MiR-221 promotes trastuzumab-resistance and metastasis in HER2-positive breast cancers by targeting PTEN?

• Published in: BMB reports Vol. 47; no. 5; pp. 268 - 273
• Main Authors: Ye, Xingming, Bai, Wendong, Zhu, Huayu, Zhang, Xiao, Chen, Ying, Wang, Lei, Yang, Angang, Zhao, Jing, Jia, Lintao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 생화학분자생물학회 30-05-2014
• Subjects: Breast cancer; erbB2/HER2; Metastasis; miR-221; PTEN; Trastuzumab resistance; PTEN; Trastuzumab resistance; Breast cancer; Metastasis; erbB2/HER2; miR-221
• ISSN: 1976-6696; 1976-670X

HER2-overexpressing breast cancers are characterized byfrequent distant metastasis and often develop resistance aftershort-term effective treatment with the monoclonal antibodydrug, trastuzumab. Here, we found that the oncogenic miRNA,miR-221, inhibited apoptosis, induced trastuzumab resistanceand promoted metastasis of HER2-positive breast cancers. Thetumor suppressor PTEN was identified as a miR-221 target;overexpression of PTEN abrogated the aforementionedmiR-221-induced malignant phenotypes of the cells. Thesefindings indicate that miR-221 may promote trastuzumabresistance and metastasis of HER2-positive breast cancers bytargeting PTEN, suggesting its role as a potential biomarker forprogression and poor prognosis, and as a novel target fortrastuzumab-combined treatment of breast cancers.[BMB Reports 2014; 47(5): 268-273]