MicroRNA-100 targets IGF1R and regulates migration in a breast cancer model of epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Luminal breast tumors typically have a lower risk of metastasis due to the epithelial nature of the cells. Strong adhesion between epithelial cancer cells lowers their motility, migration rate, and invasive potential. Despite the nature of epithelial breast tumors, they may still undergo metastasis,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bios (Madison, N.J.) N.J.), 2015-12, Vol.86 (4), p.185-192
Main Authors: Slocum, Elizabeth M, Reed, Irene K. Guttilla
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Breast cancer
Cancer
Cell adhesion
Cell culture techniques
Cell growth
Cell lines
Epithelial cells
Metastasis
MicroRNA
Research Article
Tumors
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Summary:Luminal breast tumors typically have a lower risk of metastasis due to the epithelial nature of the cells. Strong adhesion between epithelial cancer cells lowers their motility, migration rate, and invasive potential. Despite the nature of epithelial breast tumors, they may still undergo metastasis, which is thought to be initiated by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is a process through which epithelial cells acquire the phenotype of mesenchymal cells, which have enhanced invasive potential in cancer. MicroRNAs, small regulatory RNAs that inhibit gene expression, play a role in the regulation of EMT. This study demonstrates that microRNA-100 (miR-100) is upregulated in mesenchymal breast cancer cells (MCF-7M) versus epithelial breast cancer cells (MCF-7) via a mammosphere-induced EMT. MiR-100 may play a role in EMT by targeting the insulin like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R). Inhibition of miR-100 in MCF-7M cells significantly increased endogenous IGF1R expression. IGF1R has been implemented in the initiation of tumorigenesis; however expression of this receptor also strengthens E-cadherin mediated adhesion in epithelial cells. It is hypothesized that upregulation of miR-100 in mesenchymal breast cancer cells decreases IGF1R expression to facilitate increased motility and invasive potential, and inhibition of miR-100 in mesenchymal breast cancer cells (MCF-7M) resulted in decreased cell migration. This study enhances the understanding of the role of microRNAs in breast cancer metastasis, and may provide novel targets or biomarkers of cancer progression.
ISSN:0005-3155
1943-6289
DOI:10.1893/0005-3155-86.4.185