ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a prevalent malignant tumor affecting the urinary system. Due to its unfavorable prognosis, there is a pressing need to discover effective approaches for early diagnosis and treatment of ccRCC. Extensive research has consistently demonstrated the presence of stable microRNAs (miRNAs) in human serum. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to identify a specific panel of miRNAs in serum that can serve as a reliable and non-invasive biomarker for the early detection of ccRCC. METHODS: The study comprised of training and validation phases to identify potential biomarkers. In the training phase, a total of 10 miRNAs exhibiting the most significant differential expression among 28 ccRCC patients and 28 healthy controls (HCs) were identified using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In the subsequent validation phase, these 10 miRNAs were assessed in serum samples obtained from an additional 80 ccRCC patients and 84 HCs using RT-qPCR. To construct a panel with optimal diagnostic capability, backward stepwise logistic regression analysis was conducted. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis was performed on this selected miRNA panel. RESULTS: In ccRCC patients, the serum expression level of miRNA-142-5p was found to be significantly elevated compared to healthy controls (HCs), whereas the expression levels of let-7f-5p, miRNA-27b-3p, miRNA-212-3p, and miRNA-216-5p were significantly reduced. To assess their diagnostic potential for ccRCC, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed. The analysis revealed that miRNA-27b-3p, let-7f-5p, and miRNA-142-5p exhibited moderate diagnostic capabilities for ccRCC, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.826, 0.828, and 0.643, respectively. To further enhance diagnostic accuracy, a final diagnostic panel consisting of these three miRNAs was constructed, demonstrating good diagnostic value with an AUC of 0.952. CONCLUSIONS: The miRNA serum biomarker panel (miRNA-27b-3p, let-7f-5p, and miRNA-142-5p) identified in this study holds promise for early, non-invasive, and accurate diagnosis of ccRCC. This panel could potentially provide a valuable tool in clinical settings to aid in the timely detection and management of ccRCC.
