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Published on: March 14, 2019
Prognostic implications of miR-16 expression levels in resected non-small-cell lung cancer
Alfons Navarro1, Tania Diaz, Elena Gallardo
1Human Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Molecular Oncology and Embryology Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
Background:
MicroRNAs are novel regulators of gene expression that are linked to the main oncogene networks, including the p53 pathway. p53 regulates the maturation process of miR-16 and miR-143. We analyzed the role as prognostic markers of miR-16 and miR-143 in 70 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
Methods:
MicroRNAs were analyzed by TaqMan MicroRNA assays. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were examined using Kaplan-Meier curves with log-rank tests and the Cox proportional hazard model.
Results:
When patients were classified in three groups according to their miR-16 expression levels, those with normal levels had the best outcome while those with high levels had the worst. DFS was 22.4 months for patients with high levels, 71.8 months for those with normal levels, and 55.8 months for those with low levels (P = 0.05). OS was 23.9 months for patients with high levels, 97.6 months for those with normal levels, and 63.5 months for those with low levels (P < 0.001). In the multivariate analyses, high miR-16 levels emerged as an independent prognostic factor for poor DFS (P = 0.001) and OS (<0.001).
Conclusions:
Our results provide the first hints that miR-16 levels in tumor samples may be a prognostic marker in NSCLC.
Insights
High levels of microRNA-16 (miR-16) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors correlate with significantly worse disease-free and overall survival. These findings suggest miR-16 may serve as a prognostic biomarker for NSCLC patients.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Oncology
- Gene regulation
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key gene expression regulators involved in oncogenic pathways, including the p53 pathway.
- p53 influences the maturation of specific miRNAs, such as miR-16 and miR-143.
- The prognostic significance of these miRNAs in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains to be fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of miR-16 and miR-143 as prognostic markers in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- To analyze the association between miR-16 expression levels and patient survival outcomes.
Main Methods:
- MicroRNA expression levels were quantified using TaqMan MicroRNA assays in 70 NSCLC patient samples.
- Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models.
Main Results:
- Patients with high miR-16 levels exhibited the poorest outcomes, while those with normal levels had the best survival.
- High miR-16 levels were associated with significantly shorter DFS (22.4 months) and OS (23.9 months) compared to normal or low levels.
- Multivariate analysis confirmed high miR-16 levels as an independent predictor of poor DFS and OS in NSCLC.
Conclusions:
- The study provides initial evidence that miR-16 expression in NSCLC tumor tissues may function as a valuable prognostic biomarker.
- Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore the therapeutic implications of targeting miR-16 in NSCLC.
