Circulating microRNA Panel as a Potential Novel Biomarker for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Diagnosis
by
,
Kodai Nakamura
1, 
Naomi Hiyake
2,
Tomofumi Hamada
1,3,*,
Seiya Yokoyama
4, 
Kazuki Mori
1,
Kouta Yamashiro
1,
Mahiro Beppu
1
,
Yasuaki Sagara
5,
Yoshiaki Sagara
6 and
Tsuyoshi Sugiura
1,*
1
Department of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Science, Field of Oral and Maxillofacial Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan
2
Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
3
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Hakuaikai Medical Cooperation Sagara Hospital, Kagoshima 892-0833, Japan
4
Department of Pathology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan
5
Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Hakuaikai Medical Cooperation Sagara Hospital, Kagoshima 892-0833, Japan
6
Department of Radiology, Hakuaikai Medical Cooperation, Sagara Hospital Kagoshima, Kagoshima 892-0833, Japan
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2021, 13(3), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13030449
Submission received: 25 November 2020
/
Revised: 11 January 2021
/
Accepted: 20 January 2021
/
Published: 25 January 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Non-Invasive Early Detection of Cancers)
Simple Summary
Although early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is considered vital, classical biomarkers have shown poor sensitivity and specificity for early detection and monitoring of OSCC. Therefore, identification of reliable and sensitive biomarkers allowing for early detection and monitoring of OSCC is of the utmost importance. In this study, we successfully identified significantly upregulated or downregulated microRNAs in OSCC patients, and reported that a combination of six microRNAs could distinguish between OSCC and the control group with a higher degree of accuracy. Furthermore, compared with serum squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen, the miRNA panel reflected the presence of OSCC accurately. The present results suggest that the combined microRNA panel based on serum microRNA levels shows potential as a novel diagnostic biomarker of OSCC.
Abstract
A lack of reliable biomarkers for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) poses a major clinical issue. The sensitivity and specificity of classical serum tumor markers, such as the squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag), are quite poor, especially for early detection. This study aimed to identify specific serum miRNAs potentially serving as OSCC biomarkers. The expression levels of candidate miRNAs in serum samples from 40 OSCC patients and 40 healthy controls were quantitatively analyzed via microarray and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) analyses. To enhance the accuracy of detection, we used Fisher’s linear discriminant analysis to establish a diagnostic model that incorporated a combination of selected miRNAs. Consequently, miR-19a and miR-20a were significantly upregulated in the patient group (p = 0.014 and 0.036, respectively), whereas miR-5100 was downregulated (p = 0.001). We found that a combination of six miRNAs (miR-24, miR-20a, miR-122, miR-150, miR-4419a, and miR-5100) could distinguish between OSCC and the control group with a higher degree of accuracy (Area Under the Curve, AUC: 0.844, sensitivity: 55%, and specificity: 92.5%). Furthermore, compared to serum SCC antigen, the 6-miRNA panel could accurately detect the presence of OSCC. The present specific miRNAs panel may serve as a novel candidate biomarker of oral cancer.
Keywords:
oral cancer; oral squamous cell carcinoma; microRNA; biomarker; tumor marker
