Background: We postulated that microRNAs (miRNAs) might be involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) targeted chemotherapy with paclitaxel. This study sought to generate a list of potential miRNA-based biomarkers and their potential targets to better understand the response to paclitaxel treatment in HCC. Methods: Cell viability proliferation assays were conducted to test the sensitivity of the HepG2 cells to paclitaxel. The morphological changes of apoptosis were assessed with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining. Differential expression patterns of miRNA in the HepG2 cells either treated or not treated were analyzed using miRNA microarrays. Results: The array experiments have identified 54 miRNAs whose basal expression levels differed by >2-fold and p < 0.05 between the two phenotypic groups. The data were validated by a quantitative real-time PCR of 8 selected miRNAs (miR-21, miR-1274a, miR-1260, miR-1290, miR-508-5p, miR-877, miR-1246, miR-183*). The PI3K/Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), TGF-β, ErbB, p53, cell cycle, mammalian target of rapamycin, and Jak-STAT signaling pathways were involved in paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. Conclusions: The manipulation of one or more of these miRNAs could be an important approach for the improved management of paclitaxel therapy.

Keywords:
MicroRNA, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Paclitaxel therapy, Go analysis, Pathway analysis
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