OBJECTIVE

To quantify the miR-122 and miR-197 expression levels in liver cancer (LC) patients before and after chemotherapy and to determine their prognostic implications.

METHODS

The present study included 169 patients with LC who were admitted to our hospital from January 2005 to December 2010. The miR-122 and miR-197 expression levels in the patients' cancerous and adjacent tissues were quantified, and their peripheral blood levels before and after chemotherapy were analyzed, as well as their prognostic implications.

RESULTS

The miR-122 and miR-197 levels in the LC tissues were lower than they were in the adjacent tissues, and they increased in the peripheral blood after chemotherapy. Higher miR-122 and miR-197 expression levels were observed in the LC tissues of sorafenib-sensitive patients. ROC curves demonstrated that miR-122 and miR-197 are predictive markers for the therapeutic effect of sorafenib. As shown by a K-M survival curve and a log-rank test, low miR-122 and miR-197 levels are responsible for low 5-year patient survival rates. Moreover, a univariate Cox analysis uncovered the association between the 5-year survival and the miR-122 and miR-197 expression levels, the size and number of tumors, vascular invasion, and TNM and BCLC staging. Also, a multivariate Cox analysis indicated that the independent risk factors for 5-year survival in LC included the miR-122 and miR-197 levels, the number of tumors, vascular invasion, and TNM and BCLC staging.

CONCLUSION

miR-122 and miR-197 expression levels can predict LC patient responses to sorafenib chemotherapy, and their levels increase after chemotherapy. Moreover, decreased miR-122 and miR-197 levels are independent risk factors for LC progression.