title: The potential role of miRNAs 21 and 199-a in early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is regarded as one of the most common malignancies and among the leading causes of cancer death among the whole world. The most urgent needs are to find sensitive markers for early diagnosis for HCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are reported as a group of small non-coding RNAs that can function as endogenous RNA interference to regulate expression of the targeted genes. This study was conducted to detect the serum and tissue expression of miR 21 and miR 199-a to be applied as early detectors for HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 40 serum and tissue samples (17 samples from chronic hepatitis and 23 samples from HCC patients) were collected. The levels of the two mature miRNAs (miR-21 and miR-199-a) were detected by real time quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR) in sera and tissues of chronic hepatitis and HCC patients. Besides, miR-21 and miR-199-a levels in relation to clinical and pathological factors were explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the expression of serum miR-21 was distinctly increased in HCC compared with chronic hepatitis (P<0.001). miR 199-a was distinctly decreased in HCC compared with chronic hepatitis (P<0.001). In addition, median of miR 21 was increased in malignant when compared to adjacent non-malignant tissues without significant differences (P=0.191) while miR 199-a was significantly decreased in malignant when compared to adjacent nonmalignant tissues (P<0.001). ROC analysis showed that miR-21 and miR-199-a might be potential biomarkers for HCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the expression of miR-21 was significantly up-regulated and miR-199-a was significantly down regulated in serum of patients with HCC. Due to their reasonable sensitivity and specificity for disease progression, miR-21 and miR-199-a could be used as potential circulating biomarkers for HCC.
authors: Medical Molecular Genetics Dept., National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Khalda Said
authors: KS
authors: Amr
authors: Internal Medicine Dept. National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: Wafaa_3t@yahoo.com.
authors: Wafaa M
authors: WM
authors: Ezzat
authors: Internal Medicine Dept. National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Yasser A
authors: YA
authors: Elhosary
authors: Surgery Dept., Elsahel Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Abdelfattah E
authors: AE
authors: Hegazy
authors: Anesthesia Dept., Elsahel Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Hoda H
authors: HH
authors: Fahim
authors: Surgery Dept., Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Refaat R
authors: RR
authors: Kamel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; C531408:mirn199 microRNA, human
keywords: HCC –mir 21-mir 199-a