Targeting MYCN IRES in -amplified neuroblastoma with inhibits tumor growth and sensitizes tumor cells to radiation

The MYCN oncogene is amplified in 20% of neuroblastomas, leading to its overexpression at both the mRNA and protein levels. MYCN overexpression is strongly associated with advanced disease stage, rapid tumor progression and a worse prognosis. In the present study, we identified microRNA-375 (miRNA-375) as a negative regulator of MYCN: enforced expression of miRNA-375 inhibited MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma in vitro and in vivo. Upon searching the website miRbase for possible miR-375 binding sites within the whole MYCN mRNA, we found that the MYCN 5’-UTR had significant sequence complementarity to miR-375, yet no complementary sequences existed within the MYCN 3’-UTR and coding regions.
Source: Molecular Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research