Expression of oncogenic miR-17-92 and tumor suppressive miR-143-145 clusters in basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

- microRNAs can have an oncogenic or tumor-supressive effect.
- miR-17-92 cluster (Oncomir-1) is oncogenic and miR-143-145 tumor supressive.
- miR-17-92 and miR-143-5p were highly significant increased in cSCC.
- miR-145-5p was significantly decreased in BCC.
- miR-17-92 and miR-143-145 show dysregulation in epidermal skin cancer.

BackgroundA variety of cancers are associated with the expression of the oncogenic miR-17-92 cluster (Oncomir-1) and tumor suppressor miR-143-5p/miR-145-5p. Epidermal skin cancer has not been investigated for the expression of miR-17-92 and miR-143-145 clusters, despite being extensively studied regarding global microRNA profiles. The goal of this study was to investigate the expression and possible correlation of expression of miR17-92 and miR-143-145 cluster members in epidermal skin cancer.MethodsWe evaluated punch biopsies from patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC, n = 15) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC, n = 16), along with control specimens from non-lesional epidermal skin (n = 16). Expression levels of the miR17-92 cluster (including miR-17-5p, miR-17-3p, miR-18a-3p, miR-18a-5p, miR-19a-3p, miR-19a-5p, miR-19b-3p, miR-19b-1-5p, miR-20a-3p, miR-20a-5p, miR-92a-3p, and miR-92a-5p) and the tumor-suppressive cluster miR-143-145 (including miR-143-5p and miR-145-5p) were detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.ResultsWe noted a highly significant increased expression of the miR-17-92 members miR-17-5p, miR-18a-5p, miR19a-3p, and miR-19b-3p and tumor suppressor miR-143-5p (p < 0.01) in cSCC. miR-145-5p had a significantly decreased expression (p < 0.05) for in BCC. A correlation analysis revealed multiple correlating miRNA-pairs within and between the investigated clusters.ConclusionThis study marks the first evidence for the participation of members of the miR-17-92 cluster in cSCC and miR-143-145 cluster in BCC.