Serum miR-483-5p as a potential biomarker to detect hepatocellular carcinoma

There are no highly sensitive and specific minimally invasive biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to date. The objective of this study was to identify serum microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential HCC biomarkers.

Using miRCURY LNA™ microRNA arrays, the levels of circulating miRNAs in the serum of patients with HCC were compared and controls were matched. Then 253 subjects (112 HCC, 85 chronic hepatitis B [CHB], and 56 healthy controls) were recruited and 12 serum miRNAs were compared by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). It was followed by the comparison of serum miRNA concentrations before and after the surgical resection in HCC group.

Median levels of miR-483-5p and miR-500a were higher in HCC patients than in patients with CHB and in healthy controls (p < 0.0001), but there were no differences between CHB patients and healthy controls (p > 0.05) and miR-483-5p levels were significantly reduced in serum samples obtained 30 days after surgical resection (p < 0.0001). The area under receiver operating characteristic curves of miR-483-5p and miR-500a was 74% (cutoff [Ct] value = 2.824, sensitivity = 74%, and specificity = 66%) and 66% (Ct value = 1.830, sensitivity = 74%, and specificity = 51%) for the prediction of HCC, respectively. In detecting HCC, combining α-fetoprotein (AFP) and serum miR-483-5p (sensitivity = 81% and specificity = 83%) was better than AFP alone (sensitivity = 78%, specificity = 70%).

Our observations suggest that serum miR-483-5p and miR-500a might serve as novel, noninvasive biomarkers for HCC. Serum miR-483-5p might complement AFP in detecting HCC.