10.4149/bll_2019_005

  98. 98.

    Shen J Niu W Zhang H Jun M Zhang H. Downregulation of microRNA-147 inhibits cell proliferation and increases the chemosensitivity of gastric cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil by directly targeting PTEN. Oncol Res Featuring Preclin Clin Cancer Ther (2018 ) 26(6):901–11.

    Not in our library10.3727/096504017x15061902533715

  99. 99.

    Wang X-Y Zhou Y-C Wang Y Liu Y-Y Wang Y-X Chen D-D. miR-149 contributes to resistance of 5-FU in gastric cancer via targeting TREM2 and regulating β-catenin pathway. Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2020 ) 532(3):329–35.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.05.135

  100. 100.

    Wang C. MiR-195 reverses 5-FU resistance through targeting HMGA1 in gastric cancer cells. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci (2019 ) 23(9):3771–8.

    Not in our library10.26355/eurrev_201905_17803

  101. 101.

    Yu X Shi W Zhang Y Wang X Sun S Song Z. CXCL12/CXCR4 axis induced miR-125b promotes invasion and confers 5-fluorouracil resistance through enhancing autophagy in colorectal cancer. Sci Rep (2017 ) 7(1):1–13.

    Not in our library10.1038/srep42226

  102. 102.

    Nie H Mu J Wang J Li Y. miR−195−5p regulates multi−drug resistance of gastric cancer cells via targeting ZNF139. Oncol Rep (2018 ) 40(3):1370–8.

    Not in our library10.3892/or.2018.6524

  103. 103.

    Xiong HL Zhou SW Sun AH He Y Li J Yuan X. MicroRNA−197 reverses the drug resistance of fluorouracil−induced SGC7901 cells by targeting mitogen−activated protein kinase 1. Mol Med Rep (2015 ) 12(4):5019–25.

    Not in our library10.3892/mmr.2015.4052

  104. 104.

    Li L-Q Pan D Chen Q Zhang S-W Xie D-Y Zheng X-L. Sensitization of gastric cancer cells to 5-FU by microRNA-204 through targeting the TGFBR2-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Cell Physiol Biochem (2018 ) 47(4):1533–45.

    Not in our library10.1159/000490871

  105. 105.
  106. 106.

    Jiang L Yang W Bian W Yang H Wu X Li Y. microRNA-623 targets cyclin D1 to inhibit cell proliferation and enhance the chemosensitivity of cells to 5-fluorouracil in gastric cancer. Oncol Res Featuring Preclin Clin Cancer Ther (2018 ) 27(1):19–27.

    Not in our library10.3727/096504018x15193469240508

  107. 107.

    Gong X Xu B Zi L Chen X. miR-625 reverses multidrug resistance in gastric cancer cells by directly targeting ALDH1A1. Cancer Manage Res (2019 ) 11:6615.

    Not in our library10.2147/cmar.s208708

  108. 108.

    Nishibeppu K Komatsu S Imamura T Kiuchi J Kishimoto T Arita T. Plasma microRNA profiles: identification of miR-1229-3p as a novel chemoresistant and prognostic biomarker in gastric cancer. Sci Rep (2020 ) 10(1):1–11.

    Not in our library10.1038/s41598-020-59939-8

  109. 109.

    Li B Hong P Zheng C-C Dai W Chen W-Y Yang Q-S. Identification of miR-29c and its Target FBXO31 as a Key Regulatory Mechanism in Esophageal Cancer Chemoresistance: Functional Validation and Clinical Significance. Theranostics (2019 ) 9(6):1599–613.

    Not in our library10.7150/thno.30372

  110. 110.

    Golubovskaya VM Sumbler B Ho B Yemma M Cance WG. MiR-138 and MiR-135 directly target focal adhesion kinase, inhibit cell invasion, and increase sensitivity to chemotherapy in cancer cells. Anti-Cancer Agents Med Chem (2014 ) 14(1):18–28.

    Not in our library10.2174/187152061401140108113435

  111. 111.

    Zhao L Zou D Wei X Wang L Zhang Y Liu S. MiRNA-221-3p desensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil by targeting RB1. Tumor Biol (2016 ) 37(12):16053–63.

    Not in our library10.1007/s13277-016-5445-8

  112. 112.

    Wang W Liu B Sun S Lan L Chen Y Han S. Downregulation of miR-486-5p Enhances the Anti-Tumor Effect of 5-Fluorouracil on Pancreatic Cancer Cells. OncoTargets Ther (2020 ) 13:1649.

    Not in our library10.2147/ott.s231153

  113. 113.

    Wei X Wang W Wang L Zhang Y Zhang X Chen M. Micro RNA-21 induces 5-fluorouracil resistance in human pancreatic cancer cells by regulating PTEN and PDCD 4. Cancer Med (2016 ) 5(4):693–702.

    Not in our library10.1002/cam4.626

  114. 114.

    Wang W Zhao L Wei X Wang L Liu S Yang Y. MicroRNA-320a promotes 5-FU resistance in human pancreatic cancer cells. Sci Rep (2016 ) 6(1):1–11.

    Not in our library10.1038/srep27641

  115. 115.

    Ma J Wu D Yi J Yi Y Zhu X Qiu H. MiR-378 promoted cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis by enhanced stem cell properties in chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells. Biomed Pharmacother (2019 ) 112:108623.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108623

  116. 116.

    Chen Q Hou J Wu Z Zhao J Ma D. miR-145 Regulates the sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells to 5-FU via targeting REV3L. Pathol-Res Pract (2019 ) 215(7):152427.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.prp.2019.04.019

  117. 117.

    Han L Cui D Li B Xu WW Lam AKY Chan KT. MicroRNA-338-5p reverses chemoresistance and inhibits invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells by targeting Id-1. Cancer Sci (2019 ) 110(12):3677.

    Not in our library10.1111/cas.14220

  118. 118.

    Chen B Duan L Yin G Tan J Jiang X. miR-381, a novel intrinsic WEE1 inhibitor, sensitizes renal cancer cells to 5-FU by up-regulation of Cdc2 activities in 786-O. J Chemothe (2013 ) 25(4):229–38.

    Not in our library10.1179/1973947813y.0000000092

  119. 119.

    Luan W Qian Y Ni X Bu X Xia Y Wang J. miR-204-5p acts as a tumor suppressor by targeting matrix metalloproteinases-9 and B-cell lymphoma-2 in malignant melanoma. OncoTargets Ther (2017 ) 10:1237.

    Not in our library10.2147/ott.s128819

  120. 120.

    Wang W Chen L Qian J Zhang Q. MiR-335 promotes cell proliferation by inhibiting MEF2D and sensitizes cells to 5-Fu treatment in gallbladder carcinoma. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci (2019 ) 23(22):9829–39.

    Not in our library10.26355/eurrev_201911_19546

  121. 121.

    Gotanda K Hirota T Matsumoto N Ieiri I. MicroRNA-433 negatively regulates the expression of thymidylate synthase (TYMS) responsible for 5-fluorouracil sensitivity in HeLa cells. BMC Cancer (2013 ) 13(1):369.

    Not in our library10.1186/1471-2407-13-369

  122. 122.

    Xiong Y Gu Y Wang F Li L Zhu M Wang N. LINC01857 as an oncogene regulates CREB1 activation by interacting with CREBBP in breast cancer. J Cell Physiol (2019 ) 234(8):14031–9.

    Not in our library10.1002/jcp.28090

  123. 123.

    Ren T Hou J Liu C Shan F Xiong X Qin A. The long non-coding RNA HOTAIRM1 suppresses cell progression via sponging endogenous miR-17-5p/B-cell translocation gene 3 (BTG3) axis in 5-fluorouracil resistant colorectal cancer cells. Biomed Pharmacother (2019 ) 117:109171.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109171

  124. 124.

    Li P Zhang X Wang L Du L Yang Y Liu T. lncRNA HOTAIR contributes to 5FU resistance through suppressing miR-218 and activating NF-κB/TS signaling in colorectal cancer. Mol Ther-Nucl Acids (2017 ) 8:356–69.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.omtn.2017.07.007

  125. 125.

    Xiong W Jiang Y-X Ai Y-Q Liu S Wu X-R Cui J-G. Microarray analysis of long non-coding RNA expression profile associated with 5-fluorouracil-based chemoradiation resistance in colorectal cancer cells. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev (2015 ) 16(8):3395–402.

    Not in our library10.7314/apjcp.2015.16.8.3395

  126. 126.

    Wu H Zou Q He H Liang Y Lei M Zhou Q. Long non-coding RNA PCAT6 targets miR-204 to modulate the chemoresistance of colorectal cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil-based treatment through HMGA2 signaling. Cancer Med (2019 ) 8(5):2484–95.

    Not in our library10.1002/cam4.1809

  127. 127.

    Liu F Ai FY Zhang DC Tian L Yang ZY Liu SJ. LncRNA NEAT1 knockdown attenuates autophagy to elevate 5-FU sensitivity in colorectal cancer via targeting miR-34a. Cancer Med (2020 ) 9(3):1079–91.

    Not in our library10.1002/cam4.2746

  128. 128.

    Wang X Jiang G Ren W Wang B Yang C Li M. LncRNA NEAT1 Regulates 5-Fu Sensitivity, Apoptosis and Invasion in Colorectal Cancer Through the MiR-150-5p/CPSF4 Axis. OncoTargets Ther (2020 ) 13:6373.

    Not in our library10.2147/ott.s239432

  129. 129.

    Li J Li X Cen C Ai X Lin C Hu G. The long non-coding RNA ENST00000547547 reduces 5-fluorouracil resistance of colorectal cancer cells via competitive binding to microRNA-31. Oncol Rep (2018 ) 39(1):217–26.

    Not in our library10.3892/or.2017.6082

  130. 130.
  131. 131.

    Xiao Y Yurievich UA Yosypovych SV. Long noncoding RNA XIST is a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer and inhibits 5-fluorouracil-induced cell cytotoxicity through promoting thymidylate synthase expression. Oncotarget (2017 ) 8(47):83171.

    Not in our library10.18632/oncotarget.20487

  132. 132.

    Wang M Hu H Wang Y Huang Q Huang R Chen Y. Long non-coding RNA TUG1 mediates 5-fluorouracil resistance by acting as a ceRNA of miR-197-3p in colorectal cancer. J Cancer (2019 ) 10(19):4603.

    Not in our library10.7150/jca.32065

  133. 133.

    Jiang Z Li L Hou Z Liu W Wang H Zhou T. LncRNA HAND2-AS1 inhibits 5-fluorouracil resistance by modulating miR-20a/PDCD4 axis in colorectal cancer. Cell Signall (2020 ) 66:109483.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.cellsig.2019.109483

  134. 134.

    Bian Z Zhang J Li M Feng Y Yao S Song M. Long non-coding RNA LINC00152 promotes cell proliferation, metastasis, and confers 5-FU resistance in colorectal cancer by inhibiting miR-139-5p. Oncogenesis (2017 ) 6(11):1–11.

    Not in our library10.1038/s41389-017-0008-4

  135. 135.
  136. 136.

    Yang C Pan Y Deng SP. Downregulation of lncRNA CCAT1 enhances 5-fluorouracil sensitivity in human colon cancer cells. BMC Mol Cell Biol (2019 ) 20(1):1–11.

    Not in our library10.1186/s12860-019-0188-1

  137. 137.

    Yokoyama Y Sakatani T Wada R Ishino K Kudo M Koizumi M. In vitro and in vivo studies on the association of long non−coding RNAs H19 and urothelial cancer associated 1 with the susceptibility to 5−fluorouracil in rectal cancer. Int J Oncol (2019 ) 55(6):1361–71.

    Not in our library10.3892/ijo.2019.4895

  138. 138.

    Yu J Shen J Qiao X Cao L Yang Z Ye H. SNHG20/miR−140−5p/NDRG3 axis contributes to 5−fluorouracil resistance in gastric cancer. Oncol Lett (2019 ) 18(2):1337–43.

    Not in our library10.3892/ol.2019.10439

  139. 139.

    Du P Hu CE Qin Y Zhao J Patel R Fu Y. LncRNA PVT1 mediates antiapoptosis and 5-Fluorouracil resistance via increasing Bcl2 expression in gastric cancer. J Oncol (2019 ) 2019:9325407.

    Not in our library10.1155/2019/9325407

  140. 140.

    Wu L Pan C Wei X Shi Y Zheng J Lin X. lncRNA KRAL reverses 5-fluorouracil resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by acting as a ceRNA against miR-141. Cell Commun Signaling (2018 ) 16(1):47.

    Not in our library10.1186/s12964-018-0260-z

  141. 141.

    Quan D Chen K Zhang J Guan Y Yang D Wu H. Identification of lncRNA NEAT1/miR-21/RRM2 axis as a novel biomarker in breast cancer. J Cell Physiol (2020 ) 235(4):3372–81.

    Not in our library10.1002/jcp.29225

  142. 142.

    Li H Zhou Y Cheng H Tian J Yang S. Roles of a TMPO-AS1/microRNA-200c/TMEFF2 ceRNA network in the malignant behaviors and 5-FU resistance of ovarian cancer cells. Exp Mol Pathol (2020 ) Aug 115:104481.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.yexmp.2020.104481

  143. 143.

    Zhao W Dong S Duan B Chen P Shi L Gao H. HOTAIR is a predictive and prognostic biomarker for patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma receiving fluorouracil and platinum combination chemotherapy. Am J Trans Res (2015 ) 7(7):1295.

    Not in our library

  144. 144.

    Xu Z Liu C Zhao Q Lü J Ding X Luo A. Long non-coding RNA CCAT2 promotes oncogenesis in triple-negative breast cancer by regulating stemness of cancer cells. Pharmacol Res (2020 ) 152:104628.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104628

  145. 145.

    Lin K Jiang H Zhuang S-S Qin Y-S Qiu G-D She Y-Q. Long noncoding RNA LINC00261 induces chemosensitization to 5-fluorouracil by mediating methylation-dependent repression of DPYD in human esophageal cancer. FASEB J (2019 ) 33(2):1972–88.

    Not in our library10.1096/fj.201800759r

  146. 146.
  147. 147.

    Chen J-L Lin Z-X Qin Y-S She Y-Q Chen Y Chen C. Overexpression of long noncoding RNA LINC01419 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its relation to the sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil by mediating GSTP1 methylation. Ther Adv Med Oncol (2019 ) 11:1758835919838958.

    Not in our library10.1177/1758835919838958

  148. 148.

    Yong S Yabin Y Bing Z Chuanrong Z Dianhua G Jianhuai Z. Reciprocal regulation of DGCR5 and miR-320a affects the cellular malignant phenotype and 5-FU response in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Oncotarget (2017 ) 8(53):90868.

    Not in our library10.18632/oncotarget.18377

  149. 149.

    Zhang J Zhou W Wang X Wang L. The CRISPR-Cas9 system: a promising tool for discovering potential approaches to overcome drug resistance in cancer. RSC Adv (2018 ) 8(58):33464–72.

    Not in our library10.1039/c8ra04509g

  150. 150.

    Chen Y Zhang Y. Application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to drug resistance in breast cancer. Adv Sci (2018 ) 5(6):1700964.

    Not in our library10.1002/advs.201700964

  151. 151.

    Saber A Liu B Ebrahimi P Haisma HJ. CRISPR/Cas9 for overcoming drug resistance in solid tumors. DARU J Pharm Sci (2020 ) 28(1):295–304.

    Not in our library10.1007/s40199-019-00240-z

  152. 152.

    Gaj T Gersbach CA Barbas CF. ZFN II. TALEN, and CRISPR/Cas-based methods for genome engineering. Trends Biotechnol (2013 ) 31(7):397–405.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.tibtech.2013.04.004

  153. 153.
  154. 154.

    Goulin EH Galdeano DM Granato LM Matsumura EE Dalio RJD Machado MA. RNA interference and CRISPR: Promising approaches to better understand and control citrus pathogens. Microbiol Res (2019 ) 226:1–9.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.micres.2019.03.006

  155. 155.

    Liu T-T Liu X-S Zhang M Liu X-N Zhu F-X Zhu F-M. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein is a prognostic factor and biomarker of colon cancer and promotes cell proliferation by activating the Akt pathway. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol (2018 ) 144(6):1049–63.

    Not in our library10.1007/s00432-018-2626-4

  156. 156.

    Mu H He Y Wang S Yang S Wang Y Nan C. MiR-130b/TNF-α/NF-κB/VEGFA loop inhibits prostate cancer angiogenesis. Clin Trans Oncol (2020 ) 22(1):111–21.

    Not in our library10.1007/s12094-019-02217-5

  157. 157.

    Liu B Yang H Pilarsky C Weber GF. The effect of GPRC5a on the proliferation, migration ability, chemotherapy resistance, and phosphorylation of GSK-3β in pancreatic Cancer. Int J Mol Sci (2018 ) 19(7):1870.

    Not in our library10.3390/ijms19071870

  158. 158.
  159. 159.

    Saeinasab M Bahrami AR González J Marchese FP Martinez D Mowla SJ. SNHG15 is a bifunctional MYC-regulated noncoding locus encoding a lncRNA that promotes cell proliferation, invasion and drug resistance in colorectal cancer by interacting with AIF. J Exp Clin Cancer Res (2019 ) 38(1):1–16.

    Not in our library10.1186/s13046-019-1169-0

  160. 160.

    Satapathy SR Sjölander A. Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 promotes 5-fluorouracil resistance and resistance-derived stemness in colon cancer cells. Cancer Lett (2020 ) 28(448):50–62.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.canlet.2020.05.023

  161. 161.

    Lai Y Chen Y Lin Y Ye L. Down-regulation of LncRNA CCAT1 enhances radiosensitivity via regulating miR-148b in breast cancer. Cell Biol Int (2018 ) 42(2):227–36.

    Not in our library10.1002/cbin.10890

  162. 162.

    Kaller M Götz U Hermeking H. Loss of p53-inducible long non-coding RNA LINC01021 increases chemosensitivity. Oncotarget (2017 ) 8(61):102783.

    Not in our library10.18632/oncotarget.22245

  163. 163.

    Celestini V Tezil T Russo L Fasano C Sanese P Forte G. Uncoupling FoxO3A mitochondrial and nuclear functions in cancer cells undergoing metabolic stress and chemotherapy. Cell Death Dis (2018 ) 9(2):1–20.

    Not in our library10.1038/s41419-018-0336-0

  164. 164.

    Lobo S Pereira C Oliveira C Almeida GM. Skipping Exon-v6 from CD44v6-Containing Isoforms Influences Chemotherapy Response and Self-Renewal Capacity of Gastric Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) (2020 ) 12(9):2378.

    Not in our library10.3390/cancers12092378

  165. 165.

    Wang Y Yin B Li D Wang G Han X Sun X. GSDME mediates caspase-3-dependent pyroptosis in gastric cancer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2018 ) 495(1):1418–25.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.11.156

  166. 166.

    Miao Z-F Sun J-X Adkins-Threats M Pang M-J Zhao J-H Wang X. DDIT4 licenses only healthy cells to proliferate during injury-induced metaplasia. Gastroenterology (2020 ) 160(1):260–71.

    Not in our library10.1053/j.gastro.2020.09.016

  167. 167.

    Wu Z-J Zhao X Banaszak LG Gutierrez-Rodrigues F Keyvanfar K Gao S-G. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ASXL1 mutations in U937 cells disrupt myeloid differentiation. Int J Oncol (2018 ) 52(4):1209–23.

    Not in our library10.3892/ijo.2018.4290

  168. 168.

    Yuen K-S Wang Z-M Wong N-HM Zhang Z-Q Cheng T-F Lui W-Y. Suppression of Epstein-Barr virus DNA load in latently infected nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by CRISPR/Cas9. Virus Res (2018 ) 244:296–303.

    Not in our library10.1016/j.virusres.2017.04.019

  169. 169.

    Liu DS Read M Cullinane C Azar WJ Fennell CM Montgomery KG. APR-246 potently inhibits tumour growth and overcomes chemoresistance in preclinical models of oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Gut (2015 ) 64(10):1506–16.

    Not in our library10.1136/gutjnl-2015-309770

  170. 170.
  171. 171.
  172. 172.

    Yoshida M Furumai R Nishiyama M Komatsu Y Nishino N Horinouchi S. Histone deacetylase as a new target for cancer chemotherapy. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol (2001 ) 48(1):S20–S6.

    Not in our library10.1007/s002800100300

  173. 173.

    Ocker M Alajati A Ganslmayer M Zopf S Lüders M Neureiter D. The histone-deacetylase inhibitor SAHA potentiates proapoptotic effects of 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan in hepatoma cells. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol (2005 ) 131(6):385–94.

    Not in our library10.1007/s00432-004-0664-6

  174. 174.

    Minegaki T Suzuki A Mori M Tsuji S Yamamoto S Watanabe A. Histone deacetylase inhibitors sensitize 5−fluorouracil−resistant MDA−MB−468 breast cancer cells to 5−fluorouracil. Oncol Lett (2018 ) 16(5):6202–8.

    Not in our library10.3892/ol.2018.9388

  175. 175.

    Okada K Hakata S Terashima J Gamou T Habano W Ozawa S. Combination of the histone deacetylase inhibitor depsipeptide and 5-fluorouracil upregulates major histocompatibility complex class II and p21 genes and activates caspase-3/7 in human colon cancer HCT-116 cells. Oncol Rep (2016 ) 36(4):1875–85.

    Not in our library10.3892/or.2016.5008

  176. 176.
  177. 177.

    Tan Y Zhang S Zhu H Chu Y Zhou H Liu D. Histone deacetylase 6 selective inhibitor ACY1215 inhibits cell proliferation and enhances the chemotherapeutic effect of 5-fluorouracil in HCT116 cells. Ann Transl Med (2019 ) 7(1):2.

    Not in our library10.21037/atm.2018.11.48

  178. 178.

    Yu S-L Lee DC Son JW Park CG Lee HY Kang J. Histone deacetylase 4 mediates SMAD family member 4 deacetylation and induces 5-fluorouracil resistance in breast cancer cells. Oncol Rep (2013 ) 30(3):1293–300.

    Not in our library10.3892/or.2013.2578

  179. 179.
  180. 180.

    Panzarini E Dini L. Nanomaterial-induced autophagy: a new reversal MDR tool in cancer therapy? Mol Pharm (2014 ) 11(8):2527–38.

    Not in our library10.1021/mp500066v

  181. 181.

    Kumar P Zhang D-M Degenhardt K Chen Z-S. Autophagy and transporter-based multi-drug resistance. Cells (2012 ) 1(3):558–75.

    Not in our library10.3390/cells1030558

  182. 182.

    Yang X Sun Y Zhang Y Han S. Downregulation of miR−181b inhibits human colon cancer cell proliferation by targeting CYLD and inhibiting the NF−κB signaling pathway. Int J Mol Med (2020 ) 46(5):1755–64.

    Not in our library10.3892/ijmm.2020.4720

  183. 183.

    Jin C Wang A Liu L Wang G Li G Han Z. miR-145-5p inhibits tumor occurrence and metastasis through the NF-κB signaling pathway by targeting TLR4 in malignant melanoma. J Cell Biochem (2019 ) 120(7):11115–26.

    Not in our library10.1002/jcb.28388

  184. 184.

    Zhang P Lai Z-L Chen H-F Zhang M Wang A Jia T. Curcumin synergizes with 5-fluorouracil by impairing AMPK/ULK1-dependent autophagy, AKT activity and enhancing apoptosis in colon cancer cells with tumor growth inhibition in xenograft mice. J Exp Clin Cancer Res (2017 ) 36(1):190.

    Not in our library10.1186/s13046-017-0661-7

  185. 185.

    Kim AY Kwak J-H Je NK Lee Y-H Jung Y-S. Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition is Associated with Acquired Resistance to 5-Fluorocuracil in HT-29 Colon Cancer Cells. Toxicol Res (2015 ) 31(2):151–6.

    Not in our library10.5487/tr.2015.31.2.151

  186. 186.
  187. 187.

    Fettke H Kwan EM Azad AA. Cell-free DNA in cancer: current insights. Cell Oncol (2019 ) 42(1):13–28.

    Not in our library10.1007/s13402-018-0413-5

  188. 188.

    Yousefi M Ghaffari P Nosrati R Dehghani S Salmaninejad A Abarghan YJ. Prognostic and therapeutic significance of circulating tumor cells in patients with lung cancer. Cell Oncol (2020 ) 43(1):31–9.

    Not in our library10.1007/s13402-019-00470-y

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