Downregulation of microRNA-139 is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma risk and short-term survival.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been frequently reported to be diagnostic biomarkers and prognostic factors for cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical significance of microRNA-139 (miRNA-139) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). All 31 patients enrolled in the present study had received curative hepatectomy. The objective miRNA was determined using miRNA microarray. The miRNA-139 expression level in cancerous tissue specimens was measured by means of reverse transcription and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and compared with that in 31 corresponding peritumoral non-cancerous tissues. Plasma miRNA-139 expression was also quantified. The diagnostic value of plasma miRNA-139 for differentiating patients with HCC from the ones with chronic HBV-hepatitis (CH) was analyzed. The miRNA microarray performed in 3 pairs of tissue specimens determined miRNA-139 was downregulated (p=0.017). Compared with plasma of chronic HBV-hepatitis, miRNA-139 was lowly expressed in plasma of HCC patients (p<0.010). ROC analysis of plasma miRNA-139 yielded an AUC of 0.764 (p<0.010) with sensitivity of 80.6% and specificity of 58.1% while differentiating HCC from chronic HBV-hepatitis. The diagnostic power of serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) was also evaluated. The combination of miRNA-139 and AFP improved the differentiating power. Subsequently, 31 HCC patients were divided into the low or high expression group based on plasma miRNA-139 level. Plasma miRNA‑139 expression was correlated with serum AFP (p=0.043), Edmondson-Steiner grading (p=0.038). In addition, there was a significant difference in the 1-year survival rates between the two groups (p=0.023). miRNA‑139 was downregulated in the cancerous tissue and plasma of HCC patients. Plasma miRNA‑139 is a diagnostic biomarker and prognostic factor for HCC.