Investigation of MIR-1260 microrna family in ovarian cancers

Breast, thyroid and colorectal cancers are the most common types of cancer among women. In terms of gynecologic cancers, the most common gynecological cancers are cervical and ovarian in Turkey. According to this data, every year around 3800 uterine cancer, 2790 ovarian cancer, 1950 cervical cancer, and around 400 other female genital cancers cases have been reported in Turkey. In the US, 14,270 people have been diagnosed with gynecological cancers. Ovarian cancer is usually treated through sugery and chemoterapy. Generally, surgery is the first treatment followed by chemoteraphy. Although surgical and platinum-based chemotherapy are currently used in the treatment of standard ovarian cancer, new treatment strategies should be developed for more effective treatment. In order to have an effective treatment of ovarian cancer as well as to follow the treatment process, there must be new molecular biomarkers that explain the molecular pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. There is a need for disease-specific and sensitive biomarkers in early diagnosis of ovarian cancer, the choice and the follow-up of treatment. The miR-1260 microRNA family (miR1260a and miR1260b), previously identified as an important factor in the etiology of ovarian cancer and are related to the efficacy of miRNAs in this kind of cancer, are selected from 99 miRNAs candidates. In this thesis, 2 miR1260 microRNA family from 99 microRNAs candidate are validated and compared with healthy controls in sporadic and familial ovarian cancer cases. In the study, the expression levels of 2 miRNAs of miR-1260 microRNA family were investigated and evaluated for biomarkers for ovarian cancer in 150 familial and sporadic ovarian cancer patients; and 100 healthy controls matched in- age, gender and ethnicly with the patients. Expression levels of miR-1260a and miR-1260b were higher in ovarian cancer patients compared to control group. It was found that the expression level of miR-1260a in patients with ovarian cancer was increased by 17 times, and the expression level of miR-1260b was increased by 33 times compared to the healthy control group. It was found that the expression levels of miR-1260a and miR-1260b increased significantly in patients diagnosed with both ovarian and other cancers. In conclusion, miR-1260a and miR-1260b microRNAs, which were found to be increased in ovarian cancer, were validated in this study. These miRNAs are validated in higher in ovarian cancer then healthy controls, suggesting that miR-1260a and miR-1260b miRNAs may be new non-invasive biomarkers that can be used in the diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer. Keywords: Familial and Sporadic Ovarian Carcinoma, miRNA expression, Biomarkers This study was supported by Istanbul University Scientific Research Projects Unit. Project No: 2018/712