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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
07:50
Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer
Published on: September 18, 2020
Serum microRNA Profiles Reflect Differentiation Status and Age in Early Gastric Cancer
Marwa Shekfeh1, Mariam M Konaté1, Hari Sankaran1
1Biometric Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
Biomolecules
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Serum microRNAs (miRNAs) can predict early gastric cancer differentiation. Age influences miRNA expression, potentially affecting diagnostic signatures in younger patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Early gastric cancer (GC) diagnosis and tumor differentiation are key prognostic factors.
- Tumor aggressiveness correlates with poor differentiation and younger patient age.
- Serum microRNAs (miRNAs) offer potential molecular insights into GC characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) linked to GC differentiation.
- To develop a miRNA-based classifier for predicting tumor differentiation.
- To investigate age-related differences in cancer-specific miRNA profiles.
Main Methods:
- Compared miRNA expression in differentiated versus undifferentiated early GC.
- Utilized Lasso regression for a miRNA-based differentiation classifier (n=1399).
- Assessed cancer-specific miRNA variations between adolescent/young adult (AYA) and non-AYA patients.
Main Results:
- Identified 75 differentiation-associated DEmiRNAs targeting key cancer pathways (e.g., TP53, PI3K/AKT/mTOR).
- The miRNA classifier achieved 73.1% accuracy in predicting differentiation status (AUC 79.7%).
- Found 52 age-related miRNAs and noted age associations with a known GC diagnostic signature.
Conclusions:
- miRNA profiling effectively predicts early GC differentiation status.
- Age-related miRNA expression variations may impact existing GC diagnostic tools.
- The study highlights miRNA utility in understanding GC heterogeneity and age-specific molecular differences.
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MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
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MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...