52 MicroRNA expression signature discriminates between metastatic and non-metastatic penilecarcinomas

Eur Urol Suppl 2014;13;e52 Print!

Hartz J.M.1, Protzel C.2, Engelmann D.1, Puetzer B.M.1, Hakenberg O.W.2

1University of Rostock, Dept. of Experimental Gene Therapy and Cancer Research, Rostock, Germany, 2University of Rostock, Dept. of

Urology, Rostock, Germany

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Carcinogenesis and progression of penile cancer is still poorly understood. Tumour suppressor genes

have been shown to be down-regulated in penile carcinomas. Since tumour suppressor and oncogenes are known to be regulated by non-

coding RNAs in several carcinomas we examined the miRNA expression profile of penile carcinomas.

MATERIAL & METHODS: 35 patients with invasive primary penile carcinomas were included into this study. RNA was extracted from

paraffin embedded tissue of non-metastatic as well as metastatic tumours, corresponding metastases and surrounding tissue. The miRNA

expression was analysed after cDNA transcription with TaqMan Human MicroRNA Arrays. Expression of candidate miRNAs was verified

using TaqMan miRNA single assays. Expression data were correlated to clinical data.

RESULTS: Based on the TaqMan Array analysis, we were able to identify miRNAs differently expressed in non-metastatic versus

metastatic primary tumours and metastases with reference to normal tissue. 5 candidate miRNAs were analysed with single assays. One

candidate miRNA showed a significant down regulation in tumours and metastases compared to normal tissue (p<0.01). Another candidate

miRNA was significantly up-regulated in all tumour tissues compared to normal tissue (p<0.01). Three tumour suppressor miRNAs showed

significant different expression between non-metastatic and metastatic primary tumours as well as metastases (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences in miRNA expression between normal tissue, non-metastatic and metastatic penile

carcinomas and metastases suggesting an important role of miRNAs in tumour progression in penile carcinomas. The identified candidate

miRNAs may help to define to metastatic potential of penile carcinomas based on analysis of the primary tumour.