@article {Rapti2017,
	title = {miR-34a overexpression predicts poor prognostic outcome in colorectal adenocarcinoma, independently of clinicopathological factors with established prognostic value},
	journal = {Clinical Biochemistry},
	year = {2017},
	pages = {-},
	abstract = {AbstractObjectives MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) is regulated by \{TP53\} and, in response, downregulates the expression of a gamut of protein-coding genes, including apoptosis regulators, transcription factors, cyclins, and cyclin-dependent kinases. Its upregulation initiates a reprogramming of gene expression and promotes apoptosis. The purpose of this study was the investigation of the potential clinical significance of miR-34a as a molecular prognostic biomarker in colorectal adenocarcinoma using an in-house real-time quantitative \{PCR\} (qPCR) methodology. Design and methods Total \{RNA\} was extracted from 113 primary colorectal adenocarcinoma specimens and 61 paired non-cancerous colorectal tissue samples. After polyadenylation and reverse transcription, miR-34a molecules were determined using qPCR based on \{SYBR\} Green chemistry. Calculations were performed using the comparative \{CT\} method. Finally, extensive biostatistical analysis was performed. Results miR-34a expression does not significantly differ between colorectal adenocarcinoma tissue specimens and adjacent non-cancerous mucosae. However, miR-34a increases progressively as colorectal adenocarcinoma loses its differentiation, being highest in grade {\.I}II\} tumors (P = 0.010). Moreover, miR-34a expression is a potential unfavorable prognostic biomarker in colorectal adenocarcinoma, predicting poor disease-free and overall survival (P = 0.002 and P = 0.019, respectively), independently of classical clinicopathological parameters. Most importantly, miR-34a expression stratifies patients without local (N0) and/or distant metastasis (M0) at the time of diagnosis into two groups with substantially different prognosis (P = 0.013 and P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusions High miR-34a levels in colorectal adenocarcinoma predict a rather increased risk for disease recurrence and poor overall survival, particularly in patients at an early \{TNM\} stage. The unfavorable prognostic potential of miR-34a expression is independent of established prognostic features of colorectal adenocarcinoma.},
	keywords = {Real-time quantitative \{PCR\} (qPCR)},
	issn = {0009-9120},
	doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2017.06.004},
	url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0009912017303697},
	author = {Stamatia-Maria Rapti and Christos K. Kontos and Spyridon Christodoulou and Iordanis N. Papadopoulos and Andreas Scorilas}
}
