Abstract 1086: Elevated level of circulating microRNA-99a correlates with serous epithelial ovarian cancer and can be used as a potential biomarker

Abstract

Abstract [Objective] There is a critical need for improved diagnostic markers for ovarian high grade serous cancer (HGSC). Emerging evidence have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) stably exist in circulating blood, reflecting tissue or organ conditions and these are present in circulating microvesicles such as exosomes. The purpose of this study was to identify which miRNAs are highly produced from HGSCs and to analyze whether circulating miRNA can discriminate patients with HGSC from healthy volunteers. [Methods] Secreted exosomes from serous ovarian cancer cell lines were collected and exosomal miRNAs were extracted. miRNA microarray was performed and several elevated miRNAs specific to ovarian cancer cells were picked-up. Among these, we focused on miR-99a in this study. Sera were collected from 9 consecutive patients with HGSC and 5 healthy volunteers. Expression level of miR-99a was determined by miRNA RT-qPCR. [Results] miRNA microarray revealed several miRNAs were highly expressed in exosomes in patients with HGSC. In patients, serum miR-99a levels were significantly increased (7.2 fold) compared with healthy controls. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis for miR-99a showed that at the cut-off of 2.1 times compared with control, the sensitivity and specificity of this marker were 77.8% and 100%, respectively for detecting HGSC (AUC = 0.84). Serum miR-99a levels decreased after surgery by 0.2 fold, indicating that serum miR-99a was originated from ovarian cancer. [Conclusion] Elevated serum miR-99a were detected in sera of patients with HGSC and reflected the disease condition. This miRNA profiling in serum can be used as a diagnostic biomarker, extending its utility to screening asymptomatic populations. Citation Format: Akihiko Yoshimura. Elevated level of circulating microRNA-99a correlates with serous epithelial ovarian cancer and can be used as a potential biomarker. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1086.