Exosome-mediated miR-25/miR-203 as a potential biomarker for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: improving early diagnosis and revealing malignancy

Abstract

Background Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women worldwide. The poor prognosis and rapid increase in ESCC incidence highlight the need to promote early detection and prediction. Identifying key molecular targets involved in ESCC monitoring and progression is critical for ESCC patients. Methods This study examined miR-25/miR-203 as a biomarker for ESCC patients. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect miR-25/miR-203 expression levels in tissues and serum exosomes, and MiR-25/miR-203 upregulation was confirmed in ESCC. Results We found that the miR-25/miR-203 ratio in cancer tissues from 36 ESCC patients was significantly enhanced compared with that in adjacent tissues. Moreover, the serum level of miR-25/miR-203 in 57 ESCC patients was higher than that in 31 healthy volunteers. Intriguingly, in 38 ESCC patients, the level of miR-25/miR-203 decreased significantly after surgery. Using ROC curve statistical analysis, we found that each group of miR-25/miR-203 had obvious sensitivity and high specificity. The miR-25/miR-203 relationship with the clinicopathological features of ESCC patients was also analyzed. MiR-25/miR-203 was significantly associated with the ESCC TNM-stage and lymph node metastasis, which predicts the prognosis of ESCC and reflects tumor progression. Conclusions This study highlights the feasibility of using exosome-mediated miR-25/miR-203 as a vital noninvasive biomarker for the detection and treatment monitoring of ESCC.

Mechanisms of esophageal cancer metastasis and treatment progress

“…MiRNAs and lncRNAs derived from exosomes can influence the process of lymphatic metastasis in esophageal cancer. For instance, exosome-mediated miR-203 was found to be significantly upregulated in ESCC with lymphatic metastasis compared to the group without lymphatic metastasis ( 81 ), indicating its association with lymphatic metastasis. The mechanism may involve promoter methylation of miR-203, which affects its expression and leads to uncontrolled expression of downstream target gene LASP1, thereby influencing lymphatic metastasis in ESCC.…”

Pivotal role of exosomes in diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer in a new era of precision medicine

“…They possess unique natural advantages including immune-escape, easy penetration of cell membranes, and specific recognition by receptor cells. Their low immunogenicity, high biocompatibility, long circulating half-life, less toxicity, and the ability to cross biological barriers, render them potent vectors for therapeutic agents[ 1 , 6 , 12 ].…”

“…Exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies are three types of EVs, with exosomes having dimensions ranging from 30 to 150 nm and playing an important role in intercellular communication. Exosomes carry a diverse cargo of RNA types (miRNAs, regulatory mRNAs, piwi-interacting RNA, small nucleolar RNA, tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and unidentified small RNAs), DNA sequences, proteins, lipids, glycoconjugates, and metabolites, and are present in multiple biological fluids, such as blood, saliva, urine, malignant ascites, and cerebrospinal fluid, offering a non-invasive avenue for cancer detection compared to methods requiring phlebotomy, like ctDNA and CTCs[ 1 - 6 ].…”

Extracellular Vesicles Are Important Mediators That Regulate Tumor Lymph Node Metastasis via the Immune System

“…Additionally, they are rarely present in blood circulation until tumor sizes increase to some degree; therefore, it is difficult to use these molecules for early diagnosis [ 132 , 134 , 135 ]. In fact, various studies indicate an association between EVs and diagnostic potential or prognosis prediction, so nucleic acids in EVs or membrane proteins on the surface of EVs might be novel biomarkers [ 136 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 , 142 , 143 , 144 , 145 , 146 , 147 , 148 , 149 , 150 , 151 , 152 , 153 ]. In this review, we have summarized that EVs mediate the immune evasion of tumors and induce tumor metastasis; below, we will show that EVs might be a diagnostic biomarker of tumor metastasis or an indicator of the immune response to tumors.…”