BMC Cancer (Jul 2024)

Urinary microRNA-210-3p as a novel and non-invasive biomarker for the detection of pancreatic cancer, including intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma

  • Taisuke Imamura,
  • Shuhei Komatsu,
  • Keiji Nishibeppu,
  • Jun Kiuchi,
  • Takuma Ohashi,
  • Hirotaka Konishi,
  • Atsushi Shiozaki,
  • Yusuke Yamamoto,
  • Ryo Moriumura,
  • Hisashi Ikoma,
  • Toshiya Ochiai,
  • Eigo Otsuji

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-12676-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

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Abstract Background This study aims to explore novel microRNAs in urine for screening and predicting clinical characteristics in pancreatic cancer (PC) patients using a microRNA array-based approach. Methods We used the Toray® 3D-Gene microRNA array-based approach to compare urinary levels between PC patients and healthy volunteers. Results (1) Four oncogenic microRNAs (miR-744-5p, miR-572, miR-210-3p, and miR-575) that were highly upregulated in the urine of PC patients compared to healthy individuals were identified by comprehensive microRNA array analysis. (2) Test-scale analysis by quantitative RT-PCR for each group of 20 cases showed that miR-210-3p was significantly upregulated in the urine of PC patients compared to healthy individuals (P = 0.009). (3) Validation analysis (58 PC patients and 35 healthy individuals) confirmed that miR-210-3p was significantly upregulated in the urine of PC patients compared to healthy individuals (P < 0.001, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.79, sensitivity: 0.828, specificity: 0.743). We differentiated PC patients into invasive ductal carcinoma (IDCa) and intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma (IPMC) groups. In addition to urinary miR-210-3p levels being upregulated in IDCa over healthy individuals (P = 0.009), urinary miR-210-3p levels were also elevated in IPMC over healthy individuals (P = 0.0018). Urinary miR-210-3p can differentiate IPMC from healthy individuals by a cutoff of 8.02 with an AUC value of 0.762, sensitivity of 94%, and specificity of 63%. (4) To test whether urinary miR210-3p levels reflected plasma miR-210-3p levels, we examined the correlation between urinary and plasma levels. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed a moderate positive correlation (ρ = 0.64, P = 0.005) between miR-210-3p expression in plasma and urine. Conclusions Urinary miR-210-3p is a promising, non-invasive diagnostic biomarker of PC, including IPMC. Trial registration Not applicable.

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