Dietary Intake is Associated with miR-31 and miR-375 Expression in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Nutr Cancer. 2022;74(6):2049-2058. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2021.1990972. Epub 2021 Oct 14.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important epigenetic regulators in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), with miR-31 being considered an oncomir and miR-375, a tumor suppressor miR, which are up- and down-regulated in HNSCC, respectively. Nutrients are known to influence miRNA expression; however, this association is poorly explored in HNSCC. This work aimed to identify associations between dietary intake and the expression of miR-31 and miR-375 in patients newly diagnosed with HNSCC. The expression of miR-31 was positively associated with the consumption of iron (β = 16.65) and vitamin C (β = 0.37), and inversely associated with total sugar (β = -0.88), cholesterol (β= -0.23), vitamin B9 (β= -0.37) and zinc (β = -5.66) intake. The expression of miR-375 was positively associated with the consumption of selenium (β = 1.52), vitamin C (β = 0.17) and vitamin D (β = 13.01), and inversely associated with the consumption of added sugar (β = -0.49), phosphorus (β= -0.27) and vitamin B12 (β = -10.80). Our findings showed important associations between dietary intake and miR-31 and miR-375 expression in HNSCC, offering possible directions for further studies investigating how nutrients interfere with carcinogenesis.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2021.1990972 .

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ascorbic Acid
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Eating
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / genetics
  • Sugars
  • Vitamins

Substances

  • MIRN31 microRNA, human
  • MIRN375 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Sugars
  • Vitamins
  • Ascorbic Acid