Differential expression of miR-21, miR-125b and miR-191 in breast cancer tissue

Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 2013 Mar;9(1):53-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-7563.2012.01548.x. Epub 2012 Jul 23.

Abstract

Aims: To develop new biomarkers for early detection and to inform effective clinical management of breast cancer.

Methods: Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to profile microRNA (miRNA) in tumor tissue from 50 breast cancer patients using non-tumor breast tissue from each patient as a control. We have focussed on three miRNA; miR-21, miR-125b and miR-191, all of which have been implicated in breast cancer with either proven or predicted target genes involved in critical cancer-associated cellular pathways.

Results: Upregulation of miR-21 and miR-191 and downregulation of miR-125b, was found in breast cancer tissue. Combined expression analysis of miR-125b/miR-191 increased sensitivity to 100% and specificity to 94% while miR-21/miR-191 increased to 92% and 100%, respectively. Therefore, combination of two miRNA gives a better prediction than individual miRNA.

Conclusions: We could differentiate between breast cancer and adjacent non-tumor breast tissue as a control with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity in the Mexican population using a combined expression analysis of only two miRNA. These observations, although a proof of principle finding at this time, show that a combined expression profile of two miRNA (miR-125b/miR-191 and miR-21/miR-191) can discriminate between breast cancer and non-tumor tissue with high specificity and sensitivity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Breast / metabolism*
  • Breast / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / pathology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • ROC Curve
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • MIRN125 microRNA, human
  • MIRN191 microRNA, human
  • MIRN21 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger