Clinical and In Silico Outcomes of the Expression of miR-130a-5p and miR-615-3p in Tumor Compared with Non-Tumor Adjacent Tissues of Patients with BC

The related miRNAs involved in doxorubicin resistance or sensitivity of various cancers: an update

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective chemotherapy agent against a wide variety of tumors. However, intrinsic or acquired resistance diminishes the sensitivity of cancer cells to DOX, which leads to a cancer relapse and treatment failure. Resolutions to this challenge includes identification of the molecular pathways underlying DOX sensitivity/resistance and the development of innovative techniques to boost DOX sensitivity. DOX is classified as a Topoisomerase II poison, which is cytotoxic to rapidly dividing tumor cells. Molecular mechanisms responsible for DOX resistance include effective DNA repair and resumption of cell proliferation, deregulated development of cancer stem cell and epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and modulation of programmed cell death. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to potentiate the reversal of DOX resistance as they have gene-specific regulatory functions in DOX-responsive molecular pathways. Identifying the dysregulation patterns of miRNAs for specific tumors following treatment with DOX facilitates the development of novel combination therapies, such as nanoparticles harboring miRNA or miRNA inhibitors to eventually prevent DOX-induced chemoresistance. In this article, we summarize recent findings on the role of miRNAs underlying DOX sensitivity/resistance molecular pathways. Also, we provide latest strategies for utilizing deregulated miRNA patterns as biomarkers or miRNAs as tools to overcome chemoresistance and enhance patient's response to DOX treatment.

The expression of miR-513c and miR-3163 was downregulated in tumor tissues compared with normal adjacent tissue of patients with breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) is the most invasive cancer with different subtypes that its metabolism is unique compared with normal cells. Glutamine is considered critical nutrition that many cancer cells, particularly BC cells, are dependent on it for growth and proliferation. Therefore, targeting glutamine metabolism, especially enzymes that are related to this pathway, can be beneficial to design anti-cancer agents. Recent evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs), with a short length and single-strand properties, play a prominent role in regulating the genes related to glutamine metabolism, which may control the development of cancer.

METHODS

In silico analysis confirmed that miR-513c and miR-3163 might be involved in glutamine metabolism. The expression level of these two miRNAs was evaluated in eighty BC tissues and normal adjacent tissues. Furthermore, GSE38167, GSE38867, GSE42128, GSE45666, and GSE53179 were employed from gene expression omnibus (GEO). The Limma package was utilized to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) of mentioned datasets to evaluate miR-513c and miR-3163 expression. Further, in silico analysis was utilized to predict the potential biological processes and molecular pathways of miR-513c and miR-3163, based on their target genes.

RESULTS

In silico studies revealed top categories of biological processes and cellular pathways that might play a critical role in metabolism reprogramming and cancer development and were target genes for miR-513c and miR-3163. The current study showed that miR-513c (p value = 0.02062 and FC =  - 2.3801) and miR-3163 (p value = 0.02034 and FC =  - 2.3792) were downregulated in tumor tissues compared to normal adjacent tissues. The analysis of GEO microarray datasets showed that miR-513c was downregulated in GSE38167, GSE38867, GSE42128, GSE45666 and GSE53179, whereas there was a significant downregulation of miR-3163 in only two studies, including GSE38867 and GSE42128 that they were in accordance with our experimental results. Furthermore, the subgroup analysis did not show any substantial relationship between expression levels of these two miRNAs and factors such as age, family history of cancer, and abortion history.

CONCLUSION

MiR-513c and miR-3163 were downregulated in BC tissues, which might serve as tumor suppressors. They are suggested as potential therapeutic targets for patients with BC.

The expression of miRNA-152-3p and miRNA-185 in tumor tissues versus margin tissues of patients with chemo-treated breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

Breast cancer (BC) is the most significant and lethal type of cancer in women. Although there are many newly develop chemotherapy drugs for patients with BC treating at various stages, drug resistance is the most important obstacle in their effectiveness for BC treatment. On the other hand, microRNAs are considered key regulators of genes involved in carcinogenesis and chemoresistance in cancers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of miR-152-3p and miR-185 in intrinsic chemoresistance and proliferation of BC. In addition, the potential role of these miRNAs during chemoresistance was evaluated through possible signaling pathways.

RESULTS

Here, miR-152-3p was significantly downregulated in tumor tissues compared to the corresponding margin tissues in patients with BC (p-value ≥ 0.04407 and fold change = - 2.0552). In contrast, no statistically significant difference was observed in the miR-185 expression between the two groups. Furthermore, no significant correlation was found between the expression of these two miRNAs and subfactors, including cancer family history, abortion, and age. Downregulation of miR-152-3p could be considered a promising regulator of BC chemoresistance.