Expression and clinical significance of the microRNA-200 family in gastric cancer

Abstract

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malig-nant tumors and one of the leading causes of cancer‑related mortality. Recent studies have revealed that there is a difference in microRNA (miR/miRNA) profiles between cancerous and normal tissues. To find a potentially useful prognostic predictor and a promising therapeutic tool for gastric cancer, the present study investigated the expression and clinical significance of the miR‑200 family in gastric cancer. The miR‑200 family has five members: hsa‑miR‑200a, hsa‑miR‑200b, hsa‑miR‑200c, hsa‑miR‑141 and hsa‑miR‑429. In 46 clinical samples of gastric cancer and paired non-cancerous tissues, the present study observed that the expression levels of the miR‑200 family in the cancer tissues were significantly lower than those in the non‑cancerous tissues (P<0.001). Lower levels of the five family members were associated with histological grade and the presence of an intravascular cancer embolus (P<0.05). The results revealed that the miR‑200 family is downregulated in gastric cancer, and that there are significant differences in the expression of the miR‑200 family between normal and cancer tissues. The miR‑200 family may therefore become a potentially useful prognostic predictor of the aggressiveness of gastric cancer and a possible therapeutic tool in affected patients.