The small-nucleolar RNAs commonly used for microRNA normalisation correlate with tumour pathology and prognosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To investigate small-nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) as reference genes when measuring miRNA expression in tumour samples, given emerging evidence for their role in cancer.

Methods

Four snoRNAs, commonly used for normalisation, RNU44, RNU48, RNU43 and RNU6B, and miRNA known to be associated with pathological factors, were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction in two patient series: 219 breast cancer and 46 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). SnoRNA and miRNA were then correlated with clinicopathological features and prognosis.

Results

Small-nucleolar RNA expression was as variable as miRNA expression (miR-21, miR-210, miR-10b). Normalising miRNA PCR expression data to these recommended snoRNAs introduced bias in associations between miRNA and

SUBMITTER: Gee HE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3068486 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature