Risk Factors for miRNA Expression and Differentiation in Normal Breast Tissue

The study will investigate miRNA expression in breast tissues from 200 healthy women to determine the association of miRNA profiles and individual miRNA with breast cancer risks and identify a group of 20-30 individual miRNAs that are most strongly associated with the risk factors.

Title: Risk Factors for MiRNA Expression and Differentiation in Normal Breast Tissues

Principal Investigator: Jo L. Freudenheim, PhD

Funding Agency: Georgetown University, later moved to Ohio State University

Period: 07/01/10 - 06/30/11, and 05/01/12 - 02/28/13

Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small non-coding RNA molecules recently recognized to regulate the activity of most miRNAs and so play a vital role in a variety of both physiological and pathological processes, including carcinogenesis. Using normal breast tissue from women undergoing reduction mammoplasty, the study will examine determinants of miRNA expression and the association of miRNA expression with proliferation and differentiation in the tissue.