Reduced serum exosomal miR-874 expression predicts poor prognosis in colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE

Emerging evidence has indicated that serum exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) have promising diagnostic and prognostic value for colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to detect serum exosomal miR-874 expression in CRC patients and assess its potential clinical significance.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Blood samples were collected from 125 CRC patients, 45 cases with benign adenomas (AD) and 70 healthy individuals. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to examine serum exosomal miR-874 levels.

RESULTS

The results showed that serum exosomal miR-874 levels were significantly downregulated in CRC patients compared to AD cases and healthy controls. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that serum exosomal miR-874 expression could discriminate CRC patients from healthy controls, as well as patients with AD. In addition, low serum exosomal miR-874 expression was associated with positive distant metastasis, positive lymph node metastasis, poor differentiation, and advanced TNM stage. Moreover, serum exosomal miR-874 expression was identified as a statistically significant independent prognostic factor for overall survival of CRC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, serum exosomal miR-874 expression might serve as a reliable marker for CRC diagnosis and prognosis prediction.