Background/aim: Uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) is a very rare mesenchymal tumor showing an aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis for patients. Due to the low incidence, little is known about molecular tumor biology and biomarkers of uLMS. Micro-RNA-1 (miR-1) has been identified as a pivotal tumor suppressor in numerous entities being suited as a molecular marker for tumor progression.
Materials and methods: uLMS patient samples were analyzed regarding their miR-1 expression levels. Furthermore, miR-1 growth inhibitory and target regulatory properties were examined in transfected uLMS cells SK-UT-1.
Results: miR-1 was strongly suppressed in uLMS tumor tissue compared to adjacent healthy tissue. In vitro studies, however, failed to detect growth inhibitory properties of miR-1 in SK-UT-1 cells. The expression of the cell survival and MAP kinases Erk-1/2 and p38 was not targeted by miR-1.
Conclusion: Tumor suppressive mechanisms of miR-1, seem to be inhibited in uLMS SK-UT-1 cells, maybe as part of the malignant transformation process. Regardless of the microRNA's cellular functionality, miR-1 may represent a promising biomarker of diagnosis in uLMS therapy.
Keywords: Uterine leiomyosarcoma; microRNA-1; tumor progression.
Copyright© 2018, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.