Project description:microRNA dysregulation is a common feature of cancer cells, but the complex roles of microRNAs in cancer are not fully elucidated. Here we used functional genomics to identify oncogenic microRNAs in non-small cell lung cancer and to evaluate their impact on response to EGFR targeting therapy. Our data demonstrate that microRNAs with an AAGUGC-motif in their seed-sequence increase both cancer cell proliferation and sensitivity to EGFR inhibitors. Global transcriptomics, proteomics and target prediction resulted in the identification of several tumor suppressors involved in the G1/S transition as targets of AAGUGC-microRNAs. The clinical implications of our findings were evaluated by analysis of public domain data supporting the link between this microRNA seed-family, their tumor suppressor targets and cancer cell proliferation. In conclusion we propose that AAGUGC-microRNAs are an integral part of an oncogenic signaling network, and that these findings have potential therapeutic implications, especially in selecting patients for EGFR-targeting therapy.
Project description:Identification of differentially expressed microRNAs in Colorectal Cancer Distant metastasis is the major determinant of patient outcome in colorectal cancer and microRNAs have emerged as an increasingly important class of molecules which can regulate several steps of the metastatic cascade. By systematically analysing the miR expression profiles of resected metastasis-, corresponding primary tumor- and normal tissues of colorectal cancer patients, we were able to delineate a miR-signature indicative of the metastatically critical microRNA landscape.
