title: Subsite-based alterations in miR-21, miR-125b, and miR-203 in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and correlation to important target proteins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules with an essential role in regulation of gene expression. miRNA expression profiles differ between tumor and normal control tissue in many types of cancers and miRNA profiling is seen as a promising field for finding new diagnostic and prognostic tools.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we have analyzed expression of three miRNAs, miR-21, miR-125b, and miR-203, and their potential target proteins p53 and p63, known to be deregulated in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), in two distinct and one mixed subsite in squamous cell carcinoma in the oral cavity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrate that levels of miRNA differ between tumors of different subsites with tongue tumors showing significant deregulation of all three miRNAs, whereas gingival tumors only showed significant downregulation of miR-125b and the mixed group of tumors in tongue/floor of the mouth showed significant deregulation of miR-21 and miR-125b. In the whole group of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a significant negative correlation was seen between miR-125b and p53 as well as a significant correlation between TP53 mutation status and miR-125b.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data once again emphasize the need to take subsite into consideration when analyzing oral SCC and clearly show that data from in vitro studies cannot be transferred directly to the in vivo situation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biosciences/Pathology, Umeå University, SE- 901 85 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boldrup
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wahlgren
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laurell
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nylander