micro RNA profiling for early detection of nonmelanoma skin cancer

Summary Background micro RNA s (mi RNA s) are single‐stranded, noncoding RNA molecules. Given the vast regulatory potential of mi RNA s and their often tissue‐specific and disease‐specific expression patterns, mi RNA s are being assessed as possible biomarkers to aid diagnosis and prediction of different types and stages of cancers, including skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma ( BCC ) and squamous cell carcinoma ( SCC ) are the most common forms of nonmelanoma skin cancer ( NMSC ). BCC originates from the basal layer of the epidermis, while SCC arises from epidermal keratinocytes or from the dermal appendages. Although NMSC s are currently the most common types of malignancies, both BCC and SCC have a better than 95% cure rate if detected early. Aim To identify plasma mi RNA s suitable for early detection of NMSC . Methods Expression profiles of 741 mi RNA s were evaluated using high‐throughput real‐time quantitative PCR from plasma samples in 42 patients with NMSC and 282 healthy controls ( HC s). Results Our results demonstrated that in patients with NMSC , compared with HC s, expression levels of miR‐30e‐3p, miR‐145‐5p, miR‐186‐5p and miR‐875‐5p were significantly ( P  < 0.05) upregulated, while those of miR‐19a‐3p, miR‐25‐3p, miR‐30a‐5p, miR‐451 and miR‐576‐3p were significantly downregulated. Conclusion Our study suggests that the mi RNA s with significant changes in expression (miR‐19a‐3p, miR‐25‐3p, miR‐30a‐5p, miR‐145‐5p and miR‐186‐5p) could serve as novel noninvasive biomarkers for detection of  NMSC .