Circulating miR-155 expression in plasma: a potential biomarker for early diagnosis of esophageal cancer in humans.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are postulated to play important roles in oncogenesis. Recently, extracellular miRNAs were detected in plasma or serum of diseased subjects. However, the role of circulating miRNAs in plasma/serum remains to be elucidated. In this study, the relative expressions of miR-155, miR-183, and miR-20a in esophageal tissue were found to be significantly associated with increased risk for esophageal cancer. The relative expressions of circulating miR-155 and miR-183 were significantly reduced in cancer patients. Circulating miR-155 showed significantly higher risk for esophageal cancer when adjusted by smoking status and alcohol use. Circulating miR-155 was found to have significant diagnostic value for esophageal cancer as evidenced by a receiver operating characteristic curve area of 66%. However, Pearson analysis showed no statistical correlation in the relative miRNAs expression between plasma and esophageal tissues, which suggested different origins of circulating miRNAs distinct from tumor cell miRNAs. In conclusion, results suggest that circulating miR-155 in plasma may serve as a reliable, novel, noninvasive biomarker for early diagnosis and detection of esophageal cancer.
Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China. ranliu@seu.edu.cn
Ran
R
Liu
Juan
J
Liao
Miao
M
Yang
Yajuan
Y
Shi
Yuan
Y
Peng
Yi
Y
Wang
Enchun
E
Pan
Wei
W
Guo
Yuepu
Y
Pu
Lihong
L
Yin
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012306:Risk; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C524942:MIRN155 microRNA, human; C533449:MIRN183 microRNA, human; C534451:MIRN20a microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins