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Clinicopathological Analysis of miRNA Expression in Breast Cancer Tissues by Using miRNA In Situ Hybridization

Clinicopathological Analysis of miRNA Expression in Breast Cancer Tissues by Using miRNA In Situ Hybridization

Published on: June 7, 2016

Expression analysis of AFAP1-AS1 and AFAP1 in breast cancer

Ali Dianatpour¹, Sepideh Faramarzi¹, Lobat Geranpayeh²

¹Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Cancer Biomarkers : Section a of Disease Markers

|February 15, 2018

Abstract:

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) constitute a significant percentage of RNAs with no translation to proteins. Their participation in fundamental aspects of cell physiology as well as their dysregulation in a number of pathologic conditions such as cancer have been documented. Among lncRNAs is actin filament associated protein 1 antisense RNA1 (AFAP1-AS1) whose elevated expression levels have been demonstrated in different cancers. In the in the present study we evaluated expression levels of AFAP1-AS1 and its antisense protein coding gene AFAP1 in breast cancer samples compare with adjacent non-cancerous tissues (ANCTs) as well as breast cancer cell lines with special focus on the assessment of the association between their transcript levels and patients' clinicopathological data. AFAP1-AS1 has shown significant up-regulation in both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 compared with control sample. AFAP1-AS1 has been shown to be expressed in all of tumor tissues but 76% (39 out of 51) ANCTs. AFAP1 expression was not significantly different between tumor samples and ANCTs. AFAP1-AS1 has been demonstrated to be significantly up-regulated in tumor tissues compared with ANCTs (fold change = 4.65, P= 0.028). No significant correlation has been detected between the levels of these two transcripts in tumor tissues (R=2 0.081) or ANCTs (R=2 0.115). No significant associations have been found between expression levels of these genes and patients' characteristics. However, both genes were significantly down-regulated in Ki-67 negative tumor samples. The observed up-regulation of AFAP1-AS1 in tumor samples compared with ANCTs implies its involvement in breast cancer pathogenesis and potentiates it as a biomarker or therapeutic target.

Insights

Long non-coding RNA AFAP1-AS1 is significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissues, suggesting its role in cancer development. This finding highlights AFAP1-AS1 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for breast cancer.

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Cancer Research
Genetics

Background:

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key regulators of cellular processes.
Dysregulation of lncRNAs is implicated in various pathologies, including cancer.
Actin filament associated protein 1 antisense RNA1 (AFAP1-AS1) is a lncRNA found at elevated levels in several cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate AFAP1-AS1 and AFAP1 expression in breast cancer.
To compare transcript levels in tumor tissues versus adjacent non-cancerous tissues (ANCTs).
To assess the association between transcript levels and clinicopathological data.

Main Methods:

Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure AFAP1-AS1 and AFAP1 expression.
Expression levels were analyzed in breast cancer tissues, ANCTs, and cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7).
Statistical analyses were performed to correlate expression with clinicopathological features.

Main Results:

AFAP1-AS1 was significantly upregulated in breast tumor tissues compared to ANCTs (fold change = 4.65, P= 0.028).
AFAP1-AS1 showed significant upregulation in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines.
AFAP1 expression did not differ significantly between tumor and ANCTs.
No significant correlation was found between AFAP1-AS1/AFAP1 levels and patient characteristics.
Both genes were downregulated in Ki-67 negative tumor samples.

Conclusions:

AFAP1-AS1 is significantly upregulated in breast cancer, indicating its involvement in pathogenesis.
AFAP1-AS1 presents potential as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for breast cancer.
Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise role of AFAP1-AS1 in breast cancer.

Read full analysis

Keywords:

AFAP1 AFAP1-AS1 breast cancer lncRNA

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