MicroRNA-204-5p is a tumor suppressor and potential therapeutic target in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. MicroRNA-204-5p is a tumor suppressor and potential therapeutic target in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

To screen microRNAs (miRNAs) that are deregulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), we comparatively analyzed the miRNA profiles by using 10 HNSCC patient samples and paired adjacent non-cancerous counterparts. Microarray analysis revealed that 24 miRNAs were downregulated and 19 miRNAs were elevated in HNSCC samples when compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissue. These miRNAs included upregulated miR-21-5p, miR-21-3p, and downregulated miR-99a-5p, which have been reported to regulate malignant progression of HNSCC in previous studies. Overall design: A total of 10 fresh human HNSCC specimens and their paired adjacent non-cancerous counterparts were enrolled in this study, which were pathologically diagnosed. All patients received radical surgery and none received any form of pre-surgical adjuvant therapy.