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MicroRNA Expression in Laser Micro-dissected Breast Cancer Tissue Samples – a Pilot Study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

Breast cancer continues to represent a significant public health burden despite outstanding research advances regarding the molecular mechanisms of cancer biology, biomarkers for diagnostics and prognostic and therapeutic management of this disease. The studies of micro RNAs in breast cancer have underlined their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets; however most of these studies are still done on largely heterogeneous whole breast tissue samples. In this pilot study we have investigated the expression of four micro RNAs (miR-21, 145, 155, 92) known to be involved in breast cancer, in homogenous cell populations collected by laser capture microdissection from breast tissue section slides. Micro RNA expression was assessed by real time PCR, and associations with clinical and pathological characteristics were also explored. Our results have confirmed previous associations of miR-21 expression with poor prognosis characteristics of breast cancers such as high stage, large and highly proliferative tumors. No statistically significant associations were found with the other micro RNAs investigated, possibly due to the small sample size of our study. Our results also suggest that miR-484 could be a suitable endogenous control for data normalization in breast tissues, these results needing further confirmation by future studies. In summary, our pilot study showed the feasibility of detecting micro RNAs expression in homogenous laser captured microdissected invasive breast cancer samples, and confirmed some of the previously reported associations with poor prognostic characteristics of breast tumors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pta Eftimie Murgu Nr. 2, 300041, Timişoara, Romania

    Edward Seclaman, Diana Narita, Andrei Anghel, Ioan Ovidiu Sirbu & Catalin Marian

  2. Donauisar Klinikum, Institute for Laboratory Diagnostic and Transfusion Medicine, Deggendorf, Germany

    Diana Narita

  3. Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, and Municipal Hospital, Timisoara, Romania

    Natalia Cireap & Razvan Ilina

Authors
  1. Edward Seclaman
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  2. Diana Narita
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  3. Andrei Anghel
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  4. Natalia Cireap
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  5. Razvan Ilina
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  6. Ioan Ovidiu Sirbu
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  7. Catalin Marian
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Correspondence to Catalin Marian.

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Seclaman, E., Narita, D., Anghel, A. et al. MicroRNA Expression in Laser Micro-dissected Breast Cancer Tissue Samples – a Pilot Study. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 25, 233–239 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-017-0343-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-017-0343-y

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