The clinical implications of circulating microRNAs as potential biomarkers in screening oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

BackgroundRecent studies have highlighted the biomarker role of circulating miRNAs in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), indicating their potential application as early diagnostic markers for OSCC. However, the diagnostic results have proven inconclusive. This study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic value of circulating miRNAs for OSCC diagnosis.MethodsEligible published studies were identified by a literature search carried out in several databases by using combinations of keywords associated with OSCC, circulating miRNAs, and diagnosis. The bivariate meta-analysis model was adopted to summarize the pooled parameters. Afterwards, we thoroughly explored the sources of heterogeneity after evaluating the risk of bias.ResultsA total of 60 studies focusing on 41 circulating miRNAs were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC were 0.75 (95%CI: 0.69-0.80), 0.76 (0.70-0.81), 0.82 (0.79-0.85), respectively. Subgroup analyses showed that miRNA combinations were more accurate than single miRNAs. Additionally, plasma may be a better matrix for miRNAs assays in OSCC diagnosis as the plasma-based miRNA assay had a higher level of diagnostic accuracy than serum-based miRNA assay. Subgroup analyses also suggested that using circulating miRNAs for OSCC diagnosis is more effective in Caucasians than in Asian ethnic groups. Finally, circulating miRNA assays based on large sample sizes have superior diagnostic accuracy than small sample sizes.ConclusionCirculating miRNAs might be applied as effective surrogate biomarkers for early diagnosis of OSCC. Nevertheless, future larger-scale prospective studies should be performed to enhance the diagnostic efficiency and investigate the miRNA combinations with more pronounced accuracy.

Developments and future prospects of personalized medicine in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma diagnoses and treatments

“…Examination of miRNAs in plasma samples from tumors and controls demonstrated an up‐regulation of various miRNAs, including miR‐24, miR‐181, miR‐196a, miR‐10b, miR‐187*, in OSCC tissues and plasma compared to control samples. 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 Additionally, elevated expression of miR‐155 was observed in tissue and plasma samples of LSCC compared to controls. 86 , 87 Conversely, reduced expression of miR‐497 was noted in tissue and plasma of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients relative to noncancerous control patients' plasma.…”

“…Examination of miRNAs in plasma samples from tumors and controls demonstrated an up‐regulation of various miRNAs, including miR‐24, miR‐181, miR‐196a, miR‐10b, miR‐187*, in OSCC tissues and plasma compared to control samples 77–85 . Additionally, elevated expression of miR‐155 was observed in tissue and plasma samples of LSCC compared to controls 86,87 .…”