[MicroRNA expression profiles in squamous cell carcinomas of the meso- and hypopharynx]

MicroRNAs play a role in carcinogenesis through their genome regulatory function.

The aim of the authors was to identify and compare microRNA expression signatures of meso- and hypopharynx squamous cell cancers on the basis of the cancer field hypothesis.

Using standard mapping biopsy (tumour tissue and macroscopically normal tissues obtained 1, 2 and 3 cm from margin) 13 snap frozen sample series were analysed for microRNA expression with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

MiR-221 was significantly overexpressed in mesopharynx cancers, whole miR-21, miR-143 and miR-155 showed significant overexpression in hypopharynx cancers.

Using microRNA expression profiles the authors were able to distinguish peritumoural tissues according to distance from the primary tumour site. Future application of the method may prove to be useful in early detection of the altered epigenetic regulation in tissue fields representing normal phenotype. This may be helpful in cancer risk assessment and prevention.