Exploring specific prognostic biomarkers in triple-negative breast cancer

Lacking of both prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) underscores pivotal needs to uncover novel biomarkers and viable therapies. MicroRNAs have broad biological functions in cancers and may serve as ideal biomarkers. In this study, by data mining of the Cancer Genome Atlas database, we screened out 4 differentially-expressed microRNAs (DEmiRNAs) between TNBC and normal samples: miR-135b-5p, miR-9-3p, miR-135b-3p and miR-455-5p. They were specially correlated with the prognosis of TNBC but not non-TNBC. The weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) for potential target genes of 3 good prognosis-related DEmiRNAs (miR-135b-5p, miR-9-3p, miR-135b-3p) identified 4 hub genes with highly positive correlation with TNBC subtype: FOXC1, BCL11A, FAM171A1 and RGMA. The targeting relationships between miR-9-3p and FOXC1/FAM171A1, miR-135b-3p and RGMA were validated by dual-luciferase reporter assays. Importantly, the regulatory functions of 4 DEmiRNAs and 3 verified target genes on cell proliferation and migration were explored in TNBC cell lines. In conclusion, we shed lights on these 4 DEmiRNAs (miR-135b-5p, miR-9-3p, miR-135b-3p, miR-455-5p) and 3 hub genes (FOXC1, FAM171A1, RGMA) as specific prognostic biomarkers and promising therapeutic targets for TNBC.