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Methods for Studying MicroRNA Expression and Their Targets in Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Breast Cancer Tissues

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Cancer Drug Resistance

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1395))

Abstract

Drug resistance remains a burden in cancer treatment. In the past few years molecular genetics brought a new hope with personalized therapy. This individual approach allows the identification of genetic profiles that will respond better to a given treatment and consequently get a better outcome. Recently, physicians received an extra aid with the approval of molecular tools based on gene expression signatures. With these tools, physicians have the capacity to identify the probability of disease recurrence in the first 5 years following diagnosis, a fact that is essential for a more effective adjuvant therapy administration. However, some patients still relapse and acquire drug resistance and aggressive tumors. For that reason, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular players in drug resistance is of extreme importance. MicroRNAs have been described as regulators of various cellular pathways and as predictive and prognostic factors. As broad regulators, microRNAs also interfere with drug metabolism and drug targets. Thus it is of paramount importance to understand which microRNAs are deregulated in breast cancer and try to relate this misexpression with resistance to therapeutics, poor outcomes, and survival. Here, we describe a possible approach to study microRNA expression and respective targets from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) breast cancer tissues. FFPE tissues are regularly archived for long periods in pathology departments, and microRNAs are well conserved in these tissues.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant PEst-OE/SAU/UI0009/2014 from Fundação de Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT). B.C.G. was supported by SFRH/BD/64131/2009 from FCT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health, Genetics, Oncology and Human Toxicology, NOVA Medical School/Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua Câmara Pestana 6, Lisbon, 1150-008, Portugal

    Bruno Costa Gomes, Bruno Santos, José Rueff & António Sebastião Rodrigues

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  1. Bruno Costa Gomes
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  2. Bruno Santos
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  3. José Rueff
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  4. António Sebastião Rodrigues
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Correspondence to António Sebastião Rodrigues .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. New University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    Jose Rueff

  2. New University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    António Sebastião Rodrigues

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Gomes, B.C., Santos, B., Rueff, J., Rodrigues, A.S. (2016). Methods for Studying MicroRNA Expression and Their Targets in Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Breast Cancer Tissues. In: Rueff, J., Rodrigues, A. (eds) Cancer Drug Resistance. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1395. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3347-1_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3347-1_11

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3345-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3347-1

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