Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy (Oct 2020)

Mirna21 Expression in the Breast Cancer Tumor Tissue is Independent of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

  • Sales ACV,
  • Gomes da Silva IIF,
  • Leite MCB,
  • Coutinho LL,
  • Reis RBAC,
  • Castoldi A,
  • B. G. Martins D,
  • Lima-Filho JL,
  • Souto FO

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 12
pp. 141 – 151

Abstract

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Alexandre Cesar Vieira Sales,1,2 Isaura Isabelle Fonseca Gomes da Silva,1 Matheus CB Leite,1 Leandro L Coutinho,1 Renata BAC Reis,1 Angela Castoldi,1 Danyelly BG Martins,1 José Luiz Lima-Filho,1 Fabricio Oliveira Souto1,2 1Keizo Asami Immunopathology Laboratory, LIKA/Federal University of Pernambuco – UFPE, Recife, PE, Brazil; 2Life Sciences Nucleus– NCV, Agreste Academic Center– CAA, Federal University of Pernambuco – UFPE, Caruaru, PE, BrazilCorrespondence: Alexandre Cesar Vieira Sales; Fabricio Oliveira SoutoKeizo Asami Immunopathology Laboratory, LIKA/Federal University of Pernambuco – UFPE, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE 52171-011, Brazil+55 (81) 2126-8484; +55 (81) 2126-8484Email [email protected]; [email protected]: MicroRNA-21 (miRNA-21) has been described as one of the most significantly upregulated miRNAs in human breast cancer. However, limited knowledge exists on miRNA-21 expression in breast cancer tissue after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess miRNA-21 expression in the tumor tissues of Brazilian patients with breast cancer who underwent NAC and its correlation with clinicopathological variables.Patients and Methods: Utilizing qRT-PCR, miRNA-21 expression in tumor tissue was measured in a cohort of female patients with breast cancer who underwent NAC. The correlation of miRNA-21 expression with breast cancer molecular subtypes and other clinicopathological variables was also assessed.Results: A total of 55 patients were included in the study, and 28 (50.9%) underwent NAC. miRNA-21 was upregulated in patients with breast cancer, regardless of previous exposure to chemotherapy, molecular subtypes, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging and lymph node status of the axilla. miRNA-21 expression did not differ between patients with breast cancer who achieved a pathologic complete response after NAC and healthy controls.Conclusion: miRNA-21 was upregulated in the tumor tissue of Brazilian patients with breast cancer regardless of NAC treatment, which reinforces its role as an “oncomiR” and a potential biomarker.Keywords: miRNA-21, breast cancer, biomarker, tumor tissue, neoadjuvant chemotherapy

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