title: Circulating miR-378 in plasma: a reliable, haemolysis-independent biomarker for colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plasma circulating tumour-specific microRNAs (miRNAs) are promising biomarkers of tumour presence and recurrence, especially for diseases whose best chance of successful treatment requires early diagnosis and timely surgery of an already malignant but not yet invasive tumour, such as colorectal cancer (CRC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression levels of miRNAs previously found to be differently expressed in tumour vs normal colon tissues were investigated by quantitative real-time PCR in plasma from CRC patients and from healthy donors and confirmed in independent case control series. The validated miRNAs were also measured after surgery. Analyses were repeated on the subsets of haemolysis-free samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified four miRNAs differently expressed between the compared groups, two (miR-21 and miR-378) of which were validated. miR-378 expression decreased in non-relapsed patients 4-6 months after surgery and miR-378 ability to discriminate CRC patients from healthy individuals was not influenced by haemolysis levels of plasma samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The miRNA analysis on plasma samples represents a useful non-invasive tool to assess CRC presence as well as tumour-free status at follow-up. Plasma levels of miR-378 could be used to discriminate CRC patients from healthy individuals, irrespective of the level of haemoglobin of plasma samples.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milano, Italy [2] Molecular Genetics of Cancer, Fondazione Istituto FIRC di Oncologia Molecolare, via Adamello 16, 20139 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zanutto
authors.affiliation: Unit of Medical Statistics Biometry and Bioinformatics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pizzamiglio
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milano, Italy [2] Molecular Genetics of Cancer, Fondazione Istituto FIRC di Oncologia Molecolare, via Adamello 16, 20139 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghilotti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertan
authors.affiliation: Transfusion Medicine Service, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ravagnani
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Surgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pilotti
authors.affiliation: Unit of Medical Statistics Biometry and Bioinformatics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verderio
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milano, Italy [2] Molecular Genetics of Cancer, Fondazione Istituto FIRC di Oncologia Molecolare, via Adamello 16, 20139 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gariboldi
authors.affiliation: Scientific Directorate, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pierotti
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006454:Hemoglobins; C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; C526012:MIRN378 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs