Serum miR-23 and miR-150 Profiles as Biomarkers for Predicting Recurrence following Surgical Intervention in Colorectal Cancer Patients

• Published in: Reports of biochemistry and molecular biology Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 540 - 549
• Main Authors: Mahmoudivar, Saeid, Zarredar, Habib, Asadi, Milad, Zafari, Venus, Hashemzadeh, Shahriyar, Farzaneh, Rojin, Asvadi Kermani, Touraj
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mashhad, Iran Varastegan Institute for Medical Sciences 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 2322-3480; 2322-3480
• DOI: 10.61186/rbmb.12.4.540

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play pivotal roles in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and have emerged as crucial regulators in cancer development, progression, and metastasis. This study aimed to assess the expression profiles of miR-23, miR-223, miR-1246, and miR-150 in serum samples obtained from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients before and three months after surgery, in comparison to a healthy control group, to explore their biomarker potential.BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) play pivotal roles in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and have emerged as crucial regulators in cancer development, progression, and metastasis. This study aimed to assess the expression profiles of miR-23, miR-223, miR-1246, and miR-150 in serum samples obtained from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients before and three months after surgery, in comparison to a healthy control group, to explore their biomarker potential.A total of 50 blood samples were collected from patients with CRC (pre- and post-surgery), along with 50 samples from healthy controls. The relative expression levels of miR-23, miR-223, miR-1246, and miR-150 in the serum were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR.MethodsA total of 50 blood samples were collected from patients with CRC (pre- and post-surgery), along with 50 samples from healthy controls. The relative expression levels of miR-23, miR-223, miR-1246, and miR-150 in the serum were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR.Our findings revealed upregulated expression levels of miR-23, miR-1246, and miR-223, while miR-150 exhibited significant downregulation in the serum of CRC subjects compared to healthy controls. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that miR-23 and miR-150 could distinguish CRC cases from controls with relatively high accuracy. Moreover, three months post-surgery, miR-23, miR-1246, and miR-223 serum levels were downregulated, and miR-150 was significantly upregulated. However, no significant correlations were observed between serum levels of the studied genes and the clinical features of our patients.ResultsOur findings revealed upregulated expression levels of miR-23, miR-1246, and miR-223, while miR-150 exhibited significant downregulation in the serum of CRC subjects compared to healthy controls. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that miR-23 and miR-150 could distinguish CRC cases from controls with relatively high accuracy. Moreover, three months post-surgery, miR-23, miR-1246, and miR-223 serum levels were downregulated, and miR-150 was significantly upregulated. However, no significant correlations were observed between serum levels of the studied genes and the clinical features of our patients.The serum levels of miR-23 and miR-150 hold promise as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of CRC.ConclusionsThe serum levels of miR-23 and miR-150 hold promise as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of CRC.