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Updated: Feb 28, 2026
Clinicopathological Analysis of miRNA Expression in Breast Cancer Tissues by Using miRNA In Situ Hybridization
Published on: June 7, 2016
Impaired expression of Drosha in breast cancer
Ali Akbar Poursadegh Zonouzi1, Mohammad Shekari1, Azim Nejatizadeh1
1Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Background:
Impaired miRNAs processing pathway is one interesting scenario for global downregulation of the miRNAome in various types of malignancy. We previously reported that DGCR8 and Dicer genes dysregulated in patients with breast cancer.
Objective:
To evaluate the expression pattern of Drosha in patients with breast cancer.
Methods:
We evaluated the mRNA expression level of Drosha in 70 fresh breast carcinomas and adjacent non-neoplastic tissue using quantitative real-time PCR and assessed the possible correlation between its expression and clinicopathological parameters.
Results:
Our results revealed that mRNA expression level of Drosha was decreased in tumors when compared to adjacent non-neoplastic tissue. However, this difference is not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Downregulation of Drosha is related to older age at diagnosis, higher histological grade, higher tumor size and metastasis. However, there was no significant correlation between Drosha expression level and clinicopathological parameters (P > 0.05). We found that Drosha expression negatively correlated with DGCR8 (P = 0.043), whereas dysregulated expression levels of Drosha and Dicer are positively correlated with to each other (P < 0.0001).
Conclusion:
This study provides evidence that the expression of Drosha is impaired in breast cancer. However, the molecular basis of observed expression pattern have remained inexplicable and should be further investigated.
Insights
Drosha expression is impaired in breast cancer, correlating with disease progression. Further research is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms behind this downregulation in cancer development.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Gene Expression Analysis
Background:
- MicroRNA (miRNA) processing pathway dysfunction contributes to cancer.
- Previous studies indicated DGCR8 and Dicer gene dysregulation in breast cancer patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression pattern of Drosha in breast cancer patients.
- To correlate Drosha expression with clinicopathological parameters.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative real-time PCR used to measure Drosha mRNA levels in 70 breast tumors and adjacent tissues.
- Correlation analysis performed between Drosha expression and clinicopathological features.
Main Results:
- Drosha mRNA expression was reduced in breast tumors compared to normal tissue, though not statistically significant.
- Drosha downregulation correlated with older age, higher tumor grade, larger size, and metastasis.
- Drosha expression negatively correlated with DGCR8 and positively with Dicer.
Conclusions:
- Drosha expression is demonstrably impaired in breast cancer.
- The molecular underpinnings of Drosha's altered expression in breast cancer require further investigation.
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