Abstract LB-470: Tumor suppressor role of microRNA-18b in melanoma

MicroRNAs play important roles in gene regulation, and their expression is frequently dysregulated in various tumors. Here, we report that expression of miR-18b is significantly suppressed in melanoma specimens when compared with nevi. miR-18b is silenced in melanoma cell lines due to hypermethylation and is re-expressed by 5-AZA-deoxycytidine (5-AZA) in melanoma cell lines. miR-18b overexpression suppressed cell survival, colony formation, invasiveness and migratory ability and induced apoptosis in melanoma cell lines. Stable overexpression of miR-18b suppressed melanoma cell proliferation, colony formation, and tumor cell growth in-vivo. miR-18b reverses epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in melanoma cell lines and its expression was induced by the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin. These results demonstrate a novel role for miR-18b as a tumor suppressor in melanoma. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-470. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-470