The diagnostic value of serum microRNA-183 and TK1 as biomarkers for colorectal cancer diagnosis

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the serum levels of microRNA-183 (miR-183) and thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) in colorectal cancer patients and their clinical value as biomarkers for colorectal cancer auxiliary diagnosis.MethodsForty-six pathology confirmed colorectal cancer patients and 46 healthy controls were included in this study. The serum levels of miR-183 and TK1 in colorectal cancer patients and healthy controls were examined by real-time PCR and chemiluminescence detection assay respectively. The diagnostic value of serum miR-183 and TK1 as tumor biomarkers for colorectal cancer detection was evaluated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.ResultsThe median serum relative expression of miR-183 was 1.33 (0.34-5.65) and 0.88 (0.26-4.67) in colorectal cancer patients and healthy controls respectively with significant statistical difference (p<0.05). Using serum miR-183 as the diagnostic reference, the colorectal cancer diagnosis sensitivity, specificity and AUC was 65.22%, 63.04% and 0.69 respectively. The median serum level of TK1 was 3.33 (0.78-5.78) pmol/L and 0.99 (0.34-4.46) pmol/L in colorectal cancer patients and healthy controls respectively with significant statistical difference (p<0.05). The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and AUC was 84.78%, 78.26% and 0.88 respectively forserum TK1 as reference for colorectal diagnosis. The pearson correlation test was used to evaluate the serum miR-183 and TK1 correlation in colorectal cancer patients. However, no significant correlation between serum miR-183 and TK1 was found in colorectal patients (p>0.05).ConclusionSerum levels of miR-183 and TK1 arepotential biomarkers for colorectal cancer auxiliary diagnosis.