Serum microRNA-15a level acts as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

Clinical significance of microRNA (miR)-15a in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the expression level of miR-15a and to determine its potential for diagnosis and prognosis in ESCC.

METHODS

Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to examine the expression levels of miR-15a in ESCC tissues and patients' sera. The diagnostic and prognostic implications of serum miR-15a level in human ESCC were further evaluated.

RESULTS

Expression levels of miR-15a in ESCC tissues and patients' sera were significantly decreased (both P< 0.001). Additionally, serum miR-15a had an optimal diagnostic cut-off point (2.29) for ESCC with sensitivity of 86.36% and specificity of 100.00%. Moreover, low serum miR-15a level more frequently occurred in ESCC patients with advanced tumor-node-metastasis, T and N stages (all P= 0.01) and poor tumor differentiation (P= 0.03). The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that low miR-15a expression was significantly associated with shorter overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of ESCC patients (both P< 0.001). Further multivariate analysis identified miR-15a as an independent prognostic factor for both OS and DFS (both P= 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Decreased expression of miR-15a may play a crucial role in ESCC development and progression. Serum miR-15a level could be used as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker in clinics.