Middle East Journal of Cancer

Integrated in Silico Analysis Reveals miR-551b-3p as a Potential Tumor Suppressor and Prognostic Biomarker in Breast Cancer

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

Kübra Su Eda ÇELENK 1
Esen ÇAKMAK 2

1 Department of Food Engineering, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Kahramanmaraş Sütcü Imam University, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey

2 Department of Bioengineering and Sciences, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey TURKEY

10.30476/mejc.2026.110333.2395
Abstract
Background: Tumor progression in breast cancer is largely driven by microRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulatory networks; however, the biological and clinical roles of miR-551b-3p remain insufficiently defined. The present study aimed to characterize the expression profile, molecular interactions, and prognostic relevance of miR-551b-3p in breast cancer via in silico analyses.
Method: Designed as an in silico bioinformatic analysis, weassessed miR-551b-3p expression and clinical correlations using the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer data analysis portal (UALCAN) and OncomiR. Associated transcription factors were retrieved from TransmiR v3.0, functional enrichment was performed using the Protein Analysis Through Evolutionary Relationships suite, and survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier Plotter. Statistical significance was evaluated via UALCAN, OncomiR, and KM-Plotter using t-tests, ANOVA, and log-rank tests, with the threshold set at P < 0.05.
Results: Our analyses revealed a significant downregulation of miR-551b-3p in breast tumor tissues (log-fold change [log-FC] = -1.1, P < 0.0001). TEAD1, protein tyrosine kinase 2, SMG1, TIMELESS, SLC5A3, and NUP93 emerged as strong target genes, implicating key pathways involved in proliferation, DNA damage response, and metastatic progression. Furthermore, central transcription factors such as E2F1, ESR1, FOXA1, CBX3, and RAD21 were associated with reduced miR-551b-3p expression. In silico screening identified lncRNAs AC069281.2/AL359258.1 and USP9X/TMEM2-derived circRNAs as potential target-directed microRNA degradation (TDMD) candidates Clinically, miR-551b-3p downregulation associated with metastasis and unfavorable survival, serving as a supplementary molecular indicator.
Conclusion: Collectively, these findings support miR-551b-3p as a potential tumor suppressor and prognostic biomarker in breast cancer, warranting further experimental validation.

Keywords

MicroRNAs
Breast neoplasms
Computational biology
Gene expression regulation
Survival analysis
Subjects

Please cite this article as: Çelenk KSE, Çakmak S. Integrated in Silico Analysis Reveals miR-551b-3p as a Potential Tumor Suppressor and Prognostic Biomarker in Breast Cancer. Middle East J Cancer. 2026: in press. doi: 10.30476/mejc.2026.110333.2395.

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Middle East Journal of Cancer

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 January 2027

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