Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated to play a vital role in development, differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, which miRNAs are actually associated with endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer remains controversial. Methods: Serum and ascites samples were obtained from all patients. Serum samples from 5 cases of ovarian endometrioma and endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer each were submitted for comprehensive miRNA microarray profiling. We investigated the differential expression of miRNAs between the two groups to confirm the pivotal role of miRNAs. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction validation of five selected miRNAs [miR-92a-3p, miR-486-5p, miR-4484, miR-6821-5p, and miR-7108-5p] was performed, and miR-486-5p expression analysis was followed by proliferation and wound healing assays, depending on the expression of miR-486-5p. Result: miR-486-5p expression in serum and ascites samples from endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer patients was significantly higher than that from ovarian endometrioma patients. Moreover, the miR-486-5p level in serum and ascites samples was significantly correlated with the severity of the endometriosis. The upregulation of miR-486-5p in immortalized ovarian endometrioma cells significantly increased proliferation and migration. In contrast, the downregulation of miR-486-5p in these cells significantly decreased proliferation and migration. Conclusion: miR-486-5p might function as an oncogenic miRNA in endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer and could be a noninvasive biomarker to prospect the severity of ovarian endometrioma.

No abstract

Aim To evaluate whether embryo selection using the early embryo viability assessment (EEVA) score increases the ongoing pregnancy rate of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients. Methods One hundred eighty‐one patients whose serum anti mullerian hormone (AMH) level was greater than 0.5 ng/μL were enrolled in the study. All patients received oocyte retrieval repeatedly from June 2017 to January 2019. Transferred embryos were selected using the EEVA score and Veeck's criteria. We investigated the blastocyst rate according to the EEVA score and Veeck's criteria and also evaluated the clinical outcome following embryo transfer of the blastocysts. Results Blastocyst development rate (48.7%) and high‐quality blastocyst (42.4%) of Veeck 1 was statistically higher than others. The blastocyst rate (71.4%) and high‐quality blastocyst rate (60.0%) for EEVA 1 was the highest, and a correlation between the EEVA score and the blastocyst rate was also identified in cases younger than 40 years. Blastocyst rate of EEVA 1 + 2 (69.8% 208/298) was statistically higher than that of Veeck 1 + 2 (40.1% 317/791) (p < 0.05) and high‐quality blastocyst rate of EEVA 1 + 2 (50.0% 104/208) was also higher than that of Veeck 1 + 2 (36.6% 117/320) (p < 0.05). However, there was a significant correlation between EEVA and the pregnancy rate and pregnancy rate of EEVA 1 + 2 showed no statistical difference compared with Veeck 1 + 2. Conclusions Although it remains to be answered whether a computer can substitute Veeck's classification, the EEVA score could be a viable alternative to predict the blastocyst rate and to select those high‐potential embryos that improve the pregnancy rate.