LiKidMiRs: A ddPCR-Based Panel of 4 Circulating miRNAs for Detection of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Cancer mortality reduction remains a major societal goal, in part materialized in the many efforts to develop effective biomarkers for early detection. Early detection of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) significantly increases the likelihood of curative treatment, avoiding the need for subsequent therapies, which have side effect and entail more comorbidities. Thus, the research team from Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto/ Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre and University of Porto unveiled and validated a panel of 4 circulating miRNAs for detection of RCC, using droplet digital PCR. Although further studies are need, circulating hsa-miRNAs assessed by ddPCR might have an important place in early detection of RCC.

Authors and Affiliations: José Pedro Sequeira ^1,2 , Vera Constâncio ^1,3 , Sofia Salta ^1,4 , João Lobo ^1,5,6 , Daniela Barros-Silva ^1,4 , Carina Carvalho-Maia ¹, Jéssica Rodrigues ^7,8, Isaac Braga ⁹, Rui Henrique ^1,5,6 and Carmen Jerónimo ^1,6

¹Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;

²Master Programme in Oncology, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal

³Doctoral Programme in Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal

⁴Doctoral Programme in Molecular Pathology and Genetics, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal

⁵Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal

⁶Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal

⁷Cancer Epidemiology Group, IPO Porto Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;

⁸Centre of Mathematics (CMAT), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, R. da Universidade, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal

⁹Department of Urology & Urology Clinics, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;

Abstract:

Background: Decreased renal cell cancer-related mortality is an important societal goal, embodied by efforts to develop effective biomarkers enabling early detection and increasing the likelihood of curative treatment. Herein, we sought to develop a new biomarker for early and minimally invasive detection of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) based on a microRNA panel assessed by ddPCR. Methods: Plasma samples from patients with RCC (n = 124) or oncocytomas (n = 15), and 64 healthy donors, were selected. Hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-126-3p, hsa-miR-155-5p and hsa-miR-200b-3p levels were evaluated using a ddPCR protocol. Results: RCC patients disclosed significantly higher circulating levels of hsa-miR-155-5p compared to healthy donors, whereas the opposite was observed for hsa-miR-21-5p levels. Furthermore, hsa-miR-21-5p and hsa-miR-155-5p panels detected RCC with high sensitivity (82.66%) and accuracy (71.89%). The hsa-miR-126-3p/hsa-miR-200b-3p panel identified the most common RCC subtype (clear cell, ccRCC) with 74.78% sensitivity. Conclusion: Variable combinations of plasma miR levels assessed by ddPCR enable accurate detection of RCC in general, and of ccRCC. These findings, if confirmed in larger studies, provide evidence for a novel ancillary tool which might aid in early detection of RCC.

Journal: Cancers (Basel)

Link: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/4/858