Down-regulation of dicer expression in ovarian cancer tissues.
OBJECTIVE
Although numerous recent studies have focused on analyses of microRNA expression profiles in cancer cells, the expression patterns of the enzymes responsible for the generation of miRNAs remains largely unexplored. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Dicer mRNA expression is altered during progression of ovarian cancer.


METHODS
Total RNA was extracted from ovarian tissue specimens (normal, benign and malignant tumors). The expression of Dicer was analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.


RESULTS
We analyzed a total of 34 ovarian tissue samples and found that Dicer mRNA expression is down-regulated in the majority of ovarian tumors when compared to normal tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the levels of Dicer mRNA should be evaluated as a potential new candidate biomarker for ovarian cancer.
Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Rion-Patras, 26500, Greece.
Georgios
G
Pampalakis
Eleftherios P
EP
Diamandis
Dionyssios
D
Katsaros
Georgia
G
Sotiropoulou
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs; C408087:DICER1 protein, human; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases