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Open Access 01-01-2011 | Research Paper

High levels of microRNA-21 in the stroma of colorectal cancers predict short disease-free survival in stage II colon cancer patients

Authors: Boye Schnack Nielsen, Stine Jørgensen, Jacob Ulrik Fog, Rolf Søkilde, Ib Jarle Christensen, Ulla Hansen, Nils Brünner, Adam Baker, Søren Møller, Hans Jørgen Nielsen

Published in: Clinical & Experimental Metastasis | Issue 1/2011

Abstract

Approximately 25% of all patients with stage II colorectal cancer will experience recurrent disease and subsequently die within 5 years. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is upregulated in several cancer types and has been associated with survival in colon cancer. In the present study we developed a robust in situ hybridization assay using high-affinity Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) probes that specifically detect miR-21 in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue samples. The expression of miR-21 was analyzed by in situ hybridization on 130 stage II colon and 67 stage II rectal cancer specimens. The miR-21 signal was revealed as a blue chromogenic reaction, predominantly observed in fibroblast-like cells located in the stromal compartment of the tumors. The expression levels were measured using image analysis. The miR-21 signal was determined as the total blue area (TB), or the area fraction relative to the nuclear density (TBR) obtained using a red nuclear stain. High TBR (and TB) estimates of miR-21 expression correlated significantly with shorter disease-free survival (p = 0.004, HR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.06–1.55) in the stage II colon cancer patient group, whereas no significant correlation with disease-free survival was observed in the stage II rectal cancer group. In multivariate analysis both TB and TBR estimates were independent of other clinical parameters (age, gender, total leukocyte count, K-RAS mutational status and MSI). We conclude that miR-21 is primarily a stromal microRNA, which when measured by image analysis identifies a subgroup of stage II colon cancer patients with short disease-free survival.

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Title: High levels of microRNA-21 in the stroma of colorectal cancers predict short disease-free survival in stage II colon cancer patients
Authors: Boye Schnack Nielsen
Stine Jørgensen
Jacob Ulrik Fog
Rolf Søkilde
Ib Jarle Christensen
Ulla Hansen
Nils Brünner
Adam Baker
Søren Møller
Hans Jørgen Nielsen
Publication date: 01-01-2011
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Clinical & Experimental Metastasis / Issue 1/2011
Print ISSN: 0262-0898
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7276
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10585-010-9355-7

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