miR-18a-5p and ATM Expression in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Their Correlations with Clinicopathological Features

A three-miRNA panel in serum: Serving as a novel diagnostic method for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BackgroundNasopharyngeal carcinoma has unique epidemiological characteristics. Screening for this currently lacks a highly efficient, non-invasive, and inexpensive method. Serum microRNA (miRNA), which is stable and commonly present, has the potential to serve as a novel marker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis.ObjectivesThis study aims to find a highly efficient, non-invasive, and inexpensive biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis.MethodsThis study, involving 52 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 56 healthy controls, was conducted in two phases to identify miRNAs in the serum suitable for nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was then used to identify a miRNA panel with high diagnostic efficiency. Additionally, we used bioinformatic analysis to explore the potential biological functions of the crucial miRNAs.ResultsA three-miRNA panel (miR-148b-3p, miR-10b-5p, and miR-18a-5p) has a high diagnostic value for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (area under the curve = 0.872; 95% confidence interval: 0.793-0.928; sensitivity = 78.57%; specificity = 86.54%). Through bioinformatics analysis we found that CC2D2B, PCDH9, and FOXP1 may be potential target genes of these three miRNAs.ConclusionThis three-miRNA panel (miR-148b-3p, miR-10b-5p, and miR-18a-5p) represents a highly efficient, non-invasive, and inexpensive biomarker for diagnosing nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

MicroRNAs: A novel signature in the metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignant epithelial tumor, characterized by squamous cell differentiation, it is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. The increased mortality rate of ESCC patients is predominantly due to the advanced stage of the disease when discovered, coupled with higher risk of metastasis, which is an exceedingly malignant characteristic of cancer, frequently leading to a high mortality rate. Unfortunately, there is currently no specific and effective marker to predict and treat metastasis in ESCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules, approximately 22 nucleotides in length. miRNAs are vital in modulating gene expression and serve pivotal regulatory roles in the occurrence, progression, and prognosis of cancer. Here, we have examined the literature to highlight the intimate correlations between miRNAs and ESCC metastasis, and show that ESCC metastasis is predominantly regulated or regulated by genetic and epigenetic factors. This review proposes a potential role for miRNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for metastasis in ESCC metastasis, with the ultimate aim of reducing the mortality rate among patients with ESCC.

miRNA in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: promising but still distant future of personalized oncology

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common and fatal cancers worldwide. Lack of appropriate preventive screening tests, late detection, and high heterogeneity of these tumors are the main reasons for the unsatisfactory effects of therapy and, consequently, unfavorable outcomes for patients. An opportunity to improve the quality of diagnostics and treatment of this group of cancers are microRNAs (miRNAs) - molecules with a great potential both as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This review aims to present the characteristics of these short non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and summarize the current reports on their use in oncology focused on medical strategies tailored to patients' needs.