Serological under expression of microRNA-21, microRNA-34a and microRNA-126 in colorectal cancer¹

Abstract

PURPOSE:

This paper describes the ability of miRNA value predict oncological outcomes in CRC patients and correlates to clinical and pathologic variables.

METHODS:

We prospectively analyzed the serological expression of microRNA-21, microRNA-34a, and microRNA-126 in 37 stage II - IV CRC patients and correlate to seven fit counterparts. Serological microRNAs were extracted using the miRNeasy Mini Kit(r) (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). Quantification of microRNAs was performed using TaqMan Master Mix(r) reagent (Applied Biosystems, USA).

RESULTS:

We obtained serological underexpression microRNA-21, microRNA-34a, and microRNA-126 in CRC group. However, miRNAs serological values do not impact prognosis. Furthermore, miRNAs was not influenced by CEA values, TNM staging, and histological subtype.

CONCLUSION:

Despite lower expression of miR-21, miR-34a and miR-126 in the CRC group, no association with poor prognosis was found.

Colonic Neoplasms. Colon; Drug Therapy; MicroRNAs; Serum

Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy in Western countries and, despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, it is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States¹. In Brazil, CRC is the fourth most common malignancy, and more than 32000 new cases of the disease were estimated for 201².

If detected at an early stage, the prognosis of the disease is considered good, and 5-year survival rate may reach 65%. However, even with optimal treatment, 40-50% of patients may experience recurrence of the disease during follow-up³.

Classic predictors of tumor behavior include tumor grade, TNM stage, positive surgical margins, histological subtype, obstructive or perforated tumors, lymphovascular and perineural invasion, locally advanced disease and less than 12 lymph nodes recovered to analysis^4-6.

Micro RNAs (miRNA) are single-stranded molecules of 20-24 nucleotides in length, considered as regulators of gene expression at a post-transcriptional level^7,8. They are involved in several biological processes and have recently been associated with carcinogenesis, therapeutic response, and prognosis⁹ (Figure 1). Micro RNAs can be divided in oncogenic miRNA (Oncomirs), those related to tumor development, and tumor suppressor miRNA, that usually prevent the development of malignancies by inhibition of proto-oncogenes¹⁰.

FIGURE 1
- Chromosomal instability pathway of the adenoma to carcinoma sequence. Involved up- ( ↑ ) and down- ( ↓ ) regulated miRNAs are indicated. Adapted from Hrašovec and Glavač¹¹.

The dosage of serum levels of some miRNAs may prove to be a valuable tool to diagnose CRC or to detect recurrence¹². The primary objective of this study analyzes the serum levels of miR-21, miR-34a and miR-126 in patients with CRC and make a correlation with prognosis variables.

Methods

After approval by the Research Ethics Committee, a prospective study was performed with 37 consecutive CRC patients undergoing curative surgery at Clinics Hospital-University of São Paulo (Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil), in April 2008-February 2009.

All patients provided informed written consent for enrollment in the study. Exclusion criteria included genetic CRC related to genetic syndromes, non-curative surgery, previous chemotherapy and radiotherapy and refusal to provide written informed consent.

Variables collected from medical records included gender, age, tumor site, histologic subtype, pre-operative CEA, TNM staging (AJCC, 7th edition, 2010), recurrence site and overall survival.

Blood samples were collected from CRC patients during the surgery and from 7 healthy volunteers under 50 years old without CRC or any known genetic syndrome. All samples were stored in sterile bottles with Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and maintained at -80ºC degrees.

Nucleic acid extraction and RNA quantification

Serum or plasma microRNAs were extracted using the miRNeasy Mini Kit^(r)(Qiagen, Hilden, Germany)¹³. Plasma samples were lysed with TRIzol^(r). After the addition of chloroform and centrifugation, the aqueous phase was extracted. Ethanol was added to provide adequate binding conditions for all RNA molecules and nucleotides. The samples were then transferred to the RNeasy MinElute Spin^(r)column. The material obtained was frozen at -70°C.

For complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis, reverse transcription was carried out using the High Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription Kit^(r) (Applied Biosystems). For each 5ng of RNA, 0.75µl of RT Buffer, 0.075µl of dNTP's and 1.5µl of specific primers (microRNAs or endogenous controls), 0.5µl of MultiScribe^(r) enzyme and 0.094µl of RNase out (1.9U) were added. The final volume of 7.5µl was obtained with Diethylpyrocarbonate-treated water. The samples were incubated in the thermal cycler for 30 min at 16°C, 30 min at 42°C, 5 min at 85°C and then 4°C. Samples of 4.5µl of cDNA diluted to 10µl (1:4) were used for real-time PCR.

Real-time PCR quantification of microRNA

A real-time PCR was used to confirm the differential expression. From the obtained cDNA samples, a real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) was performed using the TaqMan Master Mix (Applied Biosystems). Quantitative analysis of the expression was carried out using the TaqMan Assay Kit (Assays-on-demand) (Applied Biosystems).

Relative quantification of microRNAs was performed using TaqMan Master Mix(r) reagent (Applied Biosystems, USA). The real-time PCR reactions were carried out in duplicate. Amplification was performed in a final volume of 10μl (5μl of TaqMan Master Mix(r), 0,5μl of each specific probe and 4,5μl of cDNA). CT values were obtained using the 7500 Real-Time PCR System(r) (Applied Biosystems, USA) and the Sequence Detection System(r) software. ΔCT values were calculated using Microsoft(r) Excel(r) calculation. Statistical analysis and graphics generation were carried out using the GraphPad Prism 6.0(r) software (GraphPad Prism Inc., San Diego, CA, USA).

Standard amplification conditions were 95°C for 10 minutes, followed by 40 cycles of 95°C for 15 seconds and 60°C for 1 minute (annealing and simultaneous extension). All reactions were performed in duplicate and analyzed in the 7500 Sequence Detection System(r) (Applied Biosystems, USA). During the PCR data were continuously collected and analyzed in ABI-7500 SDS software.

Statistical analysis

Continuous variables were presented as mean, median, minimum and maximum values. Absolute and percentage frequency were used to analyze numerical values. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare unpaired and non-Gaussian groups. The Spearman correlation test was used to analyze overall survival and preoperative CEA values. A 5% level of significance (α=0.05) was considered for rejection of the null hypothesis.

Results

The main clinical and pathological characteristics of the patients are described in Table 1.

TABLE 1
- Clinical and pathological characteristics of the patients

Characteristics	Number of patients
Gender
Male	19 (51.4%)
Female	18 (48.6%)
Age
< 60 years	14 (37.8%)
≥ 60 years	23 (62.2%)
Tumor localization
Colon	19 (51.4%)
Rectum	18 (48.6%)
Preoperative CEA
Elevated (>5ng/dl)	23 (62.2%)
Normal (<5ng/dl)	14 (37.8%)
TNM staging
I	1 (2.7%)
II	15 (40.5%)
III	13 (35.2%)
IV	8 (21.6%)
Recurrence
Yes	14 (37.8%)
No	23 (62.2%)
Recurrence site
Local	3 (21.4%)
Systemic	11 (78.6%)
Overall Survival (months)
Mean	38.2
Minimum	3
Maximum	52

The expression of miR-21 was lower in the colorectal cancer group (P< 0.001) and in colorectal cancer patients younger than 60 years old (P=0.01). No difference was noted comparing subjects with or without recurrence (P=0.06) and among TNM staging subgroups (P=0.32). There was no correlation between miR-21 expression, CEA levels, and overall survival.

MicroRNA-34a was underexpressed in subjects with CRC (P<0.001) and patients younger than 60 years (P<0.001). No statistical difference was noted comparing patients with or without recurrence (P=0.74) and between TNM staging groups (P=0.22). There was no correlation between miR-34a expression, CEA levels, and overall survival.

The circulating levels of miR-126 were lower in CRC subjects (P<0.001) and in patients under 60 years (P<0.001). No difference was noted comparing subjects with or without recurrence (P=0.89) and among TNM staging subgroups (P=0.31). There was no correlation between miR-126 expression, CEA levels and global survival.

The expression of each microRNA according to CEA levels, TNM staging group and recurrence are illustrated in figure 2.

FIGURE 2
- Expression of microRNAs (mean ± standard deviation) according to age groups, CEA levels, TNM staging and recurrence

Discussion

The full understanding of miRNAs role on carcinogenesis is a laborious task since their function may vary according to the target tissue and may be influenced by population and environmental characteristics^14,15. Some tumor-specific alterations in nucleic acids promise non-invasive biomarkers that can be detected in the plasma of patients^12,16.

The miR-21 inhibits the expression of tumor suppressive genes and induces cell proliferation¹⁷. An overexpression of miR-21 has been found in breast, pancreas, prostate and colorectal cancerand has been linked to more advanced TNM stages, lower cellular differentiation decreased overall survival and reduced disease-free survival^18-20. This correlation with a poorer prognosis could help determine patients who would benefit from a personalized treatment²¹. The present study found no relation between miR-21 and CRC prognosis. This finding could be explained by a wide variation in serum levels of miR-21, in patients with colon and rectal cancer^{22, 23}.

MicroRNA-34a can act as a tumor suppressor by regulating proliferation, invasion, metastasis and apoptosis¹⁰. Reduced serum levels of miR-34 were noticed in a group of CRC patients and human colorectal cancer 5-fluorouracil-resistant DLD-1 cells^24,25. Furthermore, when valued tissue expression, 36% of colon cancer samples showed decreased expression of miR-34a compared to noncancerous colon specimen ²⁶. However, the precise correlation between miR-34 levels and prognosis is still under investigation²⁷.

A high expression of miR-126 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, suggesting that it may act as a tumor suppressor²⁸. Low expression of miR-126 have been related to poor prognosis in colon cancer patients^29,30. This finding was not confirmed by the present study. Further investigation is necessary to identify specific microRNAs that can act as prognostic tools in colorectal cancer.

Conclusion

This study suggests that the expression of miR-21, miR-34a and miR-126 was lower in the CRC group and CRC subjects younger than 60 years old. No associations with CEA values, TNM staging, and histological subtype were noted and, contrary to what has been evidenced, the present study found no association of those biomarkers with poor prognosis.

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• Financial source: none
• 1
  Research performed at the Division of Coloproctology, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  2016