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Updated: Oct 15, 2025
miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues
Published on: September 8, 2015
Can increased expression of miR-Let-7c reduce the transition potential of high-grade urothelial carcinoma?
Paulo Ricardo da Silva Gomes1,2, Patricia Candido1, Vitória Ghazarian1
1Laboratorio de Investigação Médica 55 (LIM55), Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Background:
Bladder cancer is the leading transitional cell carcinoma affecting men and women with high morbidity and mortality rates, justifying the need to develop new molecular target therapies using microRNAs. This study aimed to evaluate the behavior of the T24 cell line after transfection with miR-Let-7c precursor mimic through invasion, migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle assays. METHODS AND RESULTS: T24 cell was transfected with the Let-7c mimic and its respective control and evaluated after 24 h. The expression levels of miR-Let-7c were analyzed by qPCR. We performed wound healing, Matrigel and flow cytometry, apoptosis, and cell cycle assays to determine its effect on cellular processes. Cells transfected with miR-Let-7c showed increased apoptosis rates (p = 0.019), decreased migration 24 h (p = 0.031) and 48 h (p = 0.0006), invasion potential (p = 0.0007), and cell proliferation (p = 0.002).
Conclusions:
Our results demonstrate that miR-Let-7c can act in different pathways of the carcinogenic cellular processes of muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma cells, inhibiting cell proliferation and increasing apoptosis levels, consequently limiting their invasion potential. However, further studies should be carried out better to elucidate this microRNA's role in high-grade urothelial carcinomas and unveil which targets this microRNA may present, which are intrinsically related to the cancer survival pathways.
Insights
MicroRNA Let-7c (miR-Let-7c) inhibits bladder cancer cell proliferation and invasion while increasing apoptosis. This microRNA shows potential as a molecular target therapy for urothelial carcinoma.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Bladder cancer presents high morbidity and mortality, necessitating novel molecular therapies.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as key regulators in cancer development.
- miR-Let-7c is investigated for its therapeutic potential in transitional cell carcinoma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the functional effects of miR-Let-7c precursor mimic transfection in T24 bladder cancer cells.
- To assess the impact of miR-Let-7c on cellular invasion, migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression.
Main Methods:
- Transfection of T24 cells with miR-Let-7c precursor mimic and control.
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR) for miR-Let-7c expression analysis.
- Wound healing, Matrigel invasion, flow cytometry, apoptosis, and cell cycle assays.
Main Results:
- miR-Let-7c transfection significantly increased apoptosis rates (p = 0.019).
- Downregulation of cell migration at 24h (p = 0.031) and 48h (p = 0.0006) was observed.
- Significant reduction in invasion potential (p = 0.0007) and cell proliferation (p = 0.002) was noted.
Conclusions:
- miR-Let-7c inhibits key carcinogenic processes in muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma cells.
- The findings suggest miR-Let-7c's role in limiting cancer cell proliferation and invasion.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate miR-Let-7c's targets and its role in high-grade urothelial carcinomas.
