title: [miRNA-144 in the saliva is a genetic marker for early diagnosis of esophageal cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the presence of miRNA-144 in the saliva of patients with esophageal cancer and its value for early diagnosis of esophageal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Saliva samples were collected form patients with esophageal cancer admitted in the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College between January, 2011 and May, 2013, with saliva samples from 50 middle-aged healthy volunteers matched for age and gender ratio as the control group. The contents of miRNA-144 in the samples were detected with RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of miRNA-144 in both the whole saliva and saliva supernatant were significantly higher in esophageal cancer group than in the control group (P<0.05). In the whole saliva, the cut-off point of miRNA-144 was ≥100, with a sensitivity of 74.6% and a specificity of 92.0% for esophageal cancer diagnosis (Az=0.865); in saliva supernatant, the cut-off point was ≥20 with a sensitivity of 53.7% and a specificity of 94.0% (Az=0.754), suggesting a moderate diagnostic value of miRNA-144 in whole saliva and saliva supernatant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  miRNA-144 is highly expressed in the saliva of patients with esophageal cancer and can be used as a genetic marker for early diagnosis of esophageal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University/Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital, Guangzhou 510220, China. E-mail: william0406@163.com.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wenjin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Zhefan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yuejun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yongsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Weijia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C554293:MIRN144 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs