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Mature miR-184 as Potential Oncogenic microRNA of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Tongue

Thian-Sze Wong1, Xiao-Bing Liu, Birgitta Yee-Hang Wong

  • 1Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China. thiansze@graduate.hku.hk

Clinical Cancer Research : an Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
|May 3, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

MicroRNA-184 (miR-184) is overexpressed in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and promotes cell proliferation and survival. Plasma miR-184 levels correlate with tumor presence, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic marker.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue is a significant health concern.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and are implicated in various cancers.
  • Understanding miRNA expression patterns in tongue SCC is crucial for identifying potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the differential expression profiles of microRNAs in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) compared to normal tissues.
  • To evaluate the functional role of specific overexpressed microRNAs, particularly miR-184, in tongue SCC.
  • To assess the potential of plasma miR-184 as a non-invasive biomarker for tongue SCC.

Main Methods:

  • Real-time quantitative PCR was employed to analyze the expression of 156 mature microRNAs in laser microdissected tongue SCC and paired normal tissues.
  • miR-184 expression was further validated in a larger cohort, and its functional significance was assessed in tongue SCC cell lines using miR-184 inhibitors.
  • Plasma miR-184 levels were quantified using real-time quantitative PCR in patients with tongue SCC and healthy controls.

Main Results:

  • A total of 24 miRNAs were found to be up-regulated, and 13 were down-regulated in tongue SCC tissues.
  • Overexpression of miR-184 was consistently observed in tongue SCC tissues (P = 0.002).
  • Inhibition of miR-184 in tongue SCC cell lines reduced cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and led to down-regulation of c-Myc. Plasma miR-184 levels were significantly elevated in patients with tongue SCC and decreased post-surgery.

Conclusions:

  • miR-184 exhibits oncogenic properties in tongue SCC by promoting proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis.
  • Plasma miR-184 levels serve as a potential indicator for the presence of primary tongue SCC.
  • Further research into aberrant miRNA expression and the utility of plasma miRNAs as tumor markers in tongue SCC is warranted.

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