Mir-301b-3p Targets Alx4 to Suppress Cisplatin Sensitivity in Breast Cancer through DNA Damage

Yan Yan1, Jianhong Xia1, Tingting Ma1

  • 1Radiotherapy Department, The Second People's Hospital of Huai'an, The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China.

Advanced Biology
|April 7, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study reveals that miR-301b-3p reduces cisplatin sensitivity in breast cancer (BC) by suppressing ALX4, impacting DNA damage repair. Understanding this mechanism offers new therapeutic targets for BC chemoresistance.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Chemoresistance in breast cancer (BC) is a significant clinical challenge.
  • Messenger RNA (mRNA)-mediated DNA repair pathways are implicated in driving chemoresistance.
  • The role of ALX Homeobox 4 (ALX4) in modulating DNA damage and cisplatin sensitivity requires elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the regulatory role of ALX4 in cisplatin sensitivity within breast cancer.
  • To explore the relationship between ALX4, miR-301b-3p, and DNA damage response pathways in BC.
  • To identify potential therapeutic strategies targeting chemoresistance in BC.

Main Methods:

  • Integrated bioinformatics and molecular experiments to analyze ALX4 and miR-301b-3p expression in BC.
  • Dual-luciferase assays to confirm the targeting relationship between miR-301b-3p and ALX4.
  • Cellular assays (CCK-8, flow cytometry, comet assays, western blot) to assess functional impacts on proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA damage.

Main Results:

  • Downregulated ALX4 and upregulated miR-301b-3p were observed in BC tissues.
  • miR-301b-3p was confirmed to directly target and suppress ALX4 expression.
  • ALX4 overexpression enhanced cisplatin sensitivity by promoting DNA damage and apoptosis, while miR-301b-3p exerted opposite effects.

Conclusions:

  • miR-301b-3p promotes BC proliferation and reduces cisplatin sensitivity by suppressing ALX4 via DNA damage pathway regulation.
  • This miR-301b-3p/ALX4 axis represents a novel mechanism contributing to cisplatin resistance in breast cancer.
  • Targeting this axis may offer a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome chemoresistance in BC.