MicroRNA-133b expression inversely correlates with MET and can serve as an optimum predictive biomarker for patients of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND

Inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene microRNA-133b is a frequent event in various malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC). The result of our previous research has found a statistically significant downregulation of microRNA-133b expression in human CRC cells, microRNA-133b can block the growth and metastatic progression of CRC cells and by targeting and repressing mesenchymal to epithelial transition factor. In this study, we identify the association between microRNA-133b, epithelial transition factor expression and clinicopathological parameters.

METHODS

The detection of microRNA-133b and epithelial transition factor between gene and protein expression was evaluated in 46 patients with CRC. The correlation among microRNA-133b, epithelial transition factor and clinicopathological parameters associated with CRC was assessed. Furthermore, the diagnostic capability of microRNA-133b and epithelial transition factor in CRC was also evaluated.

RESULTS

The results show decreased microRNA-133b expression in CRC tissues, and a very strong inverse correlation between the expression of oncogene epithelial transition factor and the expression of microRNA-133b. We also observed that the expression levels of microRNA-133b and epithelial transition factor were statistical associated with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis in CRC tissues, and further identified microRNA-133b and/or epithelial transition factor may be useful for distinguishing CRC patients from the normal population by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

microRNA-133b expression is inversely correlated with epithelial transition factor expression. MicroRNA-133b and/or epithelial transition factor may be useful as valuable prognostic biomarkers in CRC patients.