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Detection of a Circulating MicroRNA Custom Panel in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Published on: March 14, 2019
MicroRNA expression profiles in human colorectal cancers with liver metastases
Maosong Lin1, Weichang Chen, Junxing Huang
1Department of Gastroenterology of Taizhou People's Hospital, Soochow University, Jiangsu Province, Shanghai, PR China.
Abstract:
At present, a full understanding of the mechanisms by which colorectal cancer (CRC) distant metastases form is still beyond our reach because of the intricate regulation of gene expression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are shown to be involved in various human diseases including cancers through negative regulation of target gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. However, there are only a few studies on the roles of miRNA aberrations in liver metastasis of human colorectal cancer. To identify miRNA expression patterns associated with liver metastasis in human colorectal cancer, the miRNA expression profiles of colorectal cancer tissues with liver metastasis and their non-metastatic counterparts were studied using microRNA microarrays and further confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. We show that 28 miRNAs are differentially expressed in the colorectal carcinomas with liver metastasis compared to the non-metastatic counterparts. Of these, 4 miRNAs including miR-150*, miR-125b-2*, miR-1179 and miR-139-3p were up-regulated in colorectal cancers with liver metastasis while the others were down-regulated. The target genes of selected deregulated miRNAs were predicted through bioinformatic techniques with two functional analyses, gene ontology and KEGG analysis, which showed that categories of high enrichment GOs and specific pathways targeted by dysregulated miRNAs were involved in liver metastasis during human colorectum carcinogenesis. Our results indicated that miRNAs are not only involved in carcinogenesis of colorectum, but may also participate in the progression such as with liver metastases in human colorectal cancers.
Insights
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis. Researchers identified 28 differentially expressed miRNAs, suggesting their involvement in CRC progression and metastasis.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) distant metastasis mechanisms are not fully understood due to complex gene expression regulation.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known regulators of gene expression implicated in various human diseases, including cancer.
- Limited research exists on the specific roles of miRNA aberrations in human colorectal cancer liver metastasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify miRNA expression patterns associated with liver metastasis in human colorectal cancer.
- To investigate the potential role of dysregulated miRNAs in colorectal cancer liver metastasis progression.
Main Methods:
- MicroRNA expression profiling of colorectal cancer tissues with and without liver metastasis using microRNA microarrays.
- Validation of differentially expressed miRNAs using quantitative RT-PCR.
- Bioinformatic prediction of target genes for deregulated miRNAs, including Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses.
Main Results:
- Twenty-eight miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed between colorectal carcinomas with and without liver metastasis.
- Four specific miRNAs (miR-150*, miR-125b-2*, miR-1179, and miR-139-3p) were upregulated in metastatic tumors.
- Functional analyses indicated that targeted genes of dysregulated miRNAs are involved in pathways crucial for liver metastasis during colorectum carcinogenesis.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNAs are involved not only in the initial carcinogenesis of the colorectum but also in the progression of the disease, specifically liver metastasis.
- The identified differentially expressed miRNAs represent potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for colorectal cancer liver metastasis.
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