Abstract
Fluoro-edenite (FE) is an asbestiform fiber identified in Biancavilla (Sicily, Italy). Environmental exposure to FE has been associated with a higher incidence of malignant mesothelioma (MM). The present study aimed to validate the predicted diagnostic significance of hsa-miR-323a-3p, hsa-miR-101-3p, and hsa-miR-20b-5p on a subset of MM patients exposed to FE and matched with healthy controls. For this purpose, MM tissues vs. nonmalignant pleura tissues were analyzed through droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to evaluate differences in the expression levels of the selected miRNAs and their MM diagnostic potential. In addition, further computational analysis has been performed to establish the correlation of these miRNAs with the available online asbestos exposure data and clinic-pathological parameters to verify the potential role of these miRNAs as prognostic tools. ddPCR results showed that the three analyzed miRNAs were significantly down-regulated in MM cases vs. controls. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed high specificity and sensitivity rates for both hsa-miR-323a-3p and hsa-miR-20b-5p, which thus acquire a diagnostic value for MM. In silico results showed a potential prognostic role of hsa-miR-101-3p due to a significant association of its higher expression and increased overall survival (OS) of MM patients.
Highlights
The types of minerals forming fibers that have been used commercially and that are known by the term “asbestos” include serpentine and fibrous amphiboles cummingtonite-grunerite, actinolite, anthophyllite, riebeckite, anthracite, and tremolite [1,2]
Further computational analysis has been performed to establish the correlation of these miRNAs with the available online asbestos exposure data and clinic-pathological parameters to verify the potential role of these miRNAs as prognostic tools. droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) results showed that the three analyzed miRNAs were significantly down-regulated in MM cases vs. controls
Our goal is the validation of these results in a subset of patients chronically exposed to FE using liquid biopsy, to provide a minimally invasive screening tool for the secondary prevention of MM
Summary
The types of minerals forming fibers that have been used commercially and that are known by the term “asbestos” include serpentine (chrysotile) and fibrous amphiboles cummingtonite-grunerite (amosite asbestos), actinolite, anthophyllite, riebeckite (crocidolite asbestos), anthracite, and tremolite [1,2]. Such fibers represent an environmental health problem as chronic exposure to these minerals has been associated with respiratory diseases, including cancer [3,4]. FE is a calcium amphibole of transparent and intense yellow color [5] This silicate has several properties similar to the asbestos group [6,7]; in particular, it presents the same morphological and compositional aspect of the two fibrous phases tremolite and actinolite [2]. The peculiar feature of Biancavilla FE is its composition, characterized by high aluminum, fluorine, and sodium contents, compared with other known oncogenic minerals [8]
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