Association of microRNA-93, 190, 200b and Receptor Status in Core Biopsies from Stage III Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Oncologists now favor more personalized treatment strategies in breast cancer patients. Gene expression analysis has been widely used, but less is known about epigenetic factors, for example, microRNAs (miRNAs). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between selected miRNAs and receptor status in core biopsies sampled before preoperative chemotherapy in stage III locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients. In 37 LABC core biopsies, three miRNAs per sample were analyzed: hsa-miR-93-5p, hsa-miR-190a, and hsa-miR-200b-3p, and hsa-miR-103a-3p as an endogenous control (TaqMan Ò RT-PCR; Applied Biosystems). Receptor status was determined by a dedicated pathologist. The Mann-Whitney U, Shapiro-Wilk, and Levene's tests were used to compare related samples. Levels of miRNA-93 differed significantly in core biopsies of LABC patients with different expressions of ER (estrogen receptor) and PR (progesterone receptor). Higher levels of miRNA-93 were found in ER-negative ( p = 0.0027) and PR-negative patients ( p = 0.0185). Levels of miRNA-190 and 200b did not differ significantly in core biopsies of LABC patients who expressed ER and PR differently ( p = 0.7727, p = 0.9434, p = 0.6213, and p = 0.1717). Levels of 190, and 200b were not significantly different in core biopsies of LABC patients with different HER2 (human epidermal growth factor 2) expressions ( p = 0.8013, p = 0.2609, and p = 0.3222). The assessment of core biopsy miRNA profiles and receptor-based subtypes may identify new signaling pathways for improved breast cancer classification.

miR-93 and PTEN: Key regulators of doxorubicin-resistance and EMT in breast cancer

“…Therefore, miR-93, rather than the whole cluster and its host gene, may play a critical role in the acquisition of drug resistance in breast cancer. To date, very few studies have focused on the role of miR-93 in breast cancer (30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36). Furthermore, these studies only reported its association with altered expression patterns and proliferation, and none have focused on its relationship with drug resistance and association with PTEN.…”

Serum levels of circulating miRNA-21, miRNA-10b and miRNA-200c in triple-negative breast cancer patients

“…miRNA-200b was researched as a biomarker in breast core needle biopsy. Authors did not state any correlation between miRNA-200b and tissue expression of PR, ER and HER2 [30].…”

Critical analysis of the potential for microRNA biomarkers in breast cancer management

“…A three-miRNA signature (miR-190a, miR-200b-3p, and miR-512-5p) obtained from tissue core biopsies before treatment correlated with complete pathological response in a limited patient cohort of eleven TNBC cases treated with different chemotherapy regimens. 85 An eleven-miRNA signature (miR-10b, miR-21, miR-31, miR-125b, miR-130a-3p, miR-155, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-183, miR-195, and miR-451a) separated TNBC tumors from normal breast tissue. 86 The authors noted that several of these miRNAs are linked to pathways involved in chemoresistance.…”