title: Buccal microRNA dysregulation in lung field carcinogenesis: gender-specific implications.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be reliable early biomarkers in a variety of cancers including that of lung. We ascertained whether the biomarker potential of miRNAs could be validated in microscopically normal and easily accessible buccal epithelial brushings from cigarette smokers as a consequence of lung cancer linked 'field carcinogenesis'. We found that compared to neoplasia-free subjects, a panel of 68 miRNAs were upregulated and 3 downregulated in the normal appearing buccal mucosal cells collected from patients harboring lung cancer (n=76). The performance characteristics of selected miRNAs (with ≥ 1-fold change) were excellent with an average under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) of >0.80. Several miRNAs also displayed gender specificity between the groups. These results provide the first proof-of-concept scenario in which minimally intrusive cheek brushings could provide an initial screening tool in a large at-risk population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Ramesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Wali
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, NorthShore University Health Systems, Evanston, IL 60201, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hensing
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, NorthShore University Health Systems, Evanston, IL 60201, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Mart
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dela Cruz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Ashish K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60201, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radosevich
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jepeal
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Hiran C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Virginia R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Litle
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Marjory
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Charlot
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Navneet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Momi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60201, USA.
authors.forename: Vadim
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Backman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Hemant K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs