Up-regulation of miR-335 predicts a favorable prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2014 Aug 15;7(9):6213-8. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Introduction: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs that regulate multiple cellular processes during cancer progression. MiR-335 has recently been identified to be involved in tumorigenesis of several cancers such as ovarian cancer and gastric cancer. However, the regulation of miR-335 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has not been reported yet.

Methods: Expression of miR-335 in tumor and their normal matched tissues was determined by quantitative real-time PCR in 67 ESCC patients and its association with overall survival of patients was analyzed by statistical analysis.

Results: The expression level of miR-335 was reduced in malignant tissue samples in comparison to normal matched tissue (P < 0.05). It was also proved that miR-335 expression was associated with ESCC histological grade, lymph node metastasis, tumor stage and clinical stage (P < 0.05). In addition, the Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that low miR-335 expression was associated with poor prognosis in ESCC patients. Multivariate analysis showed that miR-335 expression was an independent prognostic marker of overall survival of ESCC patients.

Conclusions: The study proves for the first time that miR-335 is down regulated in a majority of ESCC patients. Our results indicate that miR-335 expression is an independent prognostic factor for patients with esophageal cancer, which might be a potential valuable biomarker for ESCC.

Keywords: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; miR-335; prognosis; quantitative real-time PCR.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / secondary
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • MIRN335 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs