title: Analysis of serum microRNAs (miR-26a-2*, miR-191, miR-337-3p and miR-378) as potential biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emerging evidence suggest that microRNAs could serve as non-invasive biomarker for cancer patients. Our study was designed to analyze circulating serum microRNAs in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum RNA was isolated from patients with clear cell RCC (ccRCC) and non-malignant disease; an artificial microRNA (cel-miR-39) was spiked-in prior the isolation procedure to control isolation efficiency. The levels of miR-26a-2*, miR-191, miR-337-3p and miR-378 in serum were determined using quantitative real-time PCR; the microRNA levels were normalized to cel-miR-39.
  
  
  RESULTS
  First, miR-26a-2*, miR-191, miR-337-3p and miR-378 were quantified in serum of each 25 patients with ccRCC and non-malignant disease. The level of miR-378 was significantly increased in ccRCC patients, and thus chosen for validation. The analysis of miR-378 in the validation cohort with 117 RCC patients and 123 control subjects did not confirm a different level of miR-378. Also, miR-378 was not correlated to pT-stage, lymph node/distant metastasis, vascular invasion and Fuhrman grade.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis of circulating serum levels of miR-26a-2*, miR-191, miR-337-3p and miR-378 is unlikely to provide helpful diagnostic/prognostic information in RCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie und Kinderurologie, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany. Stefan.Hauser@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Lena M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wulfken
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holdenrieder
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moritz
authors.forename: Carsten-Henning
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ohlmann
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walgenbach-Brünagel
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von Ruecker
authors.forename: Stefan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellinger
mesh_terms: D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs