BACKGROUND: Clinical significance of microRNA (miR)-15a in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression level of miR-15a and to determine its potential for diagnosis and prognosis in ESCC.
METHODS: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to examine the expression levels of miR-15a in ESCC tissues and patients' sera. The diagnostic and prognostic implications of serum miR-15a level in human ESCC were further evaluated.
RESULTS: Expression levels of miR-15a in ESCC tissues and patients' sera were significantly decreased (bothP < 0.001). Additionally, serum miR-15a had an optimal diagnostic cut-off point (2.29) for ESCC with sensitivity of 86.36% and specificity of 100.00%. Moreover, low serum miR-15a level more frequently occurred in ESCC patients with advanced tumor-node-metastasis, T and N stages (all P = 0.01) and poor tumor differentiation (P = 0.03). The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that low miR-15a expression was significantly associated with shorter overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of ESCC patients (both P < 0.001). Further multivariate analysis identified miR-15a as an independent prognostic factor for both OS and DFS (both P = 0.01).
CONCLUSION: Decreased expression of miR-15a may play a crucial role in ESCC development and progression. Serum miR-15a level could be used as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker in clinics.
[1]Shanghai Univ Tradit Chinese Med, Putuo Hosp, Dept Radiol, Shanghai, Peoples R China.
[2]Fudan Univ, Huadong Hosp, Dept Radiol, Shanghai 200433, Peoples R China.
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