A microRNA expression signature of human solid tumors defines cancer gene targets
Small noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) can contribute to cancer development and progression and are differentially expressed in normal tissues and cancers. From a large scale miRnome analysis on 540 samples including lung, breast, stomach, prostate, colon, and pancreatic tumors, we identified a solid cancer miRNA signature composed by a large portion of overexpressed miRNAs. Among these miRNAs are some with well characterized cancer association, such as miR 17 5p, miR 20a, miR 21, miR 92, miR 106a, and miR 155. The predicted targets for the differentially expressed miRNAs are significantly enriched for protein coding tumor suppressors and oncogenes (P 0.0001) A number of the predicted targets, including the tumor suppressors RB1 (Retinoblastoma 1) and TGFBR2 (transforming growth factor, beta receptor II) genes were confirmed experimentally. Our results indicate that miRNAs are extensively involved in cancer pathogenesis of solid tumors and support their function as either dominant or recessive cancer genes.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America