Diagnostic and Prognostic Roles of miR-155 and miR-3173 in Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Implications for Early...

Objectives: The current study underscores the potential role of miRNAs, specifically miR-3173 and miR-155, as promising biomarkers for breast and ovarian cancers (BC and OC). The primary objective was to evaluate the expression levels of these miRNAs in cancer patients compared to healthy individuals, assess their diagnostic accuracy, and explore their associations with cancer progression and prognosis. Methods: This study involved 60 participants, comprising 30 patients diagnosed with primary BC and 30 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Tumor tissue samples were obtained from all patients for molecular analysis. For control comparisons, adjacent non-tumorous tissues from both groups were utilized. miR-3173 and miR-155 expression levels were measured using real-time PCR (qPCR). The diagnostic accuracy of both miRNAs was evaluated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, calculating sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing cancer cases from healthy controls. Additionally, the association of miR-155 with metastasis was explored, and miR-3173's correlation with poor progression-free survival in BC patients was assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis. Results: Both miRNAs were found to be significantly upregulated in cancer patients compared to healthy individuals, with miR-155 exhibiting high sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing BC and OC cases. Notably, miR-155 is associated with metastasis, which aligns with previous research, suggesting its role as an oncogene in epithelial OC. Meanwhile, the elevated expression of miR-3173 correlates with poor progression-free survival in BC patients, marking it as a potential prognostic marker. However, these results highlight the complexity of miRNA expression in cancer progression, as miR-3173 showed varied associations with different types of cancer. Despite these challenges, the ROC curve analysis for both miRNAs is promising with high sensitivity and specificity for both BC and OC. Conclusion: The study findings are particularly significant in the context of early diagnosis and monitoring cancer progression, yet further investigations involving larger cohorts and diverse populations are needed to validate these results. Future studies should focus on expanding sample sizes, refining the understanding of miRNA roles in tumor progression, and exploring their potential as therapeutic targets. These advancements could significantly enhance personalized treatment strategies for breast and ovarian cancer, improving patient outcomes.