Expression of microRNA-152 in colorectal cancer and its relationship with prognosis

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to detect the expression level of miR-152 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and adjacent tissues, and to explore its relationship with clinicopathological features and potential to be a prognosis biomarker in CRC patients. Methods: The expression of miR-152 was detected by real-time quantitative PCR in 202 colorectal cancer and adjacent colorectal tissues. Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze the relationship between the expression level of miR-152 and prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. Results: The expression of miR-152 in colorectal cancer and adjacent colorectal tissues was 2.109±0.217 and 15.860±6.647, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.001). Comparing colorectal cancer with lymph node metastasis to those without lymph node metastasis, the expression of miR-152 (2.582±0.344 vs. 1.640±0.258) was significantly increased (P=0.001). In addition, the expression of miR-152 in CRC according to TNM staging was 1.640±0.258 in stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ, 2.187±0.361 in stage Ⅲ and 4.403±0.877 in stage Ⅳ, showing a gradual increase depending on clinical staging (P<0.05). Univariate Cox regression analysis indicated that lymph node metastasis, degree of differentiation, TNM stage and miR-152 expression level were related to the postoperative survival of colorectal cancer patients (P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that degree of differentiation and TNM stage were independent factors affecting the survival of colorectal cancer patients (P<0.001). The results of survival analysis indicated that high expression level of miR-152 was related to a poor prognosis of CRC cancer. Conclusions: The expression level of miR-152 is reduced in colorectal cancer comparing with adjacent colorectal tissues. High expression level of miR-152 is associated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage of CRC. MiR-152 is a potential marker for prognosis in colorectal cancer.