title: Associations of miR-146a and miR-146b expression and clinical characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human miRNAs have emerged as potentially useful diagnostic and prognostic markers in cancer within the past decade. Abnormal expression of microRNA-146 (miR-146) has been found in several classes of cancers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore expression and clinical associations of miR-146a and miR-146b in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated expressions of miR-146a and miR-146b in tissues and peripheral blood among 128 patients with primary PTC, 120 patients with nodular goiter and 120 healthy controls by RT-PCR. Furthermore, the associations between the miR-146a and miR-146b expression and clinical parameters of PTC were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of miR-146a and miR-146b expression in PTC tissues were higher compared to the nodular goiter tissues (P=0.014 and 0.001) and perineoplastic thyroid tissues (P=0.023 and 0.002). Positive associations were found between levels of miR-146a expression in PTC tissues and gender (female), cervical lymph node metastasis, multifocality, extra tyroidal invasion and advanced clinical TNM stages (III and IV). For miR-146b, there were positive association between levels of miR-146b expression and female, extra tyroidal invasion and advanced clinical TNM stages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Up-regulation of miR-146a and miR-146b expression in tissues was related to carcinogenesis and deterioration of PTC. MicroRNA-146a and miR-146b expressed in thyroid tissue may act as potential biomarkers for PTC patients.
authors.affiliation: Breast Cancer, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Penglai People's Hospital, Yantai, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Department, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Department, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Chengqian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Department, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Luan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Department, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Department, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Yangang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C542542:MIRN146 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Papillary thyroid carcinoma; RT-PCR; miR-146a; miR-146b