Decreased levels of circulating and tissue miR-107 in human esophageal cancer

Abstract

Context: Aberrant expression of miRNAs has emerged as an important hallmark of cancer.

Objectives: We evaluated the clinical significance of circulating and tissue miR-107 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients.

Materials and methods: Quantitative real-time PCR was used to analyze the expression of miR-107 and its bioinformatically identified targets, PIM-1 and CDC42.

Results: Significant downregulation of miR-107 was observed in neoplastic and preneoplastic esophageal tissues (p = 0.004). Relative levels of circulating miR-107 significantly distinguished ESCC patients from normal subjects (p = 0.007). Significant inverse correlation was observed between miR-107 and PIM1 expression (r = −0.398; p = 0.015) suggesting PIM1 to be the downstream target of miR-107.

Discussion and conclusion: Our results, for the first time, document that the miR-107 levels may discriminate ESCC patients from healthy individuals emphasizing its diagnostic potential.

• Circulating miRNA
• diagnosis
• ESCC
• PIM-1
• real time PCR
• sera

Acknowledgements

We are deeply grateful to all the participants who donated their blood for collection of normal sera.

This study was approved by the Institutional Human Ethics Committee prior to its commencement and all the procedures followed were in accordance to the ethical standards of the committee.