MicroRNA profiling in human breast cancer cell lines exposed to the anti-neoplastic drug cediranib

Cediranib, a pan-tyrosine kinase inhibitor is showing promising results for the treatment of several solid tumours. In breast cancer, its effects remain unclear, and there are no predictive biomarkers. Several studies have examined the expression profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in response to different chemotherapy treatments and found that the expression patterns may be associated with the treatment response. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate the cellular behaviour and differential expression profiles of miRNAs in breast cancer cell lines exposed to cediranib. The biological effect of this drug was measured by viability, migration, invasion and cell death in in vitro assays. Signaling pathways were assessed using a human phospho-receptor tyrosine kinase array. Furthermore, using a miRNA array and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT‑PCR), we assessed the relative expression of miRNAs following cediranib treatment. The breast cancer cell lines exhibited a distinct cytotoxic response to cediranib treatment. Cediranib exposure resulted in a decrease in the cell migration and invasion of all the breast cancer cell lines. Treatment with cediranib appeared to be able to modulate the activation of several RTKs that are targets of cediranib such as EGFR and a new potential target ROR2. Furthermore, this drug was able to modulate the expression profile of different microRNAs such as miR-494, miR-923, miR-449a, miR-449b and miR-886-3 in breast cancer cell lines. These miRNAs are reported to regulate genes involved in important molecular processes, according to bioinformatics prediction tools.