Plasma Exosomal miRNA-139-3p is a Novel Biomarker of Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated plasma exosomal miRNA-139-3p as a blood-based biomarker for the early diagnosis and metastasis monitoring of colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients and Methods: Exosome-rich fractions were isolated from the plasma of 80 CRC patients, and 23 controls using a kit method. We then used real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to detect miR-139-3p levels in all subjects to evaluate expression levels and the predictive value of plasma exosomal miR-139-3p in CRC. We also collected clinicopathological data to explore correlations between abnormal miR-139-3p expression and clinicopathological parameters. Results: When compared with healthy controls, exosomal miR-139-3p expression levels in CRC patients were significantly down-regulated. Furthermore, these expression levels were lower in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and submucosal patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that exosomal miR-139-3p levels were differentiated between CRC patients and healthy controls, as well as between non-metastatic and metastatic patients. Conclusion: Our findings show that decreased exosomal miR-139-3p expression levels in CRC patient plasma may act as a novel biomarker for the early diagnosis and metastasis monitoring in CRC.

Exosomal microRNA‐139‐5p from mesenchymal stem cells accelerates trophoblast cell invasion and migration by motivation of the ERK/MMP‐2 pathway via downregulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase

“…15 Moreover, decreased exosomal miR-139-3p expression in plasma of the patients with colorectal cancer has the potency to serve as a novel biomarker for the early diagnosis and metastasis monitoring. 16 Recently, more and more studies have examined the importance of circulating exosomes in PE. 17,18 However, there are few studies at present to evaluate the specific mechanism of miRNA in MSC-derived exosomes.…”

“…Interestingly, a study uncovered the function of miR‐139‐5p in trophoblasts by regulating soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 in PE 15 . Moreover, decreased exosomal miR‐139‐3p expression in plasma of the patients with colorectal cancer has the potency to serve as a novel biomarker for the early diagnosis and metastasis monitoring 16 . Recently, more and more studies have examined the importance of circulating exosomes in PE 17,18 .…”

Clinical Perspectives on Liquid Biopsy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

“…Screening of differential exosomal microRNAs by sequencing and qPCR showed that exosomal miR-320d could distinguish, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.633, a diagnosis of metastatic CRC ( Tang et al, 2019 ). The expression of exosomal miR-139-3p was significantly decreased in metastatic CRC, and could facilitate a diagnosis of metastasis (AUC 0.766) ( Liu et al, 2020 ). Furthermore, the level of exosomal miR-122 increased in CRC, especially in patients with liver metastasis, and its expression could help differentiate between patients with and without liver metastasis (AUC 0.81) ( Sun et al, 2020 ).…”

Emerging Role of Exosomes in Retinal Diseases

“…Of note, exosomal ncRNA has the advantage as diagnostic biomarkers since exosomes exist in various types of human body fluids such as blood, urine, saliva, which can be easily obtained in clinic. For example, the upregulation of miRNA-139-3p in plasma exosome can predict the occurrence of colorectal cancer ( Liu et al, 2020 ). In urine exosomes, the expression of miR-194-5p was significantly down-regulated in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease ( Magayr et al, 2020 ).…”