Tumor Tissue MIR92a and Plasma MIRs21 and 29a as Predictive Biomarkers Associated with Clinicopathological Features and Surgical Resection in a Prospective Study on Colorectal Cancer Patients

Abstract

Cancer-related microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as non-invasive biomarkers for colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to analyze the correlation between the levels of tissue and plasma miRNAs and clinicopathological characteristics and surgical resection. This study was a prospective study of CRC patients who underwent surgery. Forty-four sample pairs of tissue and plasma were analyzed. The miRNA levels were evaluated by RT-qPCR. The level of tumor tissue MIR92a showed a significant difference in CRC with lymph node metastasis, stage ≥ III, and high lymphatic invasion. In preoperative plasma, there were significant differences in CRC with stage ≥ III (MIR29a) and perineural invasion (MIR21). In multivariate analysis of lymphatic invasion, the levels of both preoperative plasma MIR29a and tumor tissue MIR92a showed significant differences. Furthermore, in cases with higher plasma miRNA level, the levels of plasma MIRs21 and 29a were significantly decreased after the operation. In this study, there were significant differences in miRNAs levels with respect to the sample type, clinicopathological features, and surgical resection. The levels of tumor tissue MIR92a and preoperative plasma MIR29a may have the potential as a biomarker for prognosis. The plasma MIRs21 and 29a level has the potential to be a predictive biomarker for treatment efficacy.

Postoperative changes in plasma miR21‐5p as a novel biomarker for colorectal cancer recurrence: A prospective study

“…We previously estimated the plasma levels of several miRNAs in these patients. 8 Among the miRNAs tested, we focused on plasma miR21‐5p levels by performing qRT‐PCR between pre‐ and post‐surgical resection. In the recurrence and PD group, the plasma miR21‐5p level showed a significant increase after surgical resection at POM1 and POM6 (POD7: P = .19, POM1: P < .01, and POM6: P < .01).…”

“…We previously estimated the plasma levels of several miRNAs in these patients 8 . Among the miRNAs tested, we focused on plasma miR21‐5p levels by performing qRT‐PCR between pre‐ and post‐surgical resection.…”

“…Thus, it is unclear how miRNAs can be used in actual clinical situations, excluding early cancer detection. In our previous prospective study, 8 we showed that cancer‐related miRNA expression levels in tissue and plasma reflected clinicopathological features of CRC, and that the plasma expression level significantly changed after surgical resection. These results suggest that cancer‐related miRNAs, especially miR21‐5p, may have the potential to be a predictive biomarker for treatment efficacy.…”

Circulating miR-618 Has Prognostic Significance in Patients with Metastatic Colon Cancer

“…Recent studies reported that miRNA levels in plasma and tumor tissue showed significant differences. A strong correlation between expression levels of miRNA in colon tumor tissue and levels of fecal miRNAs were found, but not between levels of miRNAs in colon tumor and plasma [ 28 , 29 ].…”

Low expression of miR-29a is associated with aggressive biology and worse survival in gastric cancer

“…MicroRNA (miRNA) is one of the epigenetic regulators of gene expression for specific genes associated with cancer progression, such as cell proliferation, cell invasion, and metastasis in numerous cancers, including gastric cancer 3 – 5 . Some miRNAs function as tumor suppressive miRNA by inhibiting c-MYC , one of the most studied oncogenes that promote cancer cell proliferation 6 , 7 , such as miR-429 8 and miR-494 9 .…”