MiR-26a downregulates retinoblastoma in colorectal cancer

• Published in: Tumor biology Vol. 39; no. 4; p. 1010428317695945
• Main Authors: López-Urrutia, Eduardo, Coronel-Hernández, Jossimar, García-Castillo, Verónica, Contreras-Romero, Carlos, Martínez-Gutierrez, Antonio, Estrada-Galicia, Diana, Terrazas, Luis Ignacio, López-Camarillo, César, Maldonado-Martínez, Hector, Jacobo-Herrera, Nadia, Pérez-Plasencia, Carlos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.04.2017; Sage Publications Ltd; IOS Press
• Subjects: 3' Untranslated Regions; Animals; Authorship; Binding Sites; Biomarkers, Tumor - biosynthesis; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Cancer; Cell cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Colon cancer; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal carcinoma; Colorectal Neoplasms - genetics; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Drinking water; Esophagus; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; HCT116 Cells; Humans; Metabolism; Mice; MicroRNAs - biosynthesis; MicroRNAs - genetics; miRNA; mRNA; Phenotypes; Proteins; Retina; Retinoblastoma; Retinoblastoma Binding Proteins - biosynthesis; Retinoblastoma Binding Proteins - genetics; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Tumor suppressor genes; Tumors; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases - biosynthesis; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases - genetics; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; microRNA-26; colorectal cancer; retinoblastome protein
• ISSN: 1010-4283; 1423-0380
• DOI: 10.1177/1010428317695945

MicroRNAs are non-coding short RNAs that target the 3′ untranslated region of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and lead to their degradation or to translational repression. Several microRNAs have been designated as oncomirs, owing to their regulating tumor suppressor genes. Interestingly, a few of them have been found to target multiple genes whose simultaneous suppression contributes to the development of a tumoral phenotype. Here, we have showed that miR-26a is overexpressed in colorectal cancer data obtained from TCGA Research Network and in human colon cancer pathological specimens; moreover, an orthotopic in vivo model of colon cancer showed overexpression of miR-26a, while Rb1 expression inversely correlated to miR-26a in TCGA Research Network data, pathological samples, and the in vivo model. Then, by means of luciferase assay, we demonstrated that miR-26a targets the 3′ untranslated region of Rb1 mRNA directly. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of miR-26a targeting Rb1 in colon cancer. The results of this study suggested that miR-26a could serve as a progression biomarker in colorectal cancer. Further validation studies are still needed to confirm our findings.