ABSTRACT

Objective: MicroRNAs represent an emerging class of small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. This study was aimed to evaluate the relevance of microRNA in classical mixed cellularity Hodgkin lymphoma (MCHL) pathogenesis.

Methods: The expressions of 157 microRNAs in lymph nodes from 20 paediatric and 20 adult patients with MCHL and 20 normal lymph nodes (controls) were analysed.

Results: The patients’ mean age was 7.4 years for the children and 47.4 years for the adults. Most of the patients were male (n = 14, 70%) in both groups. Stage III disease (n = 9, 45%) was common in the paediatric group, while stage II disease (n = 18, 90%) in others. Thirty-six cases (90%) were alive, while four (10%) were deceased. With microRNA sequencing, it was determined that miR-1273e, miR 4322, miR-5008-5p, and miR-6511b-5p were upregulated, while miR-508-5p was down-regulated in only paediatric tumours.

Conclusion: These results suggest that microRNAs may play an important role in the biology of paediatric MCHL and may be useful in developing therapies targeting microRNAs.