Serum miRNA Panel in Egyptian Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have great HCC diagnostic potential and circulating miRNAs have been reported as promising biomarkers for various pathologic conditions.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the potential benefit of serum miR-126, miR-129, miR-155, miR-203 and miR-223 as non-invasive diagnostic markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC.


METHODS
The expression of miRNA was evaluated using real-time quantitative RT-PCR in 78 serum samples (30 treatment-naive chronic HCV, 25 post-HCV compensated cirrhosis and 23 treatment- naive HCC cases).


RESULTS
Comparing miRNA fold changes in the HCC group vs the non HCC groups, there was significant fold decrease in miR-126 (P= 0.034), miR-129 (P= 0.006), miR-155 (P= 0.011), miR-203 (<0.001) and miR-223 (P= 0.013). The highest AUC to differentiate HCC patients from non-HCC was 0.76 for miR-203.


CONCLUSIONS
Among studied miRNAs, serum miR-203 has the highest potential as a non-invasive biomarker of HCC.
Endemic Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt E-mail : amkhairy90@hotmail.com.
Ahmed
A
Khairy
Iman
I
Hamza
Olfat
O
Shaker
Ayman
A
Yosry
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs