Scientists, led by one of Indian-origin, have identified microRNAs that may cause colon polyps to turn cancerous.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota looked at microRNA to unlock what pieces were present in colon polyps that developed into cancer.
Subbaya Subramanian, assistant professor in the Division of Basic and Translational Research in the Department of Surgery in the University of Minnesota Medical School, who led the research found that miR-182 and miR-503 work together to transform a benign polyp to a cancerous tumour by holding down the cell's ability to create the tumour suppressing protein FBXW7.
This was determined by looking at a benign polyp cell line. In this line, miR-182 was present and appeared as a feature of the creation of adenomas, or polyps.
Researchers then introduced miR-503 to the cell line and noted the partnership limited the tumour suppressing protein and polyps had a much higher potential for becoming cancerous.
The researchers then took a closer look at actual patient data. They examined the expression of miR-182 and miR-503 in colon cancer patients with a 12-year survival outcome data.
When both microRNAs were present at higher levels, decreased patient survival was clearly correlated.
"It suggests a biomarker for colon cancer patients, something ideally physicians can one day screen for as a diagnostic and prognostic tool," said Subramanian.
Subramanian believes the next step will be determining if drugs are able to target miR-182 and -503, as well as what miR-182 and -503 do after suppressing FBXW7.
The findings are published in The Journal of Pathology.
