Serum Levels Of MiR-19b And MiR-146a As Prognostic Biomarkers For Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective Explored the role of miRNAs in the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods The miRNA expression profiles were determined in5pairs of NSCLC and paracancerous tissues (3adenocarcinomas and2squamous cell carcinomas) using TaqMan low density array, containing365miRNAs. Aberrantly expressed miRNAs were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in61pairs of NSCLC and paracancerous tissues. Differentially expressed miRNAs were further analyzed in sera from94healthy subjects and94advanced NSCLC patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. Results Three miRNAs (miR-19b, miR-146a, and miR-223) were significantly dysregulated in NSCLC tissues (P<0.05). High miR-19b and low miR-146a expression in NSCLC tissues were associated with higher TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and poorer survival (P<0.05). The serum levels of miR-19b in NSCLC patients were significantly higher (P<0.001), whereas serum levels of miR-146a were significantly lower (P<0.001), compared with those in controls. Serum levels of miR-19b and miR-146a were associated with overall survival of advanced NSCLC patients(P<0.05). Although single serum miRNA showed no association with overall response rate (P>0.05), advanced NSCLC patients with low serum level of miR-19b and high serum level of miR-146a achieved a higher overall response rate and longer survival time (P<0.05). Conlusion These data suggest that miR-19b and miR-146a are potential biomarkers for the prediction of survival and response to chemotherapy in NSCLC.