Yonsei Med J.  2019 Aug;60(8):720-726. 10.3349/ymj.2019.60.8.720.

Serum microRNA-381: A Potential Marker for Early Diagnosis of Gastric Cancer

• Li Y
• Sun H
• Guan J
• Ji T
• Wang X

• KMID: 2452952
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2019.60.8.720

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to explore the potential early diagnostic value of serum microRNA-381(miRNA-381) in patients with gastric cancer (GC).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) and early gastric cancer (EGC), as well as healthy individuals, were enrolled in this study. Expression of miRNA-381 in serum was detected using real-time quantitative PCR. Electrochemiluminescence analysis was used to investigate the expression of classic tumor markers, including carbohydrate antigen (CA) 199, CA724, and carcinoembryonic antigen. Finally, receiver operating characteristic curve and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to determine the value of miRNA-381 in clinical diagnosis of GC.
RESULTS
miRNA-381 was differentially expressed among the study groups. AUC analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of serum miRNA-381 in the diagnosis of GC were superior to those of other tumor markers. Furthermore, low levels of miRNA-381 expression were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and AGC. Finally, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that down-regulation of miRNA-381 was associated with lymph node metastasis and the development of GC.
CONCLUSION
miRNA381, which was down-regulated in GC, might be a novel early diagnosis marker for patients with GC.

Keyword

Gastric cancer; serum microRNA-381; early diagnosis; tumor markers

MeSH Terms

Area Under Curve
Biomarkers, Tumor
Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Diagnosis
Down-Regulation
Early Diagnosis*
Humans
Kaplan-Meier Estimate
Lymph Nodes
Neoplasm Metastasis
Polymerase Chain Reaction
ROC Curve
Sensitivity and Specificity
Stomach Neoplasms*
Biomarkers, Tumor
Carcinoembryonic Antigen

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The expression of serum miRNA-381, CA199, CA724, and CEA among healthy people, EGC patients, and AGC patients. (A) The expression of miRNA-381 in three groups. (B) The expression of CA199 in three groups. (C) The expression of CA724 in three groups. (D) The expression of CEA in three groups. One-way ANOVA was used; Tukey's multiple comparisons test was used to compare the two comparisons after ANOVA analysis. *Compared with healthy group, p<0.05, †compared with EGC group, p<0.05. CA, carbohydrate antigen; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; EGC, early gastric cancer; AGC, advanced gastric cancer.

• 

  Fig. 2 AUC for miRNA-381, CA199, CA724, and CEA in gastric cancer patients and healthy individual. (A) The AUC values of miRNA-381, CA199, CA724, and CEA in EGC vs. healthy. (B) The AUC values of miRNA-381, CA199, CA724, and CEA in EGC vs. AGC. p<0.05 was considered a significant difference. AUC, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve; CA, carbohydrate antigen; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; EGC, early gastric cancer; AGC, advanced gastric cancer.

• 

  Fig. 3 Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for gastric cancer patients based on differential expression of miRNA-381. p<0.05 was considered as a significant difference.

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