Journal Article

MicroRNA-193a-3p as a Valuable Biomarker for Discriminating between Colorectal Cancer and Colorectal Adenoma Patients

Petrik, József, Somborac-Bačura, Anita, Ljubičić, Neven, Rumora, Lada, Čeri, Andrea, Fabijanec, Marija, Baršić, Neven, Demirović, Alma, Verbanac, Donatella, Hulina-Tomašković, Andrea, Ramić, Snježana, Koržinek, Martha, Ćelap, Ivana, Krušlin, Božo, Štefanović, Mario, Grdić Rajković, Marija, Barišić, Karmela

2024

Overview

Specific markers for colorectal cancer (CRC), preceded by colorectal adenoma (pre-CRC), are lacking. This study aimed to investigate whether microRNAs (miR-19a-3p, miR-92a-3p, miR-193a-3p, and miR-210-3p) from tissues and exosomes are potential CRC biomarkers and compare them to existing biomarkers, namely carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9. MiRNA was isolated in the samples of 52 CRC and 76 pre-CRC patients. Expression levels were analyzed by RT-qPCR. When comparing pre-CRC and CRC tissue expression levels, only miR-193a-3p showed statistically significant result (p < 0.0001). When comparing the tissues and exosomes of CRC samples, a statistically significant difference was found for miR-193a-3p (p < 0.0001), miR-19a-3p (p < 0.0001), miR-92a-3p (p = 0.0212), and miR-210-3p (p < 0.0001). A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of CEA, CA 19-9, and miRNAs. CEA and CA 19-9 had good diagnostic values (AUCs of 0.798 and 0.668). The diagnostic value only of miR-193a-3p was highlighted (AUC = 0.725). The final logistic regression model, in which we put a combination of CEA concentration and the miR-193a-3p expression level in tissues, showed that using these two markers can distinguish CRC and pre-CRC in 71.3% of cases (AUC = 0.823). MiR-193a-3p from tissues could be a potential CRC biomarker.

• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Subject: Adenoma - diagnosis / Adenoma - genetics / Adenoma - metabolism / Adult / Aged / Aged, 80 and over / Antigens / Apoptosis / Biomarkers / Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics / Biopsy / CA-19-9 Antigen / Cancer patients / Carcinoembryonic Antigen - genetics / Carcinoembryonic Antigen - metabolism / Clinical medicine / Colonoscopy / Colorectal cancer / Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnosis / Colorectal Neoplasms - genetics / Colorectal Neoplasms - metabolism / Croatia / Development and progression / Diagnosis, Differential / Disease / Exosomes - genetics / Exosomes - metabolism / Female / Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Germany / Health aspects / Humans / Hypoxia / Male / Medical prognosis / Metastasis / MicroRNA / MicroRNAs / MicroRNAs - genetics / Middle Aged / Mortality / ROC Curve / Taiwan / Tumors