Summary
Published in PLoS ONE (2013), this peer-reviewed study used 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds to form scaffold-free 3D microtissues. Full citation: Vang, Souriya, et al. Identification of Ovarian Cancer Metastatic miRNAs
Identification of Ovarian Cancer Metastatic miRNAs
Research Overview
Serous epithelial ovarian cancer patients often die of metastatic disease, yet the behavior and genetics of those metastases are poorly understood. This study compared miRNA expression between primary tumors and their matched omental metastases from nine patients using TaqMan qPCR arrays.
Seventeen miRNAs were differentially expressed in omental lesions. miR-21, miR-150, and miR-146a were low in most primary tumors but significantly elevated in omental metastases, with corresponding decreases in predicted mRNA targets — and functional work showed miR-150 and miR-146a mediate metastatic behavior, with implications for chemotherapy response.
Key Discoveries
- 17 miRNAs differentially expressed between primary ovarian tumors and matched omental metastases
- miR-21, miR-150, and miR-146a significantly upregulated in metastatic lesions
- miR-150 and miR-146a shown to mediate metastatic behavior, relevant to chemotherapy response
