MiR-21, EGFR and PTEN in non-small cell lung cancer: an in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry study.
- Resource Type
- Academic Journal
- Authors
- Marin I; Pathology Department, Tel HaShomer Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Israel.; Ofek E; Pathology Department, Tel HaShomer Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Israel.; Bar J; Thoracic Oncology Unit, Institute of Oncology, Tel HaShomer Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Israel.; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.; Prisant N; Pathology Department, Tel HaShomer Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Israel nprisant@gmail.com.; Perelman M; Pathology Department, Tel HaShomer Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Israel.; Avivi C; Pathology Department, Tel HaShomer Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Israel.; Lavy-Shahaf G; Israel Center for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Tel HaShomer Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Israel.; Onn A; Thoracic Oncology Unit, Institute of Oncology, Tel HaShomer Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Israel.; Katz R; Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.; Barshack I; Pathology Department, Tel HaShomer Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Israel.; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.
- Source
- Publisher: BMJ Pub. Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0376601 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1472-4146 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00219746 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Clin Pathol Subsets: MEDLINE
- Subject
- Language
- English
Aims: To analyse microRNA (miR)-21 distribution and expression at the cellular level in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MiR-21 is an oncogenic microRNA overexpressed in NSCLC. In previous studies, overexpression of miR-21 was evaluated from the tumour bulk by quantitative reverse transcription PCR with results expressed on average across the entire cell population.
Methods: We used in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry to assess the correlation between miR-21 levels and the expression of markers that may be possible targets (epidermal growth factor reaction) or may be involved in its upregulation (phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), p53). The Pearson's χ 2 tests was used to assess correlation with clinicopathological data and with miR-21 expression both in tumour and tumour stroma.
Results: Cytoplasmic staining and expression of Mir-21 were detected in the tumours and in associated stromal cells. Expression was highest in the stroma immediately surrounding the tumour cells and decreased as the distance from the tumour increased. No expression of miR-21 was found in normal lung parenchyma and a significant association was found between tumour localised miR-21 and PTEN.
Conclusions: Presence of miR-21 in both cell tumour and stromal compartments of NSCLC and the relationship with PTEN confirms miR-21 as a microenvironment signalling molecule, possibly inducing epithelial mesenchymal transition and invasion by targeting PTEN in the stromal compartment possibly through exosomal transport. In situ immunohistochemical studies such as ours may help shed light on the complex interactions between miRNAs and its role in NSCLC biology.
Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.
(© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)