PURPOSE: Tumor-associated microRNAs have been detected in cancer, though whether plasma microRNA-155 (miR-155) could be a potential biomarker for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) prognosis is unclear. We aimed to determine how miR-155 can be used to predict the clinical characteristics of patients with LSCC and correctly diagnose them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected tissue samples and peripheral blood samples before and after treatment from 280 LSCC cases and 560 controls. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR was employed in this study to compare the relative expression of miR-155. RESULTS: A total of 280 LSCC patients and 560 age- and sex-matched controls were included in the study. The miR-155 level was more up-regulated in LSCC tissue than in the non-tumor tissues (13.6+/-2.4 vs. 3.1+/-0.80, p<0.001). Additionally, a significantly higher miR-155 level in plasma samples from LSCC patients than in those of the controls (8.9+/-1.25 vs. 1.8+/-0.8, p<0.001) was reported. Tissue miR-155 showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.933, with a sensitivity of 82.6% and a specificity of 89.2%. The AUC for plasma miR-155 was 0.757, with a sensitivity of 58.4% and a specificity of 69.5%. When early LSCC in TNM I stage was considered, tissue miR-155 showed an area under the curve of 0.804, with a sensitivity of 85.2% and a specificity of 87.3%. CONCLUSION: The expression of tissue and plasma miR-155 were significantly up-regulated in patients with LSCC. Our work will serve as a basis for further investigation, preferably large-scale validation in clinical trials.
Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor/blood/*genetics ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/blood/diagnosis/*genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms/blood/diagnosis/*genetics ; Male ; MicroRNAs/*blood ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Up-Regulation

The diagnosis of postradiation nasopharyngeal skull base lesions in petients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is still a tough problem in clinical practice. An early and accurate diagnosis is important for subsequent management. We prospectively evaluated the diagnostic value of plasma Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) DNA in detecting postradiation nasopharyngeal skull base lesions in NPC patients. From July 2006 to September 2010, 90 patients with postradiation NPC (34 women and 56 men; median age: 42 years) met the selection criteria and were recruited in this study. All postradiation nasopharyngeal skull base lesions were found in the latest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations before endoscopic surgery, and the nasopharyngeal cavity was normal under flexible nasopharyngoscopy. Plasma EBV DNA detection was performed within 2 weeks before endoscopic surgery. A total of 90 endoscopic operations were successfully performed without any postoperative complications. Recurrences confirmed by postoperative pathology were found in 30 patients. The specificity, positive and negative predictive values of plasma EBV DNA detection were better than those of MRI. In addition, combining plasma EBV DNA detection with MRI improved the specificity and positive predictive values of MRI. Plasma EBV DNA detection followed by MRI would help to diagnose recurrence whereas MRI was unable. These results indicate that plasma EBV DNA is an effective and feasible biomarker for detecting postradiation nasopharyngeal skull base lesions in NPC patients.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood ; radiotherapy ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; blood ; radiotherapy ; virology ; Nasopharynx ; pathology ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; diagnosis ; virology ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Osteoradionecrosis ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Prospective Studies ; Skull Base ; pathology

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; blood ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; blood ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDAngiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) is one of the critical regulators of tumor angiogenesis. Studies have shown a significant correlation of Ang-2 expression to tumor invasion and metastasis in various human cancers, but little is known about the serum Ang-2 (sAng-2) levels in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) and its precursors. In this study, we aimed to investigate its role in screening for ESCC and its precursors.

METHODSWe carried out a free endoscopic screening in Feicheng City, a high ESCC incidence area in Shandong Province of China. Serum samples were collected as follows: 91 from normal subjects, 44 from patients with esophagitis, 85 from patients with hyperplasia, and 13 from patients with early ESCC. In addition, 28 serum samples were obtained from patients with invasive ESCC undergoing surgery in People's Hospital of Feicheng City. All the subjects of the five groups were diagnosed by histopathology. The sAng-2 levels were tested and compared, and the diagnostic power in early or/and invasive ESCC was calculated in terms of sensitivity and other parameters.

RESULTSThe sAng-2 levels were (22.0 +/- 5.5), (21.3 +/- 3.2), (20.5 +/- 3.3), (24.0+/- 5.0), and (29.8 +/- 5.0) U/ml in normal, esophagitis, hyperplasia, early ESCC, and invasive ESCC groups respectively. It was significantly higher in early ESCC than inhyperplasia group (P = 0.009). The invasive ESCC group showed the highest Ang-2 level among all groups (all P = 0.000). The sensitivities of sAng-2 to early and invasive ESCC were 23.1% and 78.6% respectively.

CONCLUSIONsAng-2 level is related to carcinogenesis and progression of ESCC, but it can not be used to screen for early ESCC.

Aged ; Angiopoietin-2 ; blood ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood ; diagnosis ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis