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01-04-2011 | Epidemiology

Let-7a regulation of insulin-like growth factors in breast cancer

Authors: Lingeng Lu, Dionyssios Katsaros, Yong Zhu, Aaron Hoffman, Scarampi Luca, Canuto Emilie Marion, Lina Mu, Harvey Risch, Herbert Yu

Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment | Issue 3/2011

Abstract

Expression of certain microRNA genes is regulated by DNA methylation, which in turn affects the activities of their downstream molecules. Our previous study showed that methylated let-7a-3 was associated with low IGF-II expression and favorable prognosis of ovarian cancer. The roles of let-7a-3 methylation in breast cancer and in regulation of IGF expression in the tumor are still unknown. Let-7a-3 methylation, IGF mRNAs, and peptides were analyzed in 348 breast cancer samples using quantitative methylation-specific PCR, qRT-PCR, and ELISA, respectively. The associations of let-7a-3 methylation with IGFs, disease features, and patient survivals were analyzed. In vitro experiments were performed using HeLa cells transfected with let-7a precursors to assess the effect of let-7a on IGF expression. Let-7a-3 methylation was detected frequently in breast cancer. An inverse correlation between let-7a-3 methylation and IGF expression was observed in breast cancer, which was similar to that seen in ovarian cancer. Our in vitro experiment showed that let-7a could increase IGF expression in cancer cells which had low endogenous let-7a. Let-7a-3 methylation was also found to be associated with high grade tumors and ER- or PR-negative cancer. However, let-7a-3 methylation was not associated with disease-free survival or overall survival of breast cancer patients. The study provides further evidence in support of the notion that epigenetic regulation of let-7a-3 may affect the actions of IGFs in cancer. Let-7a may up-regulate the expression of IGFs in cancer cells, which is different from its inhibitory effects on other oncogenes.

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Title: Let-7a regulation of insulin-like growth factors in breast cancer
Authors: Lingeng Lu
Dionyssios Katsaros
Yong Zhu
Aaron Hoffman
Scarampi Luca
Canuto Emilie Marion
Lina Mu
Harvey Risch
Herbert Yu
Publication date: 01-04-2011
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment / Issue 3/2011
Print ISSN: 0167-6806
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7217
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-010-1168-5

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