title: Prognostic impact of a 3-MicroRNA signature in cytological samples of small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive neoplasm that accounts for approximately 10% to 15% of lung cancers. In most cases, the diagnosis relies on cytology and needs to be confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Although several genetic and molecular abnormalities have been recorded, molecular markers able to predict the prognosis are still lacking. MicroRNA (miRNA) signatures have been recently proposed as useful biomarkers in lung cancer because of their high stability during standard sample processing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytological samples for 50 patients with SCLC were collected from primary tumors (n = 25) and metastases (n = 25) by means of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or bronchial washing (BW); they were fixed in ethanol (FNA) or Duboscq-Brazil fluid (BW). The 3-miRNA panel expression (miR-192, miR-200c, and miR-205) was quantified with a TaqMan polymerase chain reaction miRNA assay and was compared with overall survival (OS) and clinicopathological data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All samples had sufficient RNA for the miRNA expression analysis to be performed, regardless of the sample source or the fixative medium. Patients with a low expression level of the 3-miRNA panel were associated with better OS in univariate (P = .032) and multivariate analyses (P = .022). Moreover, in the group of patients older than the mean age of our cohort (65.8 years), a significant OS advantage (P = .013) was seen for patients with a low expression level of the 3-miRNA panel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A specific 3-miRNA signature is potentially useful for predicting survival for patients with SCLC, and it may be feasible with cytological samples taken during standard diagnostic procedures. Cancer Cytopathol 2016;124:621-9. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pathology, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bovio
authors.affiliation: Unit of Thoracic Surgery, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Ottavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rena
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Eltjona
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rrapaj
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pathology, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mercalli
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pathology, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Veggiani
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pathology, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paganotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andorno
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy. renzo.boldorini@med.uniupo.it.|Unit of Pathology, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, Novara, Italy. renzo.boldorini@med.uniupo.it.
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boldorini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: biomarkers; bronchial brushings; fine-needle cytology; microRNA 192 (miR-192); microRNA 200c (miR-200c); microRNA 205 (miR-205); prognosis; small cell lung carcinoma