# Non-coding RNA functions in tumor metastasis

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2022 · $352,800

## Abstract

Although great advances have been made in combatting cancer, particularly at its early stages, metastasis
remains a formidable and frequently fatal challenge. It has become evident that non-coding RNAs, including
microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), are components of molecular networks regulating metastasis.
Some lncRNAs are known to have opposing functions to their genomic locus; for instance, opposite phenotypes
have been reported from the lncRNA Haunt gene deletion and insertional inactivation, and interestingly, the
Haunt gene deletion effect was due to the loss of the genomic DNA but not the loss of Haunt RNA. Thus, a major
challenge in lncRNA research is whether phenotypes resulting from deleting or inactivating a lncRNA gene can
be unequivocally attributed either to the loss of the lncRNA per se or to the loss of overlapping regulatory
elements. MALAT1 (metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1) is among the most abundant and
conserved lncRNAs in normal tissues, and has previously been described as a metastasis promoter. However,
there is no evidence that the previously reported Malat1 gene deletion (which led to upregulation of multiple
Malat1's adjacent genes) or antisense RNA (which has never been validated by rescue experiments or by
MALAT1 knockout cells) effect was specific to Malat1 lncRNA loss. Unexpectedly, using a transcriptional
terminator insertion strategy, we found that disrupting the Malat1 gene without altering the expression of its
adjacent genes in a transgenic mouse model of breast cancer drastically promoted lung metastasis, and
importantly, this phenotype was completely reversed by genetic add-back of Malat1. Moreover, CRISPR-Cas9-
mediated knockout of MALAT1 in human breast cancer cells induced their metastatic ability, which was reversed
by Malat1 re-expression. Conversely, overexpression of Malat1 suppressed breast cancer metastasis in both
transgenic mice and xenograft models. Mechanistically, we used a recently developed chromatin isolation by
RNA purification-mass spectrometry (ChIRP-MS) approach to identify TEAD family members as binding proteins
for MALAT1 at the endogenous level from primary mammary tumor tissues, and discovered that MALAT1 binds,
sequesters, and inactivates the pro-metastatic transcription factor TEAD. We also found an inverse correlation
of MALAT1 levels with breast cancer progression and metastasis. Based on these important findings, we
propose to comprehensively characterize the loss-of-function and gain-of-function effects of MALAT1 in breast
cancer metastasis, using genetically engineered mouse models, transplantation models, syngeneic models,
xenograft models, and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing approaches (Specific Aim 1); we will also elucidate the
mechanism by which MALAT1 regulates metastasis (Specific Aim 2). This project will lead to a major revision of
the current model for a highly abundant and conserved lncRNA, and will profoundly advance the understanding
of l...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10311482
- **Project number:** 5R01CA166051-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Li Ma
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $352,800
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-08-01 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10311482

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10311482, Non-coding RNA functions in tumor metastasis (5R01CA166051-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10311482. Licensed CC0.

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