Open AccessSerum exosomal micro RNA s combined with alpha‐fetoprotein as diagnostic markers of hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Wang Yurong,
Zhang Chunyan,
Zhang Pengjun,
Guo Guanghong,
Jiang Tao,
Zhao Xiumei,
Jiang Jingjing,
Huang Xueliang,
Tong Hongli,
Tian Yaping
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
cancer medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2045-7634
DOI - 10.1002/cam4.1390
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , alpha fetoprotein , rna , receiver operating characteristic , cirrhosis , microrna , area under the curve , exosome , biology , cancer research , oncology , medicine , microvesicles , gene , biochemistry
Exosomal micro RNA s have recently been studied as the potential diagnostic marker for various malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC ). The aim of this study was to investigate serum exosomal micro RNA profiles as HCC diagnostic marker. Transmission electron microscopy and Western blot were used to identify serum exosomes. Deep sequencing was performed to screen differentially expressed micro RNA s between HCC ( n = 5) and liver cirrhosis ( LC , n = 5) groups. Three upregulated and two downregulated micro RNA s were selected for qPCR analysis. The levels of selected micro RNA s were normalized to Caenorhabditis elegans miR‐39 micro RNA mimics. Serum exosomal level of miR‐122, miR‐148a, and miR‐1246 was further analyzed and significantly higher in HCC than LC and normal control ( NC ) groups ( P < 0.001), but not different from chronic hepatitis group ( P > 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of candidate micro RNA s. Area under the curve ( AUC ) of miR‐148a was 0.891 [95% confidence interval ( CI ), 0.809–0.947] in discriminating HCC from LC , remarkably higher than alpha‐fetoprotein ( AFP ) ( AUC : 0.712, 95% CI : 0.607–0.803). Binary logistic regression was adopted to establish the diagnostic model for discriminating HCC from LC . And the combination of miR‐122, miR‐148a, and AFP increased the AUC to 0.931 (95% CI , 0.857–0.973), which can also be applied for distinguishing early HCC from LC . miR‐122 was the best for differentiating HCC from NC ( AUC : 0.990, 95% CI , 0.945–1.000). These data suggest that serum exosomal micro RNA s signature or their combination with traditional biomarker may be used as a suitable peripheral screening tool for HCC .