Hyo Jung Cho1, Soon Sun Kim1, Ji Sun Nam2, Jai Keun Kim3, Jei Hee Lee3, Bohyun Kim3, Hee Jung Wang4, Bong Wan Kim4, Jung-Dong Lee5, Dae Yong Kang5, Ji Hyun Kim1, Yang Min Jae1, Jae Chul Hwang1, Sung Jae Shin1, Kee Myung Lee1, Sung Won Cho1, Jae Youn Cheong6. 1. Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon 16499, South Korea. 2. Human Genome Research & Bio-resource Center, Ajou University Medical Center, Suwon, South Korea. 3. Department of Radiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. 4. Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. 5. Office of Biostatistics, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. 6. Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Worldcup-ro 164, Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon 16499, South Korea. Electronic address: jaeyoun620@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: We evaluated the prognostic implication of circulating microRNA (miR)-21, miR-26a, and miR-29a in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who underwent curative treatment. METHODS: The study included 120 hepatitis B virus-related HCC patients who underwent hepatic resection (n=63) or radiofrequency ablation (n=57). MiR-21, miR-26a, and miR-29a expression levels in pretreatment plasma and several clinical variables were analyzed to identify prognostic bio-markers. RESULTS: Old age, low albumin level, low platelet count, advanced tumor stage (modified Union for International Cancer Control stages III, IV), low miR-26a (hazard ratio [HR]=1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.04-2.83; P=0.035), and low miR-29a (HR=1.75; 95% CI=1.04-2.94; P=0.035) were identified as independent risk factors for predicting poor disease-free survival. Low miR-21, miR-26a, and miR-29a were associated with poor liver transplantation (LT)-free survival in the univariate analysis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that low miR-26a (HR=3.41; 95% CI=1.32-8.82; P=0.011) and low miR-29a (HR=2.75; 95% CI=1.10-6.85; P=0.030), low platelet count, and advanced tumor stage were significantly associated with poor LT-free survival. Remarkable correlation was found between miR-26a and miR-29a (Spearman's rho=0.734, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Pretreatment levels of circulating miR-26a and miR-29a are independent prognostic markers for poor disease-free survival and LT-free survival in hepatitis B virus-related HCC patients.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: We evaluated the prognostic implication of circulating microRNA (miR)-21, miR-26a, and miR-29a in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who underwent curative treatment. METHODS: The study included 120 hepatitis B virus-related HCC patients who underwent hepatic resection (n=63) or radiofrequency ablation (n=57). MiR-21, miR-26a, and miR-29a expression levels in pretreatment plasma and several clinical variables were analyzed to identify prognostic bio-markers. RESULTS: Old age, low albumin level, low platelet count, advanced tumor stage (modified Union for International Cancer Control stages III, IV), low miR-26a (hazard ratio [HR]=1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.04-2.83; P=0.035), and low miR-29a (HR=1.75; 95% CI=1.04-2.94; P=0.035) were identified as independent risk factors for predicting poor disease-free survival. Low miR-21, miR-26a, and miR-29a were associated with poor liver transplantation (LT)-free survival in the univariate analysis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that low miR-26a (HR=3.41; 95% CI=1.32-8.82; P=0.011) and low miR-29a (HR=2.75; 95% CI=1.10-6.85; P=0.030), low platelet count, and advanced tumor stage were significantly associated with poor LT-free survival. Remarkable correlation was found between miR-26a and miR-29a (Spearman's rho=0.734, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Pretreatment levels of circulating miR-26a and miR-29a are independent prognostic markers for poor disease-free survival and LT-free survival in hepatitis B virus-related HCC patients.