Role of microRNAs in malignant mesothelioma

Our plain-English summary of Role of microRNAs in malignant mesothelioma, by A. Truini, S. Coco, A. Alama, et al (Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 2014).

The study

• Authors: A. Truini, S. Coco, A. Alama, C. Genova, C. Sini, M.G. Dal Bello, G. Barletta, E. Rijavec, G. Burrafato, F. Boccardo, F. Grossi
• Journal: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
• Published: 2014;71(15):2865-78
• Type of article: Review
• Cited by: 28 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive tumor, mainly derived from the pleura, which is predominantly associated with exposure to asbestos fibers. The prognosis of MM patients is particularly severe, with a median survival of approximately 9-12 months and latency between exposure and diagnosis ranging from 20-50 years (median 30 years). Emerging evidence has demonstrated that tumor aggressiveness is associated with genome and gene expression abnormalities; therefore, several studies have recently focused on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in MM tumorigenesis. miRNAs are small non-protein coding single-stranded RNAs (17-22 nucleotides) involved in numerous cellular processes that negatively regulate gene expression by modulating the expression of downstream target genes. miRNAs are often deregulated in cancer; in particular, the differential miRNA expression profiles of MM cells compared to unaffected mesothelial cells have suggested potential roles of miRNAs as either oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes in MM oncogenesis. In this review, the mechanism of MM carcinogenesis was evaluated through the analysis of the published miRNA expression data. The roles of miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers and prognostic factors for potential therapeutic strategies will be presented and discussed.

In plain English

This article was a review by authors in Genova, Italy, of published studies on microRNAs (small RNA molecules that regulate genes) in malignant mesothelioma. It did not collect new data. The review did not name asbestos fiber types. In one reviewed study, no differentially expressed microRNA was detected between asbestos-exposed and non-exposed samples, which the review said could relate to how exposure was assessed. Other reviewed studies reported low circulating miR-126 in mesothelioma patients, and 6- to 42-fold lower levels of several microRNAs in mesothelioma than in lung adenocarcinoma. In one study of surgically treated patients, those with epithelial mesothelioma and higher miR-29c* had a median survival of 21.6 months, versus 9.1 months with lower levels. Another reported lower miR-103 in blood cells of mesothelioma patients than in asbestos-exposed people and controls. The authors concluded that the data demonstrate the relevance of microRNAs to the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of mesothelioma, and that all data should be validated in a uniform manner. They noted that few studies existed, that some results disagreed, and that larger samples were needed.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Narrative review of published studies on microRNA expression in malignant mesothelioma; no new data collected
• Who was studied: About 20 published studies (listed in the article's Table 1). These used mesothelioma tumor tissue, serum, plasma, blood cells and cell lines, compared with various control samples. The reviewing authors were based in Genova, Italy.
• Exposure: Not an exposure study. The review concerns microRNA expression in mesothelioma. Asbestos is mentioned only generally as the main cause, and no fiber types are named.
• Main results:
  • In the reviewed Guled et al. study, no differentially expressed microRNA was detected in asbestos-exposed samples compared with non-exposed subjects. The review said this could be related to the method of asbestos exposure assessment.
  • In a reviewed study of 45 untreated mesothelioma patients, low circulating miR-126 was observed in the mesothelioma patients.
  • In the reviewed Gee et al. study, several microRNAs (miR-200 family and others) were lower in mesothelioma than in lung adenocarcinoma samples.
  • The reviewed Pass et al. study used 129 surgically treated mesothelioma samples and looked at survival after surgical cytoreduction. Among patients with epithelial mesothelioma, those with higher miR-29c* had a median survival of 21.6 months, compared with 9.1 months for those with lower expression.
  • In the reviewed Weber et al. study, miR-103 in the cellular fraction of peripheral blood was lower in both mesothelioma subtypes studied than in asbestos-exposed individuals and controls.
  • In the reviewed Muraoka et al. study, the degree of miR-34b/c methylation in serum circulating DNA was higher in advanced-stage than in early-stage disease.
  • In the reviewed Reid et al. study of tissue from 60 mesothelioma patients and 6 cell lines, miR-15 and miR-16 were reduced 4- to 22-fold.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that the reported data demonstrate the relevance of microRNAs in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of mesothelioma, and that all data should be validated in a uniform manner.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • Only a limited number of studies existed, and some results disagreed because of differing subtypes, sample sources, controls and methods.
  • Larger samples are needed to minimize false-positive findings.
  • Some studies covered only pleural mesothelioma, while others covered all types.

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Lung cancer, Mesothelioma.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Malignant Mesothelioma, Pleura, Prognosis, Median Survival, Latency, Tumorigenesis, Mesothelial Cells, Tumor Suppressor Gene.

Related studies

• Prognostic and Therapeutic Implications of MicroRNA in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma — A. Truini, S. Coco, et al. (2016)
• Discovery of Previously Undetected MicroRNAs in Mesothelioma and Their Use as Tissue-of-Origin Markers — V.D. Martinez, E.A. Marshall, et al. (2019)
• MiR-score: a novel 6-microRNA signature that predicts survival outcomes in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma — M.B. Kirschner, Y.Y. Cheng, et al. (2015)
• MicroRNA signature of malignant mesothelioma with potential diagnostic and prognostic implications — S. Busacca, S. Germano, et al. (2010)
• Downregulated microRNAs in the differential diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma — G.V. Gee, D.C. Koestler, et al. (2010)
• Upregulation of microRNA-31 associates with a poor prognosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma with sarcomatoid component — S. Matsumoto, K. Nabeshima, et al. (2014)

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