Date of Award

5-9-2014

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Department

Biological Sciences

First Advisor

Hexin Chen

Abstract

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in approximately 30% of breast cancer patients with poor prognosis. In addition, microRNAs are small non-coding RNA that have been linked to many cancers. Here we investigate which miRNAs are differentially regulated by HER2 overexpression. Using quantitative reverse-transcription prolymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) and matching it with the clinical data acquired from Dvinge, we find five candidate miRNAs. When comparing the miRNAs’ effect on patient survival, only three miRNAs stand as good predictors of patient survival outcome. These miRNAs are miR-146a-5p, miR-181d, and miR-195-5p. When miR-146a-5p is up-regulated, which is the case in HER2 positive patients, survival of patients drop significantly. In addition, miR-181d and miR-195-5p are down-regulated in HER2. With these two miRNA having low levels, the patient survival drops. Therefore, this data indicates that miR-146a-5p, miR-181d, and miR-195-5p are potential markers for patient survival and that their expression levels are highly associated with HER2 overexpression.

Rights

© 2014, Hossam Tashkandi

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