title: The microRNA-200 family--a potential diagnostic marker in hepatocellular carcinoma?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the main cause of death among patients with cirrhotic liver disease, but little is known about mechanisms of cirrhosis associated carcinogenesis. We investigated the diagnostic impact of microRNA-200 (miR-200) family members as important epigenetic regulators of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to differentiate between patients with HCC and liver cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of the miR-200 family was investigated by qRT-PCR in specimens of HCC patients with and without cirrhosis. Benign specimens with and without cirrhosis served as controls. Expression of the EMT markers ZEB-1, E-cadherin and vimentin was examined using immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MiR-200a and miR-200b were significantly downregulated in HCC (miR-200a: -40.1% (P = 0.0002); miR-200b: -52.3% (P = 0.0002)), and in HCC cirrhotic tissue (miR-200a: -40.2% (P = 0.004); miR-200b: -51.1% (P = 0.007)) compared to liver cirrhosis. Spearman's Rho analysis revealed a significant negative correlation of miR-200a and miR-200b to the expression of the mesenchymal markers Vimentin (P < 0.007) and ZEB-1 (P < 0.0005) and a significant positive correlation to the epithelial marker E-cadherin (P < 0.0002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MiR-200 family members and their targets are significantly deregulated in HCC and liver cirrhosis. The miR-200 family is able to distinguish between cirrhotic and HCC tissue and could serve as an early marker for cirrhosis-associated HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Visceral Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Sameer A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Dhayat
authors.forename: Wolf A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Mardin
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bahde
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vowinkel
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wolters
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Senninger
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haier
authors.forename: Soeren T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Mees
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis; D000071799:Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C533896:MIRN200 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D014157:Transcription Factors; C486307:ZEB1 protein, human; D000071799:Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1
keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma; liver cirrhosis; microRNA-200 family