Expression of miR-210, miR130A, miR-200B in tumors of the adrenal cortex of pediatric patients

Abstract

Currently, the diagnosis of adrenocortical tumor behavior in children, cannot be made using the same morphologic criteria used in adult tumors. The lack of application of diagnostic tools with adequate sensitivity and specificity, has promoted research for potential molecular markers to differentiate, by molecular expression, a neoplasm of aggressive behavior from one with benign course. Such is the case of microRNAs that regulate gene expression favoring or inhibiting oncogenesis. At the moment, there are not studies of pediatric adrenocortical neoplasms that have evaluated the differential expression of microRNAs as potential markers of malignant behavior of these tumors, in contrast to what so far has been reported for these tumors in adults. <h3>Objective</h3> To describe the pattern of expression of microRNAs-210, 130a, and-200b in adrenocortical neoplasms in children. <h3>Methods</h3> Total RNA was extracted from patient adrenocortical tumors and normal adrenal gland (controls) matched for age and sex. MicroRNAs-210, 130a, and 200b were amplified by RT-PCR endpoint in tumors and normal tissues. The expression of micro RNAs in tumors of benign and uncertain biological behavior, malignant tumors and normal tissues, was quantified and compared according to age, sex and clinical response. <h3>Results</h3> The sample consisted of 16 cases. The expression of microRNAs in each tumor was evaluated. The expression of microRNA evaluated in tumors was higher than that observed for the controls. There was a statistically significant difference in the expression of miR-130a and miR-200b between tumors and control cases. <h3>Conclusions</h3> There is a statistically significant differential expression of miR-130 and miR-200b in adrenocortical tumors in children compared to normal adrenal tissue. The expression of miR-210 in adrenocortical tumors in children was higher than that observed in normal adrenal tissue, although not statistically significant. These three microRNAs may constitute part of the molecular markers could be used to identify an adrenocortical neoplasm malignant behavior in childhood. Further studies are needed to validate these results in another group of pediatric adrenocortical tumors.