Low miR-498 expression levels are associated with poor prognosis in ovarian cancer

Decreased expression levels of microRNA (miR)-498 were reported in several human cancers. However, the prognostic value of the miR-498 expression in ovarian cancer has not been assessed. In this study, we addressed this knowledge gap by evaluating an association of miR-498 expression levels with ovarian cancer prognosis.

qPCR was used to detect expression levels of miR-498 in cancer specimens and matched adjacent normal tissue specimens. The log-rank test was used to analyze survival rate, whereas the Cox regression model was used fir multivariate analysis of potential prognostic factors.

Expression levels of miR-498 were significantly lower in ovarian cancer tissue specimens compared with matched normal adjacent tissue (p < 0.001). Decreased miR-498 expression levels correlated well with FIGO stage, tumour grade and lymph node metastases (respective p = 0.001, 0.015, and 0.017). Furthermore, patients with lower miR-498 expression had shorter overall and progression-free survival (both p < 0.01 vs. those with high miR-498 expression).

Decreased expression levels of miR-498 are associated with worse overall survival and poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer, highlighting potential usefulness of this miR for prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer.