MicroRNA 141 Expression Is a Potential Prognostic Marker of Biliary Tract Cancers

Abstract

Background/AimsIn recent years, a large number of micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) have been identified as putative prognostic biomarkers for solid cancers because of their role in controlling the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. The aim of this study was to verify the utility of miRNA 141 as a prognostic biomarker of biliary tract cancers.MethodsFrom June 2010 to June 2012, common bile duct cancer tissue samples and matched noncancerous tissues from the ampulla of Vater were obtained from patients with biliary tract cancer undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, we measured the mean relative expression levels of miRNA 141 in both groups of tissues. Overexpression of miRNA 141 was defined as a greater than 2-fold increase in expression levels as determined by the 2−ΔΔCt method.ResultsIn a cohort of 38 patients with biliary tract cancers (seven gallbladder, 13 hilar, and 18 distal bile duct cancers), 26 patients (68.4%) were male, and the median age was 69.5 (52 to 85) years. Nineteen patients (50%) had undergone R0 resection procedures, including three Whipple operations, seven pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomies, six bile duct resections, and three extended lobectomies. Among the patients who had undergone R0 resection, the overexpression of miRNA 141 was significantly associated with shorter disease-free survival and a greater risk of angiolymphatic invasion. Among the patients who did not undergo R0 resection, miRNA 141 overexpression was significantly associated with reduced overall survival.ConclusionsOverexpression of miRNA 141 is an indicator of a poor prognosis in patients with biliary tract cancer, suggesting that miRNA 141 may be a valuable prognostic biomarker of this disease.

Relevance of MicroRNA200 Family and MicroRNA205 for Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition and Clinical Outcome in Biliary Tract Cancer Patients

“…Conversely, ectopic expression of miR200 family members in BTC cells reduced sphere formation, expression of CD133 as well as invasion rate, formation of metastases and triggering of EMT in vitro and in vivo, underlining the crucial role of the miR200 family, especially regarding EMT in BTC [16,17]. However, in contrast to these findings, over-expression of miR141 was found to be a predictor of poor prognosis and shorter disease-free and overall survival in another study, demonstrating that members of the miR200 family may act as both oncogenes and tumor suppressors in BTC [20]. …”

The Clinical Utility of MicroRNA as a Prognostic Biomarker of Pancreatobiliary Cancers

“…This is why the new prognostic markers for pancreatobiliary cancers are very important and essential to treat and follow up on the aggressive cancers. In this issue of Gut and Liver , Kim et al 4. suggested that miRNA 141 may be a valuable prognostic biomarker in patients with biliary tract cancer.…”

“…In this issue of Gut and Liver , Kim et al . 4 suggested that miRNA 141 may be a valuable prognostic biomarker in patients with biliary tract cancer. The miRNA 141 highly overexpressed in malignant cholangiocytes was suggested as an important regulator of tumor cell proliferation in vitro and decreasing miRNA 141 overexpression may be useful to inhibit tumor progress in previous study.…”