Serum microRNAs; miR-30c-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-302c-3p and miR-17-5p could be used as novel non-invasive biomarkers for HCV-positive cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Recently, serum miRNAs have been evolved as possible biomarkers for different diseases including hepatocellular carcinoma and other types of cancers. Investigating certain serum miRNAs as novel non-invasive markers for early detection of HCV-positive cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression profiles of 58 miRNA were analyzed in patient's plasma of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), HCV-positive cirrhosis and HCV-positive HCC and compared with control group samples. Totally 94 plasma samples; 64 patient plasma (26 CHC, 30 HCV-positive cirrhosis, 8 HCV-positive HCC) and 28 control group plasma, were included. The expression profiles of 58 miRNAs were detected for all patient and control group plasma samples by qRT-PCR using BioMarkTM 96.96 Dynamic Array (Fluidigm Corporation) system. In CHC group, expression profiles of miR-30a-5p, miR-30c-5p, miR-206 and miR-302c-3p were found significantly deregulated (p < 0.05) when compared versus control group. In HCV-positive cirrhosis group, expression profiles of miR-30c-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-302c-3p, miR-17-5p, miR-130a-3p, miR-93-5p, miR-302c-5p and miR-223-3p were found significantly deregulated (p < 0.05). In HCV-positive HCC group, expression profiles of miR-17-5p, miR-223-3p and miR-24-3p were found significant (p < 0.05). When all groups were compared versus control, miR-30c-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-302c-3p and miR-17-5p were found significantly deregulated for cirrhosis and HCC. These results imply that miR-30c-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-302c-3p and miR-17-5p could be used as novel non-invasive biomarkers of HCV-positive HCC in very early, even at cirrhosis stage of liver disease.