title: Low levels of circulating microRNA-26a/29a as poor prognostic markers in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent curative treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the prognostic implication of circulating microRNA (miR)-21, miR-26a, and miR-29a in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who underwent curative treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 120 hepatitis B virus-related HCC patients who underwent hepatic resection (n=63) or radiofrequency ablation (n=57). MiR-21, miR-26a, and miR-29a expression levels in pretreatment plasma and several clinical variables were analyzed to identify prognostic bio-markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Old age, low albumin level, low platelet count, advanced tumor stage (modified Union for International Cancer Control stages III, IV), low miR-26a (hazard ratio [HR]=1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.04-2.83; P=0.035), and low miR-29a (HR=1.75; 95% CI=1.04-2.94; P=0.035) were identified as independent risk factors for predicting poor disease-free survival. Low miR-21, miR-26a, and miR-29a were associated with poor liver transplantation (LT)-free survival in the univariate analysis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that low miR-26a (HR=3.41; 95% CI=1.32-8.82; P=0.011) and low miR-29a (HR=2.75; 95% CI=1.10-6.85; P=0.030), low platelet count, and advanced tumor stage were significantly associated with poor LT-free survival. Remarkable correlation was found between miR-26a and miR-29a (Spearman's rho=0.734, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pretreatment levels of circulating miR-26a and miR-29a are independent prognostic markers for poor disease-free survival and LT-free survival in hepatitis B virus-related HCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon 16499, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon 16499, South Korea.
authors.forename: Soon Sun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Human Genome Research & Bio-resource Center, Ajou University Medical Center, Suwon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jai Keun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jei Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Bohyun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Bong Wan
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Office of Biostatistics, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Office of Biostatistics, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Yong
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon 16499, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon 16499, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yang Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Jae
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon 16499, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon 16499, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon 16499, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kee Myung
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon 16499, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon 16499, South Korea. Electronic address: jaeyoun620@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jae Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cheong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D000074166:Circulating MicroRNA / Q000097:blood*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000074166:Circulating MicroRNA; D035683:MicroRNAs; C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; C528163:MIRN26 microRNA, human; C532045:MIRN29a microRNA, human