Title:MicroRNA-372-3p Predicts Response of TACE Patients Treated with Doxorubicin and Enhances Chemosensitivity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Volume: 21
Issue: 2
Author(s): Marwa H. Soliman, Mohamed A. Ragheb, Emad M. Elzayat, Mervat S. Mohamed, Nada El-Ekiaby, Ahmed I. Abdelaziz and Abdel-Hady A. Abdel-Wahab*
Affiliation:
- Department of Cancer Biology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo,Egypt
Keywords:
MicroRNA-372-3p, doxorubicin, chemosensitivity, TACE, Mcl-1, hepatocellular carcinoma.
Abstract: Background: Identification of factors to detect and improve chemotherapy-response in cancer is the
main concern. microRNA-372-3p (miR-372-3p) has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in cellular proliferation,
apoptosis and metastasis of various cancers including Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). However, its
contribution towards Doxorubicin (Dox) chemosensitivity in HCC has never been studied.
Objective: This study aims to investigate the potential role of miR-372-3p in enhancing Dox effects on HCC cell
line (HepG2). Additionally, the correlation between miR-372-3p and HCC patients who received Transarterial
Chemoembolization (TACE) with Dox treatment has been analyzed.
Methods: Different cell processes were elucidated by cell viability, colony formation, apoptosis and wound
healing assays after miR-372-3p transfection in HepG2 cells Furthermore, the miR-372-3p level has been
estimated in the blood of primary HCC patients treated with TACE/Dox by quantitative real-time PCR assay.
Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) analysis for serum miR-372-3p was constructed for its prognostic significance.
Finally, the protein level of Mcl-1, the anti-apoptotic player, has been evaluated using western blot.
Results: We found a significantly higher level of miR-372-3p in the blood of the responder group of HCC patients
who received TACE with Dox than of non-responders. Ectopic expression of miR-372-3p reduced cell
proliferation, migration and significantly induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells which was coupled with a decrease
of anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1.
Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that miR-372-3p acts as a tumor suppressor in HCC and can act as a predictor
biomarker for drug response. Furthermore, the data referred for the first time its potential role in drug
sensitivity that might be a therapeutic target for HCC.