Abstract
BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated to play a vital role in development, differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, which miRNAs are actually associated with endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer remains controversial.MethodsSerum and ascites samples were obtained from all patients. Serum samples from 5 cases of ovarian endometrioma and endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer each were submitted for comprehensive miRNA microarray profiling. We investigated the differential expression of miRNAs between the two groups to confirm the pivotal role of miRNAs. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction validation of five selected miRNAs [miR-92a-3p, miR-486-5p, miR-4484, miR-6821-5p, and miR-7108-5p] was performed, and miR-486-5p expression analysis was followed by proliferation and wound healing assays, depending on the expression of miR-486-5p.ResultmiR-486-5p expression in serum and ascites samples from endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer patients was significantly higher than that from ovarian endometrioma patients. Moreover, the miR-486-5p level in serum and ascites samples was significantly correlated with the severity of the endometriosis. The upregulation of miR-486-5p in immortalized ovarian endometrioma cells significantly increased proliferation and migration. In contrast, the downregulation of miR-486-5p in these cells significantly decreased proliferation and migration.ConclusionmiR-486-5p might function as an oncogenic miRNA in endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer and could be a noninvasive biomarker to prospect the severity of ovarian endometrioma.
Highlights
Sampson et al reported the first case of suspected malignant change in endometriosis in 1925 and described that endometrial ovarian cancer may develop from endometriotic tissue based on microscopic findings [1]
Endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers (EAOC) include epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), such as clear cell and endometrioid ovarian carcinoma [2, 3], and several studies have shown that the clinical characteristics and prognosis of EAOC are different from those of EOC [4]
Tumor diameter, CA125 level and CA19–9 level were significantly higher in EAOC compared to those in Ovarian endometrioma (OE)
Summary
Sampson et al reported the first case of suspected malignant change in endometriosis in 1925 and described that endometrial ovarian cancer may develop from endometriotic tissue based on microscopic findings [1]. Most epidemiological studies have revealed that endometriosis increases the risk of ovarian cancer, but this association remains controversial. MicroRNAs are a class of small, non-coding regulatory RNAs (18–25 nucleotides) that play a pivotal role in the regulation of post-transcriptional gene expression and are advocated to be included in diverse developmental and pathological processes [7]. MicroRNAs have been implicated to play a vital role in development, differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Which miRNAs are associated with EAOC remains controversial. To confirm the pivotal role of miRNAs in the migration of ovarian cancer, we carried out wound healing and proliferation assays. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated to play a vital role in development, differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Which miRNAs are associated with endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer remains controversial
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