miR-548ac and miR-378j as Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers in Gastric Cancer: A Case-Control Study

Gastric cancer (GC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite improvements in diagnostic techniques, GC is often diagnosed at advanced stages. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have become recognized as important regulators in cancer development, influencing processes such as cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. This study examined the expression levels of two microRNAs, miR-548ac and miR-378j, in GC tissue.

Tumor and margin tissues were collected from 20 patients diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma, and control tissue samples were obtained from 20 healthy individuals. Total RNA was extracted, and cDNA synthesis was performed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to assess the expression levels of miR-548ac and miR-378j, with miR-16 as the internal control. Statistical analysis was performed using REST software, with SPSS software used for further clinical correlation analysis.

The expression of miR-548ac was significantly upregulated in gastric tumor tissues compared with margin tissues and healthy samples (P=0.002). miR-378j expression, on the other hand, showed no significant difference between tumor and normal tissues (P=0.05). Statistical analysis revealed a borderline significant association between miR-548ac expression and tumor stage and grade, but found no significant correlation with lymph node or distant metastasis. Additionally, the miR-378j expression did not show significant correlations with any clinicopathological features.

miR-548ac is significantly upregulated in GC tissues and may serve as a potential biomarker for GC diagnosis and prognosis, particularly in more advanced stages. In contrast, miR-378j does not appear to have a strong association with GC and may not be helpful as a diagnostic marker.