Differential microRNA Expression Analysis in Patients with HPV-Infected Ovarian Neoplasms.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Virology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Epithelial ovarian neoplasms represent a significant health concern.
• The role of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) in ovarian cancer pathogenesis is not fully understood.
• MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression implicated in various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific miRNAs dysregulated by HR-HPV infection in women with epithelial ovarian neoplasms.
• To investigate the association between miRNA expression profiles and clinicopathological features of ovarian neoplasms.
• To explore the potential of miRNAs as prognostic biomarkers in HR-HPV-associated ovarian cancer.

Main Methods:

• Quantification of miRNA expression using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
• Detection and quantification of HR-HPV DNA via digital-droplet PCR.
• Statistical analysis including univariate and multivariate analyses, and unsupervised clustering.

Main Results:

• Significantly lower hsa-miR-25-5p expression was observed in HPV-infected ovarian tissues compared to uninfected tissues.
• hsa-miR-218-5p expression was significantly higher in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) and advanced stage (III/IV FIGO) tumors.
• hsa-miR-191-5p was significantly downregulated in advanced stage tumors, while hsa-miR-16-5p high expression correlated with poor overall survival.
• Unsupervised clustering identified three distinct patient groups based on HPV status and miRNA expression profiles.

Conclusions:

• HR-HPV infection is associated with specific alterations in miRNA expression within ovarian neoplasms.
• Certain miRNAs, such as hsa-miR-218-5p and hsa-miR-16-5p, may serve as potential biomarkers for HGSOC, advanced disease, and prognosis.
• These findings offer insights into host-virus interactions and the molecular mechanisms underlying ovarian neoplasm development and progression.