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The Clinico-Pathologic Role of MicroRNAs miR-9 and miR-151-5p in Breast Cancer Metastasis

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Abstract

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may function as suppressors or promoters of tumor metastasis according to their messenger RNA targets. Previous studies have suggested that miR-9 and miR-151-5p are associated with metastasis in breast cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, respectively. We aimed to further establish the potential roles of miR-9 and miR-151–5p in tumor invasion and metastasis and investigate their use as biomarkers.

Methods

We used quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to measure differences in miR-9 and miR-151–5p expression between primary breast tumors and their lymph-node metastases in 194 paired tumor samples from 97 patients. We also correlated expression levels with histologic data to investigate their utility as biomarkers.

Results

There were no significant differences in miR-9 expression between the primary tumors and lymph nodes; however, miR-151-5p expression was significantly lower in the lymph-node metastases than in their corresponding tumors (p<0.05). miR-9 levels were elevated in primary breast tumors from patients diagnosed with higher-grade tumors (p<0.05); however, no differences were observed in miR-151–5p levels between different grades of tumor. Interestingly, miR-9 levels were elevated in invasive lobular carcinomas (ILC) compared with invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC; p<0.01).

Conclusions

In aggregate, these data suggest that miR-151–5p upregulation may suppress metastasis in primary breast tumors. Both miRNAs may serve as useful biomarkers in future clinical trials in breast cancer.

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Acknowledgments

No sources of funding were used to conduct this study or prepare this manuscript. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Oncology, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, MRC Cyclotron Building, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK

    Jonathan Krell, Jimmy Jacob, Loredana Pellegrino, Laura Roca-Alonso & Leandro Castellano

  2. HPB Surgical Unit, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, London, UK

    Adam E. Frampton & Long R. Jiao

  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK

    Daniel Zeloof, Costi Alifrangis & Justin Stebbing

  4. Department of Breast Surgery, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK

    Jacqueline S. Lewis

Authors
  1. Jonathan Krell
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  2. Adam E. Frampton
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  3. Jimmy Jacob
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  4. Loredana Pellegrino
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  5. Laura Roca-Alonso
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  6. Daniel Zeloof
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  7. Costi Alifrangis
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  8. Jacqueline S. Lewis
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  9. Long R. Jiao
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  10. Justin Stebbing
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  11. Leandro Castellano
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jonathan Krell.

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Krell, J., Frampton, A.E., Jacob, J. et al. The Clinico-Pathologic Role of MicroRNAs miR-9 and miR-151-5p in Breast Cancer Metastasis. Mol Diagn Ther 16, 167–172 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03262205

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03262205

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