Abstract
Circulating miRNAs have been identified as diagnostic biomarkers for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but their efficacy in discovering early-stage ESCC is still unsatisfying. Esophageal squamous dysplasia (ESD) is the precursor lesion of ESCC. Notably, little is known about the role(s) of circulating miRNAs in identifying ESD. In this study, we, therefore, aimed to identify serum miRNAs as novel diagnostic markers for detecting ESD and ESCC. The genome-wide miRNA expression was profiled in 104 (52 ESCC and 52 controls) serum samples using microarray. Seven candidate miRNAs from the microarray assay were evaluated for their diagnostic performance in another cohort of 266 participants (96 ESCC, 92 ESD, and 78 healthy controls). The serum levels of miR-16-5p, miR-197-5p, miR-451a, and miR-92a-3p were associated with ESCC; the biomarker based on the panel of these four miRNAs could efficiently distinguish patients with ESCC from the controls [AUC = 0.856; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.794-0.905; P < 0.001]. The serum levels of miR-16-5p, miR-320c, miR-638, and miR-92a-3p were significantly higher in patients with ESD than in controls, and this four-miRNA signature could efficiently differentiate patients with ESD from the controls (AUC = 0.842; 95% CI, 0.778-0.893; P < 0.001). In addition, compared with serum carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 199, miRNA-based panels had a better diagnostic performance in distinguishing patients with ESCC and ESD from healthy controls. Our study identified two novel panels of circulating miRNAs with high efficiency in detecting ESCC and ESD, suggesting that circulating miRNAs, in particular the combination of them, might serve as noninvasive biomarkers for the early detection of ESCC. This study suggests the feasibility of using circular miRNA-based blood tests to aid in the detection of ESD and ESCC.
Highlights
Esophageal cancer ranks the seventh most common malignancy and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in theNote: Supplementary data for this article are available at Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention Online.Y
Impact: This study suggests the feasibility of using circular miRNA-based blood tests to aid in the detection of Esophageal squamous dysplasia (ESD) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)
The 5-year survival rate of late-stage ESCC is less than 15%; early detection and treatment are associated with improved survival
Summary
Esophageal cancer ranks the seventh most common malignancy and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in theNote: Supplementary data for this article are available at Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention Online (http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/).Y. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the main histopathologic subtype of esophageal cancer, accounting for 90% of all cases, due largely to its high incidence rate in many developing countries. The 5-year survival rate of late-stage ESCC is less than 15%; early detection and treatment are associated with improved survival. Our recent 10-year prospective community assignment study showed that the use of endoscopic screening and treatment for cancer and dysplasia has contributed to the reduction in ESCC-associated mortality in high incidence areas of China [5]. Circulating miRNAs have been identified as diagnostic biomarkers for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but their efficacy in discovering early-stage ESCC is still unsatisfying. We, aimed to identify serum miRNAs as novel diagnostic markers for detecting ESD and ESCC
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call