Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
11-2011
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph. D.
Department
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Committee Chair
Li, Yong
Author's Keywords
micro-RNA; miR-33b; Medulloblastoma; c-Myc; Lovastatin; Myc
Subject
RNA; Cancer
Abstract
c-Myc dysregulation is one of the most common abnormalities found in human cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are functionally intertwined with the c-Myc network as multiple miRNAs are regulated by c-Myc, while others directly suppress c-Myc expression. In this work, we identified miR-33b as a primate-specific negative regulator of c-Myc. The human miR-33b gene is located at 17pl1.2, a genomic locus frequently lost in medulloblastomas, which are pediatric brain tumors that display c-Myc overproduction. Through a small-scale screening with drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), we found that lovastatin up-regulated miR-33b expression, reduced cell proliferation, and impaired c-Myc expression and function in miR-33b-positive medulloblastoma cells. In addition, a low dose of lovastatin treatment at a level comparable to approved human oral use reduced tumor growth in mice orthotopically xenografted with cells carrying miR-33b, but not with cells lacking miR-33b. This work presents a highly promising therapeutic option, using drug repurposing and a miRNA as a biomarker, against cancers that over-express c-Myc.
Recommended Citation
Takwi, Apana Agha L. 1980-, "A statin-regulated microRNA represses c-Myc expression and function." (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1415.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/1415
