Jin Kangfeng, Mao Zhiyun, Tang Yelan, Feng Wei, Ju Shaoqing, Jing Rongrong, Chen Jianhui, Zong Wei
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China; Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China; Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
Clin Chim Acta. 2025 May 15;572:120261. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2025.120261. Epub 2025 Mar 25.
Non-coding small RNA, specifically tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs), are readily detectable in cancer patients, exhibit remarkable stability, and are present in high abundance. They play a significant role in tumor development. However, the clinical significance of serum tsRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains poorly understood. In this study, we explored the impact of a novel tsRNA, named tRF-23-R9J89O9N9, in the adjuvant diagnosis, disease monitoring, and prognosis assessment of HCC.
The tRF-23-R9J89O9N9 was identified as the target molecule through screening the The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) database. Its expression levels were measured using qRT-PCR. Various methods, including agarose gel electrophoresis, Sanger sequencing, gradient dilution experiments, room temperature stability tests, and repeated freeze-thaw assessments, were employed to evaluate the performance of tRF-23-R9J89O9N9. The correlation between tRF-23-R9J89O9N9 levels and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed using the χ test. The diagnostic value of tRF-23-R9J89O9N9 in HCC was assessed with ROC curve analysis, while the prognostic value was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curves.
Serum tRF-23-R9J89O9N9 expression levels were significantly elevated in HCC patients, while levels in postoperative patients were restored to those of healthy subjects. Additionally, the expression of tRF-23-R9J89O9N9 related to TNM stage(P = 0.009), lymph node metastasis(P＜0.0001), and degree of differentiation(P＜0.0001). Furthermore, the combination of AFP, PIVKA-II, and CEA greatly improved the diagnostic value for HCC. Serum tRF-23-R9J89O9N9 was also identified as a potential biomarker for dynamic monitoring and prognosis of HCC.
tRF-23-R9J89O9N9 may regard as a potential novel biomarker for the adjuvant diagnosis of HCC.
非编码小RNA，特别是tRNA衍生的小RNA（tsRNAs），在癌症患者中易于检测到，具有显著的稳定性，且丰度很高。它们在肿瘤发展中起重要作用。然而，血清tsRNAs在肝细胞癌（HCC）中的临床意义仍知之甚少。在本研究中，我们探讨了一种名为tRF-23-R9J89O9N9的新型tsRNA在HCC辅助诊断、疾病监测和预后评估中的作用。
通过筛选癌症基因组图谱（TCGA）数据库确定tRF-23-R9J89O9N9为目标分子。使用qRT-PCR测量其表达水平。采用多种方法，包括琼脂糖凝胶电泳、桑格测序、梯度稀释实验、室温稳定性测试和反复冻融评估，来评估tRF-23-R9J89O9N9的性能。使用χ检验分析tRF-23-R9J89O9N9水平与临床病理参数之间的相关性。用ROC曲线分析评估tRF-23-R9J89O9N9在HCC中的诊断价值，用Kaplan-Meier曲线评估其预后价值。
HCC患者血清tRF-23-R9J89O9N9表达水平显著升高，而术后患者的水平恢复到健康受试者的水平。此外，tRF-23-R9J89O9N9的表达与TNM分期（P = 0.009）、淋巴结转移（P＜0.0001）和分化程度（P＜0.0001）相关。此外，AFP、异常凝血酶原（PIVKA-II）和癌胚抗原（CEA）的联合使用大大提高了HCC的诊断价值。血清tRF-23-R9J89O9N9也被确定为HCC动态监测和预后的潜在生物标志物。
tRF-23-R9J89O9N9可被视为HCC辅助诊断的潜在新型生物标志物。
