Clinical evaluation of circulating miR-548a-3p and -20a expression in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients

Our plain-English summary of Clinical evaluation of circulating miR-548a-3p and -20a expression in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients, by M. Matboli, A.E. Shafei, A.E. Azazy, et al (Biomarkers in Medicine, 2018).

The study

• Authors: M. Matboli, A.E. Shafei, A.E. Azazy, M. Reda, N. El-Khazragy, A.A. Nagy, M.A. Ali, M. Sobhi, O. Abdel-Rahman
• Journal: Biomarkers in Medicine
• Published: 2018;12(2):129-139
• Cited by: 23 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

Aim: miRNAs may act as promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of mesothelioma. This study integrates serum miR-548a-3p and miR-20a expression based on in silico data analysis followed by clinical validation in malignant mesothelioma patients (malignant pleural mesothelioma [MPM]).

Patients & Methods: Serum miR-548a-3p and miR-20a level was assessed in the serum of patients with MPM, chronic asbestos exposure and healthy volunteers by quantitative real-time PCR.

Results: The expression of serum miR-548a-3p and miR-20a was positive in 91.6 and 96.7% MPM patients, respectively. Both miRNAs were able to segregate between cases and controls. The sensitivity of the combined chosen serum miRNAs reached 100% in the diagnosis of MPM.

Conclusion: The current work revealed that sera miR-548a-3p and miR-20a may serve as promising novel diagnostic tools for MPM.

In plain English

This study measured two small RNA molecules, miR-548a-3p and miR-20a, in blood serum to see whether they could help diagnose malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The authors chose the two molecules by searching public databases. They then tested serum from 100 Egyptian adults recruited from June 2013 to September 2014: 60 newly diagnosed, untreated MPM patients, 20 people with chronic asbestos exposure but no MPM, and 20 healthy people. Both molecules were significantly higher in the MPM patients than in the other two groups. Using cut-off values, miR-548a-3p was positive in 55 of 60 MPM patients, 2 of 20 asbestos-exposed people and 0 of 20 healthy people. miR-20a was positive in 58 of 60, 3 of 20 and 1 of 20, respectively. Combining the two gave 100% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity for diagnosing MPM. The authors reported no significant link between the levels and factors such as asbestos exposure or tumor stage. The authors concluded that the two molecules may be promising biomarkers for MPM. They called this a small pilot study needing larger studies. Several numbers differ between the article's text, tables and figures.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Diagnostic biomarker study comparing serum miRNA levels (measured by quantitative PCR) in mesothelioma patients and two control groups; the two miRNAs were first selected from public databases
• Who was studied: 100 Egyptian adults: 60 newly diagnosed malignant pleural mesothelioma patients before any treatment (57 epithelioid, 3 biphasic), 20 people with chronic asbestos exposure without MPM, and 20 healthy people having a routine check-up. Recruited from Ain Shams University Hospitals and military hospitals in Cairo, June 2013 to September 2014
• Exposure: The study measured serum levels of miR-548a-3p and miR-20a. One comparison group was 20 Egyptian workers formerly exposed to asbestos. Fiber type, products and exposure levels were not described
• Main results:
  • Serum miR-548a-3p and miR-20a were significantly higher in MPM patients than in the chronic asbestos exposure group and the healthy control group
  • Using ROC-derived cut-off values, miR-548a-3p was positive in 55 of 60 MPM patients, 2 of 20 asbestos-exposed people and 0 of 20 healthy volunteers. miR-20a was positive in 58 of 60 MPM patients, 3 of 20 asbestos-exposed people and 1 of 20 healthy volunteers
  • In separating MPM patients from controls, miR-548a-3p had a sensitivity of 91.7% and a specificity of 97.5%. miR-20a had a sensitivity of 96.7% and a specificity of 95% (figures as given in the results text)
  • The two miRNAs combined reached 100% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity for diagnosing MPM
  • Within the MPM group, the authors reported no significant association between the miRNA levels and clinical factors, including asbestos exposure, stage and pathologic type. Their Table 3 nonetheless marks a few p values as significant (smoking, pleural effusion, job)
  • Among control subjects without malignant disease, neither age nor smoking status affected the miRNA levels
  • Levels of the two miRNAs were correlated with each other across all study groups (r = 0.568)
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that serum miR-548a-3p and miR-20a are elevated in MPM patients compared with cancer-free controls and may be promising biomarkers for MPM. They also concluded that combining the two improved diagnostic performance
• Limitations the authors state:
  • Relatively small sample size; the authors described it as a pilot study needing larger multicenter studies

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Lung cancer, Mesothelioma.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Pleural Mesothelioma, Biomarker, Mesothelioma, Malignant Mesothelioma, Asbestos Exposure.

Related studies

• Clinical significance of serum DRAM1 mRNA, ARSA mRNA, hsa-miR-2053 and lncRNA-RP1-86D1.3 axis expression in malignant pleural mesothelioma — M. Matboli, A.E. Shafei, et al. (2019)
• Clinical significance of circulating miR-126 quantification in malignant mesothelioma patients — M. Tomasetti, S. Staffolani, et al. (2012)
• Circulating microRNAs found dysregulated in ex-exposed asbestos workers and pleural mesothelioma patients as potential new biomarkers — I. Bononi, M. Comar, et al. (2016)
• Increased circulating miR-625-3p: a potential biomarker for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma — M.B. Kirschner, Y.Y. Cheng, et al. (2012)
• The degree of microRNA-34b/c methylation in serum-circulating DNA is associated with malignant pleural mesothelioma — T. Muraoka, J. Soh, et al. (2013)
• Are circulating microRNAs suitable for the early detection of malignant mesothelioma? Results from a nested case-control study — D.G. Weber, A. Brik, et al. (2019)

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