MicroRNA expression and its detection in human supraglottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is one of the most common head and neck malignancies with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to detect the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in supraglottic LSCC and attached normal mucosa using microarray assay, and explore the role of miRNAs in supraglottic LSCC. Fresh-frozen samples of five supraglottic LSCC and attached normal mucosa were obtained, and their various endogenous miRNAs were screened by microarray. miRNAs of interest were confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in 48 supraglottic LSCC tumors and 10 normal mucosa tissues. In total, 38 miRNAs were differentially expressed in supraglottic LSCC, with 22 miRNAs being upregulated and 16 downregulated. Of the six miRNAs selected for qRT-PCR, miR-375, miR-139-3P, miR-1290 and miR-106b were differentially expressed in supraglottic LSCC with and without lymphatic metastasis.