title: Detection of let-7a microRNA by real-time PCR in colorectal cancer: a single-centre experience from China.
abstract: Colorectal cancer, a heterogeneous disease arising from a complex series of molecular changes, is one of the world's leading causes of cancer deaths. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), an extensive class of small non-coding RNAs, have been implicated in cancer development and progression. One of the first miRNAs to be identified was let-7 miRNA, which has recently been found to be expressed at reduced levels in human lung cancer cells. We used a rapid stem-loop reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method to quantify human let-7a miRNA expression in samples of human colorectal cancer. This method was able to detect let-7a miRNA in as little as 0.05 ng of total RNA from colorectal mucosa and its specificity was high (100%). Our results showed that the expression of let-7a miRNA was considerably reduced in two of eight patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study of Chinese patients to show reduced expression of endogenous let-7 miRNA in colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: C Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002681:China; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D035683:MicroRNAs; C487931:mirnlet7 microRNA, human