CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL SIGNIfiCANCE OF EXPRESSION OF MIR-26A, MIR-107, MIR-125B AND MIR-203 IN HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS

Objectives MicroRNAs play an important role in the development and progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). In the current study, we compared the expression levels of microRNAs in primary HNSCC with and without cervical lymph node metastasis and determined their clinicopathological significance. The expression levels of miR-26a, miR-107, miR-125b and miR-203 in primary HNSCC with cervical lymph node metastasis (n=16), and their matched lymph node metastasis, and primary tumors without metastasis (n=16) were determined by quantitative RT-PCR. Furthermore, we evaluated the association of those microRNAs with clinicopathological features and survival of patients with HNSCC. Findings miR-26a (p Conclusion These findings suggest that miR-26a and miR-125b may be associated with progression and metastasis of HNSCC.