Differential MicroRNA Expression between EGFR T790M and L858R Mutated Lung Cancer

• Published in: Journal of pathology and translational medicine 2018-09, Vol.52 (5), p.275-282
• Main Authors: Kim, Ji Yeon, Lee, Woo Jeong, Park, Ha Young, Kim, Ahrong, Shin, Dong Hoon, Lee, Chang Hun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer therapies; Epidermal growth factor; Hospitals; Kinases; Lung cancer; Medical prognosis; MicroRNAs; Mutation; Polymerase chain reaction; Tumors
• ISSN: 2383-7837; 2383-7845
• DOI: 10.4132/jplm.2018.07.29

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNAs that mediate post-transcriptional gene regulation. They are commonly deregulated in human malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study is to investigate miRNA expression in T790M-mutated NSCLC resistant to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Methods: Six cases of resected NSCLC harboring the T790M mutation were examined. We performed miRNA time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array profiling using EGFR T790M-mutated NSCLC and L858R-mutated NSCLC. Once identified, miRNAs that were differentially expressed between the two groups were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: miRNA PCR array profiling revealed three up-regulated miRNAs whose expression levels were altered 4.0-fold or more in the EGFR T790M mutation group than in the L858R group: miR-1 (fold change, 4.384), miR-196a (fold change, 4.138), and miR-124 (fold change, 4.132). The three differentially expressed miRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR, and they were found to be overexpressed in the T790M group relative to L858R group. In particular, expression levels of miR-1 and miR-124 were significantly higher in the T790M group (p-value of miR-1 = .004, miR-124 = .007, miR-196a = .096). Conclusions: MiR-1, miR-124, and miR-196a are overexpressed in EGFR T790M mutated NSCLC.