Associação Portuguesa de Investigação em Cancro
Expression levels of microRNA miR-203 may help discriminate stages in invasive lobular carcinomas
Expression levels of microRNA miR-203 may help discriminate stages in invasive lobular carcinomas
Tumor heterogeneity and poor outcomes of breast cancer (BC) patients have led researchers to define new markers of disease. In recent years, microRNA expression patterns have proven to be good disease indicators. Levels of miR-203a, in particular, were shown to be altered in different types of cancer. We assessed the relationship between miR-203a expression and clinicopathological features of BC in a Portuguese cohort. The expression levels of miR-203a were analyzed in 109 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded paired normal and tumor tissue samples. A significant overexpression of miR-203a in tumor tissue was found (1.7 fold higher) compared to normal adjacent tissue (p=0.003). In addition, several clinicopathological characteristics presented an association with higher miR-203a expression levels. Moreover, we found a significant downregulation of miR-203a with increased stages of invasive lobular carcinomas, suggesting that miR-203a could represent a potential marker to discriminate stages in invasive lobular carcinomas.
Authors and Affiliations:
Bruno Costa Gomes1, Manuela Martins2,3,4, Paulina Lopes3, Inês Morujão3, Mário Oliveira2, António Araújo3, José Rueff1, and António Sebastião Rodrigues1
1Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health; Genetics, Oncology and Human Toxicology, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2Department of Pathology, Central Lisbon Hospital Centre, Lisbon, Portugal
3 Breast Pathology Unit, Central Lisbon Hospital Centre, Lisbon, Portugal
4 NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
Abstract:
Tumor heterogeneity and poor outcomes of breast cancer (BC) patients have led researchers to define new markers of disease. In recent years, microRNA expression patterns have proven to be good disease indicators. Levels of miR-203a, in particular, were shown to be altered in different types of cancer. The objective of the present study was to assess the relationship between miR-203a expression and clinicopathological features of BC in a Portuguese cohort. The expression levels of miR-203a were analyzed in 109 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded paired normal and tumor tissue samples. A significant overexpression of miR-203a in tumor tissue was found (1.7 fold higher) compared to normal adjacent tissue (p=0.003). In addition, several clinicopathological characteristics presented an association with higher miR-203a expression levels. Tumors with diameter smaller or equal to 18.5 mm (1.5 fold; p=0.019), tumors positive for Estrogen Receptor (fold change = 1.71; p=0.042), Progesterone Receptor (fold change = 1.50; p=0.046) and negative for HER2 (fold change = 1.50; p=0.016) and high Ki-67 index (fold change = 2.60; p=0.024) presented a significant difference compared with adjacent normal tissue. Tumors without invasion of lymph nodes also presented higher expression of miR-203a (fold change = 2.40; p=0.004). With regard to histological classification, ductal carcinomas in situ (fold change = 2.20; p=0.028) and invasive carcinoma NOS (fold change = 1.71; p=0.009) displayed a significantly higher expression of miR-203a. Moreover, we found a significant downregulation of miR-203a with increased stages of invasive lobular carcinomas, suggesting that miR-203a could represent a potential marker to discriminate stages in invasive lobular carcinomas.
Journal: Oncology Reports
