title: Differences in miRNA expression profiles between GIST and leiomyoma in human samples acquired by submucosal tunneling biopsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Small gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) rarely have malignant potential with poor prognosis. Using conventional imaging to differentiate between small GISTs and leiomyoma, which often have similar characteristics, is difficult but essential in daily practice. Although some studies have reported on the utility of serum c-kit as a biomarker for non-small GIST and specific miRNA, clinical aspects of such testing are controversial. The aim of this study was to identify differences between small GIST and leiomyoma through the investigation of miRNA expression patterns in human cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  MiRNA expression was examined in nine GIST (less than low risk, mean 18 mm in size) samples and seven leiomyoma samples acquired by a novel sampling method, submucosal tunneling biopsy (STB), which produces tumor specimens of submucosal tumor (SMT) without contamination of sufficient size to be examined under direct vision. Total RNA was extracted from these tissues and analyzed for miRNA expression patterns by microarray. Subsequently, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were used to confirm specific miRNA overexpression, comparing GISTs with leiomyomas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microarray analysis revealed upregulation of the miR-140 family up to 20 times higher in GISTs than in leiomyomas. Real-time qPCR revealed that the expression level of miR-140-5 p in GISTs was 27.86 times higher than in leiomyomas; miR-140-3 p was 12.24 times higher as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The STB method provided suitable SMT samples for miRNA analysis. MiR-140 family members may serve as specific biomarkers to distinguish GIST from leiomyoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobara
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirohito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujihara
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Taiga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chiyo
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tae
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yachida
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Asahiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Life Science Research Center, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisakazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwama
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masaki