The miR-15a-miR-16-1 locus is homozygously deleted in a subset of prostate cancers

✍ Scribed by Kati P. Porkka; Erinn-Lee Ogg; Outi R. Saramäki; Robert L. Vessella; Heidi Pukkila; Harri Lähdesmäki; Wytske M. van Weerden; Maija Wolf; Olli P. Kallioniemi; Guido Jenster; Tapio Visakorpi

• Book ID: 102843328
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 774 KB
• Volume: 50
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1045-2257
• DOI: 10.1002/gcc.20873

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non‐coding RNAs that negatively regulate the expression of protein coding genes. In this study, we screened highly informative prostate cancer cell lines and xenografts (n = 42) for miRNA gene copy number and expression changes. The expression profiling showed distinction between cell lines and xenografts as well as between androgen sensitive and independent models. Only a few copy number alterations that were associated with expression changes were identified. Most importantly, the miR‐15a‐miR‐16‐1 locus was found to be homozygously deleted in two samples leading to the abolishment of miR‐15a, but not miR‐16, expression. miR‐16 is also expressed from another genomic locus. Mutation screening of the miR‐15a‐miR‐16‐1 gene in the model systems as well as clinical samples (n = 50) revealed no additional mutations. In conclusion, our data indicate that putative tumor suppressors, miR‐15a and miR‐16‐1, are homozygously deleted in a subset of prostate cancers, further suggesting that these miRNAs could be important in the development of prostate cancer. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.