Plasma microRNA Environment Linked to Tissue Factor Pathway and Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: Prognostic Significance in Ovarian Cancer
Valéria Tavares,
Joana Savva-Bordalo,
Mariana Rei,
Joana Liz-Pimenta,
Joana Assis,
Deolinda Pereira,
Rui Medeiros
Affiliations
Valéria Tavares
Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Dep., Clinical Pathology SV/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto. CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Joana Savva-Bordalo
Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Mariana Rei
Department of Gynaecology, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Joana Liz-Pimenta
Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Joana Assis
Clinical Research Unit, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto. CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Deolinda Pereira
Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Rui Medeiros
Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Dep., Clinical Pathology SV/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto. CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a leading cause of death among gynaecological malignancies. The haemostatic system, which controls blood flow and prevents clotting disorders, paradoxically drives OC progression while increasing the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as crucial in understanding VTE pathogenesis. Exploring the connection between cancer and thrombosis through these RNAs could lead to novel biomarkers of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) and OC, as well as potential therapeutic targets for tumour management. Thus, this study examined the impact of eight plasma miRNAs targeting the tissue factor (TF) coagulation pathway—miR-18a-5p, -19a-3p, -20a-5p, -23a-3p, -27a-3p, -103a-3p, -126-5p and -616-3p—in 55 OC patients. Briefly, VTE occurrence post-OC diagnosis was linked to shorter disease progression time (log-rank test, p = 0.024) and poorer overall survival (OS) (log-rank test, p coagulation factor 3 (F3) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI2)) and miR-616-3p (targeting TFPI2) predicted VTE after OC diagnosis (χ2, p p = 0.005), while miR-616-3p significantly impacted patients’ survival (aHR = 3.72, p = 0.020). Further investigation is warranted for their translation into clinical practice.