Expression profile analysis of microRNAs and downregulated miR-486-5p and miR-30a-5p in non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide and although there have been improvements in treatment there is a low survival rate. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of microRNA (miRNA) on cell pathways. A miRNA microarray was used to profile miRNAs of lung cancer tissues. It was identified that 33 miRNAs with >2.0-fold change and FDR <0.05 were differentially expressed between the adjacent non-cancerous lung tissues and non-small cell lung cancers NSCLCs (P<0.005). The data were optimized in combination with physical interaction analysis to obtain crucial miRNAs. The results showed that differentially expressed miRNAs were associated with biological processes such as cell migration, protein phosphorylation and neuron differentiation, and signaling pathways such as MAPK, TGF-(3 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Validation of significant miRNAs in independent 40 paired NSCLC tissues demonstrated that the expression level of miR-486-5p and miR-30a-5p was significantly downregulated in another 40 paired lung cancer tissues. Taken together, the results provided strong evidence of the possible involvement of miRNAs in the development and progression of NSCLC. Thus, the results are of importance for clinical investigators and for those who design miRNA-based novel cancer therapeutics.