miR148b is a major coordinator of breast cancer progression in a relapse-associated microRNA signature by targeting ITGA5, ROCK1, PIK3CA, NRAS, and CSF1

FASEB J. 2013 Mar;27(3):1223-35. doi: 10.1096/fj.12-214692. Epub 2012 Dec 11.

Abstract

Breast cancer is often fatal during its metastatic dissemination. To unravel the role of microRNAs (miRs) during malignancy, we analyzed miR expression in 77 primary breast carcinomas and identified 16 relapse-associated miRs that correlate with survival and/or distinguish tumor subtypes in different datasets. Among them, miR-148b, down-regulated in aggressive breast tumors, was found to be a major coordinator of malignancy. In fact, it is able to oppose various steps of tumor progression when overexpressed in cell lines by influencing invasion, survival to anoikis, extravasation, lung metastasis formation, and chemotherapy response. miR-148b controls malignancy by coordinating a novel pathway involving over 130 genes and, in particular, it directly targets players of the integrin signaling, such as ITGA5, ROCK1, PIK3CA/p110α, and NRAS, as well as CSF1, a growth factor for stroma cells. Our findings reveal the importance of the identified 16 miRs for disease outcome predictions and suggest a critical role for miR-148b in the control of breast cancer progression.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Integrin alpha5 / biosynthesis*
  • Integrin alpha5 / genetics
  • Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / biosynthesis*
  • Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Oncogene Protein p21(ras) / biosynthesis*
  • Oncogene Protein p21(ras) / genetics
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / biosynthesis*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics
  • RNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • RNA, Neoplasm / metabolism*
  • rho-Associated Kinases / biosynthesis*
  • rho-Associated Kinases / genetics

Substances

  • Integrin alpha5
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • PIK3CA protein, human
  • ROCK1 protein, human
  • rho-Associated Kinases
  • Oncogene Protein p21(ras)