M P Starkey1, L Compston-Garnett1, P Malho2, K Dunn3, R Dubielzig4. 1. Molecular Oncology Group, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK. 2. Comparative Ophthalmology Unit, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK. 3. FOCUS-EyePathLab, Murarrie, Australia. 4. Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular tumour in dogs. There is no effective means of predicting whether a tumour will metastasize. microRNA (miRNA) metastasis signatures have been identified for several human cancers, including UM. AIMS: In this study we investigated whether metastasizing and non-metastasizing canine UMs can be distinguished by miRNA expression levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: miRNA microarray profiling was used to compare miRNA expression in 8 metastasizing and 12 non-metastasizing formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) primary UM biopsies. RESULTS: Fourteen miRNAs exhibited statistically significant differences in expression between the metastasizing and non-metastasizing tumours. Class prediction analysis pinpointed 9 miRNAs which categorized tumours as metastasizing or non-metastasizing with an accuracy of 89%. Of the discriminating miRNAs, 8 were up-regulated in metastasizing UM, and included 3 miRNAs implicated as potential "metastasis activators" in human cutaneous melanoma. The expression of 4 of the miRNAs was subsequently measured using the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and their up-regulation in metastasizing tumours validated. CONCLUSION: miRNA expression profiles may potentially be used to identify UMs that will metastasize, and miRNAs that are up-regulated in metastasizing tumours may be targets for therapeutic intervention.
BACKGROUND:Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular tumour in dogs. There is no effective means of predicting whether a tumour will metastasize. microRNA (miRNA) metastasis signatures have been identified for several humancancers, including UM. AIMS: In this study we investigated whether metastasizing and non-metastasizing canine UMs can be distinguished by miRNA expression levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: miRNA microarray profiling was used to compare miRNA expression in 8 metastasizing and 12 non-metastasizing formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) primary UM biopsies. RESULTS: Fourteen miRNAs exhibited statistically significant differences in expression between the metastasizing and non-metastasizing tumours. Class prediction analysis pinpointed 9 miRNAs which categorized tumours as metastasizing or non-metastasizing with an accuracy of 89%. Of the discriminating miRNAs, 8 were up-regulated in metastasizing UM, and included 3 miRNAs implicated as potential "metastasis activators" in humancutaneous melanoma. The expression of 4 of the miRNAs was subsequently measured using the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and their up-regulation in metastasizing tumours validated. CONCLUSION: miRNA expression profiles may potentially be used to identify UMs that will metastasize, and miRNAs that are up-regulated in metastasizing tumours may be targets for therapeutic intervention.
Authors: Louise van der Weyden; Mike Starkey; Bushra Abu-Helil; Anthony J Mutsaers; Geoffrey A Wood Journal: Clin Exp Metastasis Date: 2019-11-05 Impact factor: 5.150