title: The status of microRNA-21 expression and its clinical significance in human cutaneous malignant melanoma.
abstract: Dysregulation of microRNA-21 plays critical roles in tumor initiation and progression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of microRNA-21 expression in human cutaneous malignant melanoma and determine its clinical significance. TaqMan(®) real-time RT-PCR assay was performed to examine the expression of microRNA-21 in 10 cases of dysplastic nevi, 86 cases of primary cutaneous melanomas, 10 cases of melanoma metastases. The correlation of microRNA-21 expression with clinicopathological factors or prognosis of patients with cutaneous melanoma was statistically analyzed. Additionally, the effects of microRNA-21 expression on growth, apoptosis and chemo- or radiosensitivity of melanoma cells were also investigated by transfection of microRNA-21 inhibitor. We firstly showed that increased levels of microRNA-21 expression were shown from dysplastic nevi to primary cutaneous melanomas to melanoma metastases. Moreover, high miR-21 expression was found to be correlated with Breslow thickness and advanced clinical stage. Patients with high microRNA-21 expression showed shorter 5-year disease-free or overall survival than those with low microRNA-21 expression. Furthermore, multivariate regression analysis showed that the status of microRNA-21 expression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival of patients. Antisense-mediated microRNA-21 inhibition could significantly suppress growth, increase apoptosis and enhance chemo- or radiosensitivity of human cutaneous melanoma cells by inducing the increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Thus, the status of microRNA-21 might be an independent prognostic factor for patients with cutaneous melanoma, and microRNA-21 has the potential of being a novel molecular target for the treatment of human cutaneous melanoma.
authors: Department of Plastic and Burn Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Jiang
authors: Xiaoxing
authors: X
authors: Lv
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Jinqing
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Xueyong
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Wangzhou
authors: W
authors: Li
authors: Yuejun
authors: Y
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002470:Cell Survival; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger