MicroRNA Modulations in Obesity-associated Breast Cancer: A Therapeutic Interventions Using Dietary Piperine.

Obesity has been identified as one of the major risk factors for breast cancer progression.
Adipocyte-derived leptin, a key adipokine in the obesity-breast cancer axis, activates multiple
oncogenic signaling leading to breast cancer progression and metastasis. Hence, finding
effective strategies to inhibit the oncogenic effects of leptin would provide a novel approach
for disrupting obesity-associated breast cancer (OABC). Recent studies have shown the role of
miRNA in regulating the gene expression. Here, we used small RNA sequencing analysis and
found that around 98 miRNAs were differentially expressed in human breast cancer cells co�cultured with mature adipocytes. Among them, miR‐181c-3p was the most downregulated
miRNA that inversely altered the expression of PPARα, a known regulator of adipogenesis and
carcinogenesis in OABC. The use of spice bioactives for the treatment of obesity and breast
cancer has been substantially increased because they target several signaling pathways through
modulation of miRNA expression involved in adipogenesis and carcinogenesis. Thus, the
present study is designed to explore the role of dietary piperine, from Piper nigrum (black
pepper), against OABC.