title: Alteration of miRNA expression correlates with lifestyle, social and environmental determinants in esophageal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Esophageal cancer (EC) is the eighth most common cancer with a highly aggressive potency. Considering the poor survival of esophageal carcinoma there is a need for useful molecular biomarkers for prevention and early detection. Our aim was to determine the significance of altered microRNA (miRNA) expression in esophageal cancer, in relation to lifestyle, social and environmental factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The relative expression levels of the following miRNAs: miR-21, miR-143, miR-196a, miR-203, miR-205 and miR-221 were monitored in control and esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) samples using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). miRNA expression pattern of tumor tissues were evaluated according to patients' social status, living condition, smoking and drinking habits alone and in combinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  miR-21, miR-143, miR-203, miR-205 and miR-221 were over-expressed in esophageal cancer compared with normal tissues. Increased expression of miR-205 was related to smoking, while excessive alcohol consumption showed a correlation with under-expression of miR-143, miR-203 and miR-205 in tumor samples. Significant associations were detected between reduced expression of miR-143, miR-203 and low social status, and combination of smoking and heavy drinking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alterations of miRNA expression in ESCC can be correlated with the presence of common risk factors. The altered expression of certain miRNAs could be used as novel molecular markers of esophageal carcinoma.
authors: Transdanubian Regional National Public Health Institute, Szombathely, Hungary.
authors: Éva
authors: É
authors: Stánitz
authors: Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary krisztina.juhasz01@gmail.com.
authors: Krisztina
authors: K
authors: Juhász
authors: Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
authors: Katalin
authors: K
authors: Gombos
authors: Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
authors: Katalin
authors: K
authors: Gőcze
authors: Department of Pathology, Teaching Hospital Markusovszky, University of Pécs, Szombathely, Hungary.
authors: Csaba
authors: C
authors: Tóth
authors: Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
authors: István
authors: I
authors: Kiss
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012931:Social Environment
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Environmental factors; esophageal carcinoma; lifestyle factors; microRNA; socioeconomic factors