Serum miR-130b level, an ideal marker for monitoring the recurrence and prognosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation treatment

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study was aimed to explore the potential roles of miR-130b for the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC). MethodsThe serum sample of 110 PHC patients, which underwent RFA treatment, was collected on 1d pre-operation (Pre 1), 7d (POD 7) and 14d post-operation (POD 14). qRT-PCR was used to detect miR-130b expression. The relationship between miR-130b expression and clinicopathological features, postoperative recurrence and survival rate were analyzed. ResultsThe liver function of PHC patients was improved after RFA treatment. The level of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) was gradually reduced on POD 7 and POD 14 (all P < 0.05). Before RFA, the expression of miR-130b in PHC patients was upregulated, while the expression of miR-130b decreased significantly with time after RFA treatment. And high expression of miR-130b was closely related to cirrhosis (P = 0.027) and tumor differentiation degree (P < 0.01). Serum miR-130b levels were significantly higher in patients with recurrence than in patients without recurrence (P < 0.05). Patients were divided into two groups according to miR-130b expression level (median ΔCt), compared with low ΔCt group, the incidence of recurrence in high ΔCt group was significantly higher after RFA (P = 0.020). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the survival rate of high ΔCt group was significantly shorter than that of low ΔCt group (P < 0.001). ConclusionOur study provided evidence that serum miR-130b level may be used as an ideal marker for monitoring the recurrence and prognosis of PHC after RFA treatment.