Abstract 5036: MicroRNA expression profiling potential for human breast cancer diagnosis using a bead-based microRNA-specific capturing method

Abstract

Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a family of small, endogenous, non-coding (∼17-24 nucleotides) nucleic acids, were initially discovered in 1993, but the discovery of a second miRNA led to their use as molecular markers of disease and potential therapeutic targets. MiRNAs regulate RNA translation, play a role in cell proliferation, control timing of organism development, and are associated with carcinogenesis. Because of their regulatory function in cell differentiation and renewal during physiologic and malignant conditions, miRNAs are emerging as a new class of effective biomarkers for cancer research. The miRNA expression profiling of tumor cells will allow for the identification of prognostic markers to indicate potential targets for patient- or disease-specific therapies. Three criteria important for profiling miRNAs are ease of use, simplicity and sensitivity. We have designed and developed a new method to quickly extract and purify specific miRNAs for detection using our current reverse transcription and real-time quantitative PCR workflows. The method involved 1μm-diameter magnetic beads conjugated with anti-miRNA oligoncleotides to capture these select miRNA targets from blood, plasma, and other tissues. The miRNAs were then transcribed into cDNA and subsequently used as templates for TaqMan® qRT-PCR analysis. We used this method to evaluate the miRNA signatures from normal and cancerous human breast modeled by cell lines and represented by formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5036. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5036