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Prognostic role of circulating exosomal miRNAs in multiple myeloma

Salomon Manier1,2,3, Chia-Jen Liu1,4,5, Hervé Avet-Loiseau6

  • 1Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Blood
|February 19, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Circulating exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) show prognostic significance in multiple myeloma (MM). Specific miRNAs, let-7b and miR-18a, predict progression-free and overall survival in newly diagnosed MM patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Exosomes are key intercellular communicators, implicated in cancer progression.
  • Circulating exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging biomarkers for various diseases.
  • Multiple myeloma (MM) diagnosis and prognosis require improved molecular markers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prognostic value of circulating exosomal miRNAs in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM).
  • To identify specific exosomal miRNAs associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in MM.

Main Methods:

  • Small RNA sequencing was performed on exosomes from 10 MM patients and healthy controls.
  • Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) array analysis of 22 miRNAs was conducted on serum exosomes from 156 newly diagnosed MM patients.
  • Statistical analyses, including univariate and multivariate analyses, were used to correlate miRNA levels with patient outcomes.

Main Results:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were identified as the predominant small RNAs within circulating exosomes.
  • Two specific miRNAs, let-7b and miR-18a, were significantly associated with both PFS and OS in univariate analysis.
  • These miRNAs remained statistically significant predictors of PFS and OS in multivariate analysis, even after adjusting for the International Staging System and adverse cytogenetics.

Conclusions:

  • Circulating exosomal miRNAs, specifically let-7b and miR-18a, can serve as valuable prognostic biomarkers in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM).
  • These findings support the potential of exosomal miRNAs for improved risk stratification and identification of MM patients with poor outcomes.
  • Further validation in independent prospective cohorts is warranted to confirm these prognostic implications.

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