Prognostic Value of miRNA-155 Expression in B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
MicroRNA-155 (miRNA-155) resides within the B-cell integration cluster gene on chromosome 21. It can act either as an oncogene or as a tumor-suppressor gene, depending on the cell background in which miRNA-155 is performing its specific target gene controlling function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate miRNA-155 expression in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and its relation to disease prognosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients.


METHODS
Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay was performed to evaluate the expression levels of miRNA-155 in 84 patients with newly diagnosed B-cell NHL and 15 normal controls.


RESULTS
Compared with normal controls, miRNA-155 expression was significantly upregulated in patients. Moreover, higher levels of miRNA-155 were associated with the presence of B symptoms, involvement of extranodal sites, and high Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score. Higher levels of miRNA-155 in DLBCL were associated with non-germinal B-cell-like type, the presence of B symptoms, involvement of extranodal sites, and higher International Prognostic Index (IPI) and ECOG scores. Only the high IPI score and high miRNA-155 expression indicated a higher risk of lower event-free survival using multivariate Cox regression analysis. Our data demonstrated that the expression of miRNA-155 was upregulated in newly diagnosed B-cell NHL patients. miRNA-155 is expressed at a lower level in GCB-subtype DLBCL. Low IPI score and miRNA-155 expression were predictors of longer event-free survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite contradicting literature reports, the current findings suggest the potential value of miRNA-155 as a biomarker of prognosis and monitoring in B-cell NHL, and especially that of the DLBCL type.
Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria Governorate, Egypt.
Ahmed M L
AML
Bedewy
Shereen M
SM
Elmaghraby
Ahmed A
AA
Shehata
Noha S
NS
Kandil
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002891:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 / Q000378:metabolism; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C524942:MIRN155 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm