Validation of Circulating miRNA Biomarkers for Predicting Lymph Node Metastasis in Gastric Cancer

• Published in: The Journal of molecular diagnostics : JMD Vol. 15; no. 5; pp. 661 - 669
• Main Authors: Kim, Shine Young, Jeon, Tae Yong, Choi, Chang In, Kim, Dae Hwan, Kim, Dong Heon, Kim, Gwang Ha, Ryu, Dong Yup, Lee, Bong Eun, Kim, Hyung Hoi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-09-2013
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Female; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; MicroRNAs - blood; MicroRNAs - genetics; Middle Aged; Pathology; Pilot Projects; Prognosis; Reproducibility of Results; ROC Curve; Stomach Neoplasms - diagnosis; Stomach Neoplasms - genetics; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 1525-1578; 1943-7811
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2013.04.004

We validated candidate biomarkers using circulating miRNAs by analyzing serum miRNA concentrations from patients with gastric cancer (GC) to predict lymph node (LN) metastasis. In a pilot study, serum levels of miR-21, miR-27a, miR-106b, miR-146a, miR-148a, miR-223, and miR-433 were compared in 10 healthy donors, 16 LN-positive patients with GC, and 15 LN-negative patients with GC. Then, we compared the level of three miRNAs (miR-21, miR-146a, and miR-148a) with the total of 79 GC patients with or without LN metastasis. In the pilot study, miR-21, miR-27a, miR-106b, miR-146a, miR-148a, and miR-223 concentrations from LN-positive patients with GC were significantly different from those of LN-negative patients with GC ( P < 0.001, P = 0.003, P = 0.033, P < 0.001, P <0.001, and P = 0.017, respectively). In the validation study, levels of miR-21, miR-146a, and miR-148a increased as pN stage increased ( P  < 0.001, P = 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). Levels of the miRNAs were significantly different between pN0 and pN0 in the pT1 group ( P = 0.013, P = 0.004, and P = 0.035, respectively) and among clinical stages ( P = 0.001, P = 0.002, and P < 0.001, respectively). No differences in miRNA levels were observed by pT stage, Lauren's classification, sex, or age. Serum concentrations of miR-21, miR-146a, and miR-148a were closely associated with GC pN stage. These serum miRNA levels could be biomarker candidates to predict the presence of LN metastasis.