Open AccessPlasma mi R ‐21 is a novel diagnostic biomarker for biliary tract cancer
Author(s) -
Kishimoto Tomoya,
Eguchi Hidetoshi,
Nagano Hiroaki,
Kobayashi Shogo,
Akita Hirofumi,
Hama Naoki,
Wada Hiroshi,
Kawamoto Koichi,
Tomokuni Akira,
Tomimaru Yoshito,
Umeshita Koji,
Doki Yuichiro,
Mori Masaki
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/cas.12300
Subject(s) - biomarker , medicine , receiver operating characteristic , biliary tract cancer , gastroenterology , area under the curve , cancer , biliary tract , oncology , biology , gemcitabine , biochemistry
Biliary tract cancer ( BTC ) has a generally poor prognosis. Furthermore, it is difficult to distinguish BTC from benign biliary disease ( BBD ) with commonly used modalities. Therefore, a novel biomarker to facilitate cancer detection is highly desirable. Recent studies have reported the use of circulating micro RNA s (mi RNA s) as biomarkers for cancers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether circulating mi RNA ‐21 (mi R ‐21) could be used as a biomarker for BTC . Plasma samples were obtained from 94 BTC patients, 50 healthy volunteers ( HV s), and 23 BBD patients. mi R ‐21 levels in the samples were measured by q RT ‐ PCR . Plasma mi R ‐21 levels in patients with BTC were significantly higher than in HV s or in patients with BBD ( P < 0.0001 for both). Receiver–operator curve ( ROC ) curve analysis in differentiating BTC patients from HV s indicated that area under the curve ( AUC ), optimal sensitivity and specificity was 0.93, 85.1% and 100%, respectively, and those in differentiating BTC patients from BBD patients was 0.83, 72.3%, 91.3%, respectively. Validation of these results indicated that the negative predictive value, positive predictive value, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in differentiating BTC patients from HV s was 76.6%, 98.6%, 84.0%, 98.0%, and 88.9%, respectively, and those in differentiating BTC patients from BBD patients was 42.2%, 93.0%, 71.2%, 82.6%, and 72.6%, respectively. These sets of values were improved by combining mi R ‐21 and CA 19‐9 measurements. Plasma mi R ‐21 is a novel diagnostic biomarker for BTC , and may be useful in distinguishing between BTC and BBD patients.