Down-regulation of Dicer expression in cervical cancer tissues

Med Oncol. 2014 May;31(5):937. doi: 10.1007/s12032-014-0937-0. Epub 2014 Mar 28.

Abstract

Dicer is a component of the MicroRNA-producing machinery. The altered expression of Dicer may play a role in oncogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of Dicer in cervical cancer tissues and its significance. Cancer tissues, para-cancer tissues and corresponding normal tissues were obtained from 31 cervical cancer patients undergoing surgery. Expression levels of Dicer mRNA were evaluated in these tissues using the real-time reverse transcription PCR. The association of the Dicer expression levels with clinical characteristics was also examined. The expression levels of Dicer mRNA were decreased in 66.7% (18/27) and 76.9% (20/26) of cervical cancer and para-cancer specimens, respectively, compared with corresponding normal tissues. The lower expression levels of Dicer in cancer tissues were associated with advanced tumor stages (p = 0.03) and with metastasis (p = 0.01). The down-regulation of Dicer expression in cancer and para-cancer tissues was observed. The lower expression of Dicer in cancer tissues demonstrated to be associated with tumor stages and metastasis. Future studies with a greater number of tissues to more conclusively determine the extent of low-level expression of Dicer in cervical cancer are warranted.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cervix Uteri / metabolism*
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / genetics*
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Ribonuclease III / genetics*
  • Ribonuclease III / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • RNA, Messenger
  • DICER1 protein, human
  • Ribonuclease III
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases