Plasma hsa-miRNA-145 Levels in Peruvian Women: In Silico Analysis and Inferences for Breast Cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding sequences that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level in various biological processes (including differentiation, cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis). Low levels of human miRNA-145 (hsa-miRNA-145) expression have been found in the plasma of cancer patients, suggesting that it is a tumor suppressor. Newly developed molecular biology technologies such as digital PCR (dPCR) have high sensitivity and specificity for evaluating miRNAs, with potential value for hsa-miRNA-145 analyses. This study involved the evaluation of circulating hsa-miRNA-145 levels in the plasma of Peruvian women using digital dPCR, along with in silico analysis of its metabolic impact on cancer. This study included plasma samples from 30 women residing in Lima (aged 20–67). All individuals had previously received negative breast cancer screening results between 2016 and 2018. We used a chip-based amplification platform (dPCR system) to analyze their hsa-miRNA-145 levels and compare them with those reported in breast cancer patients. These patients had significantly lower levels. In the in silico analysis, 35 target transcripts belonging to signaling and metabolic pathways associated with the variation in hsa-miRNA-145 levels in breast and ovarian cancer were identified. Specifically, hsa-miRNA-145 was predicted to significantly impact calcium, cell proliferation, metastasis, and glucose/glutamine metabolism, with effects on the CAMK2D, EGFR, TP53, hexokinase 2 (HK2), and glutaminase (GLS) genes. This research deepens our understanding of the epigenetic factors involved in breast cancer, including plasma miRNA-145 levels, as well as associated metabolic pathways, which could promote precision medicine for Peruvian cancer patients.