title: miR-203 suppresses tumor growth and angiogenesis by targeting VEGFA in cervical cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  MicroRNA (miRNA) plays important roles in the development of different cancers. In this study, we investigated the roles and mechanisms of miR-203 in human cervical cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  miR-203 expression was detected in cervical cancer tumors and cell lines by qRT-PCR. The methylation status in the promoter region of miR-203 was examined by methylation-specific PCR. The functional effect of miR-203 was determined by both in vitro and in vivo assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  miR-203 was frequently down-regulated in cervical cancer tumors and cell lines. This down-regulation of miR-203 was associated with methylation of the miR-203 promoter. Furthermore, miR-203 down-regulated vascular endothelial growth factor alpha (VEGFA) expression by directly targeting its 3'-untranslated region. Functional assays revealed that miR-203 suppressed cervical cancer cell proliferation, tumor growth, and angiogenesis in nude mice, whereas forced expression of VEGFA rescued this inhibitory effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our collective findings indicate that miR-203 functions as a tumor suppressor by targeting VEGFA, resulting in the inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis. Thus, miR-203 may be a potential therapeutic target and prognostic marker in cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetric Medicine, Shanghai Jiangwan Hospital, Shanghai, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiangyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Kejun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Er
authors.forename: Caiying
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Haijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yuanbei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jianhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Wenxia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; C546703:MIRN203 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A