Objectives: Studies have reported the significance of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as biochemical markers of cancer. Few reports demonstrate the significance of miRNAs in the serum of patients with ovarian epithelial carcinoma (EOC). The present study prospectively investigated the status of miRNA-92 (miR-92) in the serum of EOC patients and healthy controls, and examined the potential usefulness of this molecule as a biomarker for EOC diagnosis.
Methods: Levels of miR-92 in serum samples from EOC patients and controls were measured by quantitative real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Associations between serum miR-92 concentrations and clinical parameters were assessed by Fisher's exact probability test.
Results: The serum concentration of miR-92 in EOC patients (n = 50) was significantly higher than in controls (n = 50). There were significant correlations between miR-92 expression and regional lymph node involvement and clinical stage of the tumour. There was no significant association between expression of miR-92 and age.
Conclusion: The detection of miR-92 levels in the serum might serve as a new tumour biomarker in the diagnosis and assessment of prognosis of EOC.
Keywords: clinical stage; miR-92; microRNA-92; ovarian epithelial carcinoma; regional lymph node involvement; serum; tumour marker.