Investigation of microRNA-146a and microRNA-218 expression in cervical cancer

BackgroundCervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. However, information about miRNAs in cervical cancer remains limited. ObjectiveTo examine miR-146a and miR-218 expression patterns in cervical cancer, and to determine their value as biomarkers for cervical cancer. MethodsCervical cancer tissue microarray (TMA) samples (BioGenex TS-4215) were used in this study. Probes for miR-146a and miR-218 were labeled with 5’-Fluorescein. Fully automated Xmatrx system (from slides baking, denaturation, hybridization, detection, and final coversliping) was used for the experiments. ResultsAmong the 33 cervical cancer TMA samples, upregulated cytoplasmic expression of miR-146a in cancer cells was observed in 22 tissue samples (66.7%). There were 11 cervical cancer samples that exhibited basal level expression (33.3%). Only 8 out of 33 cervical cancer samples demonstrated elevated levels of miR-218 (24.2%), 19/33 (58%) showed basal level expression, and there were 6/33 samples (18%) displa...