A study suggests that microRNA-638 (miR-638) may have the capacity to inhibit breast cancer. The results were published in the World Journal of Surgical Oncology.
The researchers used a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to measure miR-638 expressions, and immunocytochemical (IHC) assay and western blot analysis to discern protein expressions. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and Transwell assay were conducted to observe proliferation and motility of the cancer cells, and dual luciferase assay was performed to confirm the binding site between miR-638 and Homeobox protein Hox-A9 (HOXA9).
Following analysis, the researchers observed that reduced expression of miR-638 was detected in breast cancer. Moreover, low miR-638 expression was linked to poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer. The results showed that miR-638 suppressed the viability, migration, and invasion of the breast cancer cells.
The researchers commented, “miR-638 can directly bind to HOXA9, and increased expression of HOXA9 was also detected in breast cancer. In particular, HOXA9 upregulation can impair anti-tumor effect of miR-638 in breast cancer, and miR-638 can hinder the Wnt/β-cadherin pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer.”
They concluded that “miR-638 inhibits breast cancer progression through binding to HOXA9.”
Read more at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34416888/
Keywords: Breast cancer, HOXA9, miR-638
