Abstract A6: microRNA sequencing of AKXD recombinant inbred panel identifies miR-216b as a candidate metastasis suppressor in a murine model of breast cancer

Abstract

Abstract Metastatic disease continues to be the primary cause of mortality in cancer. Using a combination of complex genetics, mouse models of breast cancer, and human epidemiology, our laboratory has demonstrated that germline polymorphism contributes to an individual's susceptibility to metastasis. In the current study, we have used the AKXD recombinant inbred panel, which is derived from inbred mice of metastasis resistant, DBA, and metastasis-prone, AKR, genetic backgrounds, to identify microRNAs whose expression is associated with metastasis. microRNA sequencing of tumor tissue from the progeny of AKXD x Polyoma Middle-T mice demonstrated that the expression of the miR-216/217 cluster is significantly negatively correlated with pulmonary metastases in the AKXD panel. Linkage analysis demonstrated a significant association between the miR-216/217 locus and the DBA allele, suggesting that the difference in expression is inherited rather than somatically acquired. Finally, we show that ectopic expression of miR-216b in murine mammary tumor cells suppresses pulmonary metastasis without significantly impacting primary tumor growth in vivo. These findings suggest that miR-216b is an inherited modifier of metastasis with metastasis suppressing activity in a mouse model of breast cancer. Citation Format: Farhoud Faraji, Ying Hu, Natalie Goldberger, Gang Wu, Ken H. Buetow, Jinghui Zhang, Kent W. Hunter. microRNA sequencing of AKXD recombinant inbred panel identifies miR-216b as a candidate metastasis suppressor in a murine model of breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Noncoding RNAs and Cancer; 2012 Jan 8-11; Miami Beach, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A6.