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J Cancer 2011; 2:67-75. doi:10.7150/jca.2.67 This volume Cite

Research Paper

miR-21 Expression in Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer: A Possible Marker of Poor Prognosis

Beatriz A. Walter1, Gabriela Gómez-Macias2, Vladimir A. Valera1, Mark Sobel1, Maria J. Merino1 ✉

1. Laboratory of Pathology, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA;
2. Department of Pathology and Cytopathology, Universidad Autonoma Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, México.

✉ Corresponding author: Maria J Merino. Laboratory of Pathology, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, 10 Center Drive Bldg 10/Room 5B53, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Telephone number: 301-4963326; Fax number: 301- More

Citation:
Walter BA, Gómez-Macias G, Valera VA, Sobel M, Merino MJ. miR-21 Expression in Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer: A Possible Marker of Poor Prognosis. J Cancer 2011; 2:67-75. doi:10.7150/jca.2.67. https://www.jcancer.org/v02p0067.htm
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Abstract

Aims: microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that can act as key modulators in tumorigenesis-related genes. Specifically, it has been suggested that miR-21 overexpression plays a role in the development and progression of breast cancer. So far, the role of miRNAs in pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) has not been investigated.

Methods and Results: We evaluated miR-21 expression by quantitative RT-PCR in 35 patients, 25 with PABC and 10 control breast cancer cases not pregnancy-associated with similar clinicopathological features. We then analyzed protein expression for PTEN, BCL2 and PDCD4 as miR-21 target genes by IHC, and finally correlated the results with patients' clinicopathological features.

Significant overexpression of miR-21 in PABC tumors compared to normal adjacent tissue was found. Overexpression of miR-21 was frequently found in high grade tumors with loss of hormone receptor expression and was significantly associated with positive lymph nodes (p=0.025). In PABC patients, PTEN, BCL2 and PDCD4 target protein expression was decreased in 80%, 76% and 40% respectively.

Conclusion: Our study supports the involvement of miR-21 in breast cancer progression and metastasis formation in PABC implying a role of this miRNA as a marker for poor prognosis in PABC patients.

Keywords: Pregnancy-associated breast cancer, breast cancer, microRNA, miR-21, PTEN.

Citation styles

APA
Walter, B.A., Gómez-Macias, G., Valera, V.A., Sobel, M., Merino, M.J. (2011). miR-21 Expression in Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer: A Possible Marker of Poor Prognosis. Journal of Cancer, 2, 67-75. https://doi.org/10.7150/jca.2.67.

ACS
Walter, B.A.; Gómez-Macias, G.; Valera, V.A.; Sobel, M.; Merino, M.J. miR-21 Expression in Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer: A Possible Marker of Poor Prognosis. J. Cancer 2011, 2, 67-75. DOI: 10.7150/jca.2.67.

NLM
Walter BA, Gómez-Macias G, Valera VA, Sobel M, Merino MJ. miR-21 Expression in Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer: A Possible Marker of Poor Prognosis. J Cancer 2011; 2:67-75. doi:10.7150/jca.2.67. https://www.jcancer.org/v02p0067.htm

CSE
Walter BA, Gómez-Macias G, Valera VA, Sobel M, Merino MJ. 2011. miR-21 Expression in Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer: A Possible Marker of Poor Prognosis. J Cancer. 2:67-75.

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