Androgen receptor decreases CMYC and KRAS expression by upregulating let-7a expression in ER-, PR-, AR+ breast cancer

Int J Oncol. 2014 Jan;44(1):229-37. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2013.2151. Epub 2013 Oct 25.

Abstract

It is generally known that the decision to use anti-estrogen therapy is based on the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancers. Recent studies have shown that androgen receptor (AR) is frequently expressed in ER-, PR- breast cancer and plays an important role in the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Furthermore, AR can increase the global expression of microRNAs, post-transcriptional gene regulators that play a crucial role in the initiation and progression of breast cancer. In this study, we investigated the functions and relations of AR, related miRNAs and target proteins in ER-, PR-, AR+ breast cancer. The results showed that androgen-induced AR activating signal directly upregulates let-7a expression, downregulates CMYC and KRAS protein expression, and inhibits cell proliferation in ER-, PR-, AR+ breast cancer cells. Overexpression of let-7a inhibits cell proliferation and downregulates CMYC and KRAS protein expression, whereas inhibition of let-7a expression by specific antisense oligonucleo-tides increases cell growth and upregulates CMYC and KRAS protein expression. We performed in situ hybridization for let-7a and immunohistochemical staining for CMYC and KRAS using sequential sections obtained from surgically-resected breast cancer tissues and observed an inverse correlation between the staining pattern of let-7a and its target proteins. Androgen-induced AR activating signal upregulates let-7a that targets CMYC and KRAS and contributes to ER-, PR-, AR+ breast cancer pathogenesis. Elucidation of this pathway will help develop new therapies.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • MicroRNAs / biosynthesis*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / biosynthesis*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Estrogen / genetics
  • Receptors, Progesterone / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • ras Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • ras Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • AR protein, human
  • KRAS protein, human
  • MYC protein, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • mirnlet7 microRNA, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • ras Proteins