Downregulation of miR-138 predicts poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been proven to be critical players in many different types of tumors including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed at investigating the correlation of miR-138 expression and clinical outcome of patients with ESCC.

METHODS

A total of 168 serum samples and 128 fresh cancer tissues as well as their corresponding adjacent non-cancerous tissues were collected. Real-time PCR was performed to evaluate the clinical value of miR-138 in ESCC.

RESULTS

Our results showed that tissue and serum miR-138 levels were both significantly reduced in ESCC compared to their respective controls. Tissue miR-138 levels were highly correlated with serum miR-138 levels. Serum miR-138 differentiated patients with ESCC from healthy controls with high accuracy. In addition, reduced tissue/serum miR-138 levels were correlated with unfavorable clinicopathological parameters including T stage, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. ESCC patients with lower tissue/serum miR-138 levels had shorter five year overall survival compared with those with higher tissue/serum miR-138 levels. Finally, downregulation of miR-138 was demonstrated to be an independent prognostic risk factor for ESCC.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, both tissue and serum miR-138 levels are reduced in ESCC, and might be promising prognostic biomarkers for ESCC.