Publications

Abstract

Introduction: We investigated the ability of cell-free microRNAs (miRNAs) in plasma and serum to serve as a biomarker for malig- nant mesothelioma (MM). Methods: Using miRNA microarrays, we profiled plasma samples from MM patients and healthy controls. miRNAs with significantly different abundance between cases and controls were validated in a larger series of MM patients and in an independent series of MM patients using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Levels of candidate miRNAs were also quantified in MM tumor samples. Results: We compared cell-free miRNA profiles in plasma from MM patients with healthy controls. Reviewing 90 miRNAs previ- ously reported to be associated with MM, we found that the levels of two miRNAs, miR-29c* and miR-92a, were elevated in plasma sam- ples from MM patients. In addition, we identified 15 novel miRNAs present at significantly higher levels in the plasma of MM patients. Further analysis of candidate miRNAs by real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction confirmed that one of them, miR-625-3p, was present in significantly higher concentration in plasma/serum from MM patients and was able to discriminate between cases and controls, in both the original and the independent series of patients. MiR-625-3p was also found to be up-regulated in tumor speci- mens from a group of 18 MM patients, who underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy. Conclusion: Our data confirm the potential of miR-29c* and miR- 92a as candidate tumor markers and reveal that miR-625-3p is a promising novel diagnostic marker for MM.