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Circulating microRNAs as biomarkers for risk assessment and prognostic stratification of pleural mesothelioma
Evgeniya Sharova1, Paola Del Bianco2, Loredana Urso1
1Immunology and Molecular Oncology Diagnostics, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padua, Italy.
Introduction:
Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is an aggressive neoplasm associated with asbestos exposure. Clinical management of PM poses major challenges due to the lack of reliable markers for early diagnosis and prognostic stratification. Here we evaluated circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as minimally invasive biomarkers for PM detection and risk assessment.
Methods:
Plasma samples were collected from 32 asbestos-exposed (AsbEX) individuals and 56 PM patients, including epithelioid (N = 45) and non-epithelioid (N = 11) subtypes. An initial discovery cohort (9 AsbEX and 9 PM) was screened for 92 miRNAs using quantitative RT-PCR. Candidate miRNAs were validated in the full cohort.
Results:
Ratios calculated from the plasma levels of miR-24-3p, miR-146a-5p, miR-191-5p, miR-200a-3p, miR-222-3p, miR-223-3p, and miR-1260a robustly differentiated PM patients from asbestos-exposed controls with high accuracy and sensitivity. Furthermore, ratios of circulating miR-146a-5p, miR-200a-3p, miR-222-3p and miR-191-5p enabled stratification of epithelioid PM in high- and low-risk prognostic groups.
Conclusion:
Circulating miRNA signatures represent promising non-invasive biomarkers for early PM detection and prognostic stratification, particularly in epithelioid cases. Incorporation of these biomarkers into clinical workflows could pave the way for more personalized treatment strategies and optimize patient selection for surgery.
Insights
Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) show promise as non-invasive biomarkers for detecting pleural mesothelioma (PM) and assessing patient risk. These miRNA signatures can aid in early diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is an aggressive cancer linked to asbestos exposure.
- Current diagnostic and prognostic tools for PM are limited, posing clinical challenges.
- Minimally invasive biomarkers are needed for early detection and risk stratification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential non-invasive biomarkers for pleural mesothelioma (PM).
- To assess the utility of plasma miRNA signatures for early PM detection.
- To determine if circulating miRNAs can stratify PM patients based on prognosis.
Main Methods:
- Plasma samples were collected from 56 PM patients and 32 asbestos-exposed controls.
- Quantitative RT-PCR was used to screen 92 miRNAs in a discovery cohort.
- Candidate miRNAs were validated in the full cohort to identify diagnostic and prognostic signatures.
Main Results:
- Specific plasma miRNA ratios (miR-24-3p, miR-146a-5p, miR-191-5p, miR-200a-3p, miR-222-3p, miR-223-3p, miR-1260a) accurately differentiated PM patients from controls.
- Circulating miRNA ratios (miR-146a-5p, miR-200a-3p, miR-222-3p, miR-191-5p) stratified epithelioid PM into high- and low-risk groups.
- High accuracy and sensitivity were achieved in detecting PM and stratifying risk.
Conclusions:
- Circulating miRNA signatures are promising non-invasive biomarkers for early PM detection.
- These miRNA profiles can aid in prognostic stratification, especially for epithelioid PM.
- Integrating these biomarkers into clinical practice may enable personalized treatment and optimize surgical patient selection.
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