Study on the correlation between blood miR-181a and PGRMC1 levels and breast cancer characteristics

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-7795.2026.04.008

Abstract

Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between the expression of microRNA-181a (miR-181a) in serum and the progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) in whole blood, as well as the association with breast cancer characteristics, and to evaluate its potential as a biomarker for breast cancer risk.MethodsBlood samples were collected from 60 pre-operative breast cancer patients and 60 age-matched healthy women. The relative expression level of serum miR-181a and the concentration of PGRMC1 in whole blood were measured using real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction （RT-qPCR） and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA), respectively. The correlation between miR-181a and PGRMC1 levels was analyzed in both groups, with further comparisons made among subgroups based on clinicopathological characteristics.ResultsCompared with the healthy control group, the serum miR-181a expression level was significantly decreased in breast cancer patients (P < 0.001), while the PGRMC1 concentration was significantly increased (P < 0.001). Among breast cancer patients, serum miR-181a levels were significantly negatively correlated with PGRMC1 concentrations (P < 0.01). Intergroup comparisons showed that the T3-T4 tumor diameter group, clinical stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ group, and lymph node metastasis group had lower serum miR-181a relative expression and higher PGRMC1 concentrations compared to the T1-T2 tumor diameter group, clinical stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ group, and lymph node non-metastasis group, respectively (all P < 0.05).ConclusionThe expression of miR-181a in the serum of breast cancer patients is downregulated, and the protein level of PGRMC1 is upregulated. They are negatively correlated and closely related to the malignant characteristics of breast cancer, suggesting that the combined detection of serum miR-181a and PGRMC1 may provide a new perspective on risk assessment and prognosis of breast cancer.

Key words: menopausal hormone therapy, progestin , breast cancer, microRNA-181a, progesterone receptor membrane component 1, serum biomarker； case control study

CLC Number:

R737.9

Wang Yuejiao , Ruan Xiangyan, Gu Muqing, Wei Yun, Guan Yuwei, Alfred O.Mueck, . Study on the correlation between blood miR-181a and PGRMC1 levels and breast cancer characteristics[J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-7795.2026.04.008.

References

［1］Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel R L, et al. Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries［J］. CA Cancer J Clin, 2021, 71(3): 209－249.
［2］李全美, 邹燕. 1990-2021年中国育龄期女性常见恶性肿瘤发病与死亡趋势及预测分析［J］. 中华肿瘤防治杂志, 2026, 33 (1): 1-7.
［3］盛燕, 李晨阳,高丽娜,等. 1990-2021年中国年轻女性乳腺癌疾病负担及危险因素趋势分析［J］. 中华肿瘤防治杂志, 2025, 32 (18): 1107-1113.
［4］卑佳怡, 陈波. 基于新一代测序技术的乳腺癌精准诊疗策略与耐药机制研究［J］. 中国医科大学学报, 2026, 55 (3): 193-197.
［5］潘小锋, 周玮,方芳. 基于公共数据库识别与乳腺癌发生发展及预后的相关基因［J］. 兰州大学学报(医学版), 2022, 48 (4): 23-29.
［6］Mahboobnia K, Beveridge D J, Yeoh G C, et al. MicroRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis: insights into mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities［J］. Int J Mol Sci, 2024, 25(17): 9393.
［7］Chen J B, Liu K, Vadas M A. The role of the MiR-181 family in hepatocellular carcinoma［J］. Cells, 2024, 13(15): 1289.
［8］Gu M Q, Wang L J, Yang C, et al. Micro-RNA-181a suppresses progestin-promoted breast cancer cell growth［J］. Maturitas, 2018, 114: 60－66.
［9］Cai G J, Wang Y J, Houda T, et al. MicroRNA-181a suppresses norethisterone-promoted tumorigenesis of breast epithelial MCF10A cells through the PGRMC1/EGFR-PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway［J］. Transl Oncol, 2021, 14(6): 101068.
［10］Ruan X Y, Mueck A O. Clinical importance of PGRMC1 in hormone responsive breast cancer［J］. Breast Care, 2023, 18(3): 172－178.
［11］Ruan X, Neubauer H, Yang Y, et al. Progestogens and membrane-initiated effects on the proliferation of human breast cancer cells［J］. Climacteric, 2012, 15(5): 467－472.
［12］Zhang Y, Ruan X Y, Willibald M, et al. May progesterone receptor membrane component 1(PGRMC1) predict the risk of breast cancer?［J］. Gynecol Endocrinol, 2016, 32(1): 58－60.
［13］Zhao Y, Ruan X, Cheng J, et al. PGRMC1 promotes triple-negative breast cancer cell growth via suppressing ferroptosis［J］. Climacteric, 2023, 26(2): 135－142.
［14］赵越, 阮祥燕, 程姣姣, 等. 乳腺癌中PGRMC1表达与临床病理参数的相关性［J］. 首都医科大学学报, 2022, 43(3): 350－356.
［15］Nicholls R J, Zinicola R, Haboubi N. Extramural spread of rectal cancer and the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual 8th edition, 2017［J］. Ann Oncol, 2019,30(8):1394－1395.
［16］王月姣, 阮祥燕, 谷牧青, 等. PGRMC1: 绝经激素治疗中乳腺癌风险预测的潜在生物学标志物［J］. 首都医科大学学报, 2025, 46(4): 589－593.
［17］Zhang Y W, Guan Y P, Zheng X Y, et al. Hypoxia-induced miR-181a-5p up-regulation reduces epirubicin sensitivity in breast cancer cells through inhibiting EPDR1/TRPC1 to activate PI3K/AKT signaling pathway［J］. BMC Cancer, 2024, 24(1): 167.
［18］Wang Y, Tahiri H, Yang C, et al. Overexpression of miR-181a regulates the Warburg effect in triple-negative breast cancer［J］. Climacteric, 2023, 26(1): 64－71.
［19］赵越, 阮祥燕, 谷牧青, 等. PGRMC1在激素治疗中促进乳腺癌细胞增殖的机制研究［J］. 中国癌症防治杂志, 2022, 14(4): 378－384.

[1]	Zhao Yue, Ruan Xiangyan, Wang Yuejiao, Xie Dan, Jin Jing, Tian Xuanxuan, Zhang Xu, Zhang E, Zhu Jianguo, Zhang Zheng. Study on the correlation between the expression of key regulatory molecules and metabolic disorders in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2026, 47(4): 643-649.
[2]	Li Qing#, Wang Siqi#, Ma Tianyu, Ma Xiaoqi, Sun Yuting, Teng Xu, Yu Hefen, Zhang Jingyao△, Huang Wei△. Effect of HDAC3 on promoting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple-negative breast cancer [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2026, 47(4): 738-753.
[3]	Liu Zhenzhen, Liu Weixiao, Xie Ping. Mechanism of cytoskeletal regulator RACGAP1 in mediating resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2026, 47(2): 240-250.
[4]	Wang Yuejiao, Ruan Xiangyan, Gu Muqing, Wei Yun, Guan Yuwei, Zhao Yue, Alfred O.Mueck. PGRMC1 as a potential biomarker of breast cancer risk for menopausal hormone therapy [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2025, 46(4): 589-593.
[5]	Xu Jingxing, Zhou Quan, Ying Jianming. Recent progress on immunotherapy for tumor microenvironment of triple negative breast cancer [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2023, 44(5): 882-888.
[6]	Yang Yifan, Wang Yamei. Expression and mechanism of apoptosis-inducing factor 2 gene in breast cancer [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2023, 44(2): 248-257.
[7]	Zhao Yue, Ruan Xiangyan, Cheng Jiaojiao, Gu Muqing, Xu Xin, Wang Yuejiao. Breast cancer pathological diagnosis reveals correlation between progesterone receptor membrane component 1 and clinicopathological parameters [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2022, 43(3): 350-356.
[8]	Wei Changsheng, Luo Chengyu, Zhang Shuqi. Application of periareolar incision combined with mastoscopic axillary lymph node dissection in breast conserving surgery for early breast cancer [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2021, 42(6): 1014-1020.
[9]	Ruan Xiangyan, Yang Yu, Lu Dan, Du Juan, Cheng Jiaojiao, Gu Muqing, Li Yanglu, Jin Fengyu, Duan Wei, Dai Yinmei, Ju Rui, Xu Xin, Matthias Korell, Alfred O. Mueck. The first successful case report of breast cancer patient's cryopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation in China and literature review [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2021, 42(2): 177-182.
[10]	Yang Yang, Kang Hua, Zhao Jing, Ling Yuwei, Zhao Ye, Wang Yajun, Rong Dongdong. Retrospective analysis of preoperative breast MRI of breast cancer patients with breast conserving surgery [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2020, 41(6): 943-953.
[11]	Wang Aiting, Yan Dan, Qi Xianrong. Evaluation of the inhibitory effect of docetaxel-loaded polymeric micelles on breast cancer metastasis in mice [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2020, 41(2): 225-230.
[12]	Wang Wei, Zhang Zihan, Zhai Yan, Sang Cuiqin, Wang Shuzhen. Clinical characteristics of the double primary malignant tumors of uterine corpus/breast [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2019, 40(6): 857-862.
[13]	Zhang Yunxian, Wang Yamei, Zhou Ping. Construction and functional analysis of circular RNA interaction network based on open chromatin in breast cancer [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2019, 40(6): 901-910.
[14]	Bai Xiangdong, Hao Yating, Zhang Xinxue, He Qiang. Clinical efficacy of lineal polypeptide injection combined with chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer patients [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2019, 40(6): 911-915.
[15]	Zhang Lingyan, Ruan Xiangyan, Cai Guiju, Gu Muqing, Alfred O. Mueck. Effect of tamoxifen on Ki-67 expression in breast tumor tissue of nude mice transfected with progesterone receptor membrane component 1 [J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2019, 40(4): 533-538.