High expression of microRNA-126 relates to favorable prognosis for colon cancer patients

Sci Rep. 2021 May 5;11(1):9592. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-87985-3.

Abstract

miR-126 has been identified both as a tumor suppressor and an oncogene in different types of cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of miR-126-expression in colon cancer patients. Tumor tissue from 452 patients operated for stage I-III colon cancer was retrospectively collected and tissue microarrays were constructed. miR-126 expression was evaluated by in situ hybridization and analyzed using digital pathology. To isolate the compartment specific contribution of miR-126, tumor and adjacent tumor stroma were considered separately. In univariate analyses, high expression of miR-126 in tumor and stroma was related to increased disease-specific survival (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). In multivariate analyses, high miR-126 expression in tumor remained a significant independent predictor of improved disease-specific survival (HR = 0.42, CI 0.23-0.75, p = 0.004). Within different TNM-stages there was a tendency towards the same results, but with statistically significant results in stage II only (p = 0.007). High expression of miR-126 is an independent positive prognostic factor in stage I-III colon cancer. This finding may be used to identify patients in need of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • MIRN126 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs