title: Serum miR-21, miR-26a and miR-101 as potential biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the expressions of serum miR-21, miR-26a and miR-101 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their diagnostic value.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of miR-21, miR-26a and miR-101 were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in 52 HCC patients, 42 chronic hepatitis (CH) patients and 43 healthy controls. ROC curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value. Clinical parameters were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum level of miR-21 was higher while miR-26a and miR-101 were significantly lower in HCC patients than those in healthy controls (P<0.05, P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively). Serum levels of miR-26a and miR-101 were significantly lower in HCC patients than those in CH patients (P<0.001 and P<0.05). ROC curve analyses revealed that miR-21, miR-26a and miR-101 could differentiate HCC patients from healthy controls, the area under ROC curve (AUC) were 0.621 (67.4% sensitivity and 55.8% specificity), 0.754 (51.9% sensitivity and 95.2% specificity) and 0.631 (47.1% sensitivity and 81% specificity), respectively. Combination of miRNAs and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) yielded an AUC of 0.914 with 87.0% sensitivity and 78.0% specificity. miR-26a and miR-101 had diagnostic potential for differentiating HCC from CH with AUC of 0.762 (75% sensitivity and 70% specificity) and 0.623 (54.9% sensitivity and 76.9% specificity). Combination of miR-26a, miR-101 and AFP yielded an improved AUC than AFP alone (0.854 vs. 0.683). Notably, miR-26a could differentiate small tumors HCC (≤3cm) from CH with an AUC of 0.753 (80% sensitivity and 62.5% specificity).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum miR-21, miR-26a and miR-101 are deregulated in HCC and can serve as potential biomarkers. Combination of these miRNAs and AFP provide a better detection than AFP alone. Serum miR-26a is a promising biomarker for early detection of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Chunbo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Weichao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Da
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Regenerative Medicine Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Luming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Qianqian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaobei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China. Electronic address: hulihuaunion@126.com.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins