title: MicroRNA signature of malignant mesothelioma with potential diagnostic and prognostic implications.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) post-transcriptionally regulate the expression of target genes, and may behave as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Human malignant mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer, with poor prognosis and low median survival. Here we report, for the first time, a cross-evaluation of miRNA expression in mesothelioma (MPP-89, REN) and human mesothelial cells (HMC-telomerase reverse transcriptase). Microarray profiling, confirmed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, revealed a differential expression of miRNAs between mesothelioma and mesothelial cells. In addition, a computational analysis combining miRNA and gene expression profiles allowed the accurate prediction of genes potentially targeted by dysregulated miRNAs. Several predicted genes belong to terms of Gene Ontology (GO) that are associated with the development and progression of mesothelioma. This suggests that miRNAs may be key players in mesothelioma oncogenesis. We further investigated miRNA expression on a panel of 24 mesothelioma specimens, representative of the three histotypes (epithelioid, biphasic, and sarcomatoid), by quantitative RT-PCR. The expression of miR-17-5p, miR-21, miR-29a, miR-30c, miR-30e-5p, miR-106a, and miR-143 was significantly associated with the histopathological subtypes. Notably, the reduced expression of two miRNAs (miR-17-5p and miR-30c) correlated with better survival of patients with sarcomatoid subtype. Our preliminary analysis points at miRNAs as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers of mesothelioma, and suggests novel tools for the therapy of this malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Alimentari, Farmaceutiche e Farmacologiche, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Busacca
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Germano
authors.forename: Loris
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Cecco
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Comoglio
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Favero
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Murer
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mutti
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pierotti
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gaudino
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs