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Reduction of plasma MicroRNA-21 is associated with chemotherapeutic response in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Cancer Research

Abstract

Objective

To examine plasma microRNA-21 (miR-21) level in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its potential correlation with chemotherapeutic response.

Methods

77 NSCLC patients and 36 age and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Plasma miR-21 concentration was examined using a quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay (qRT-PCR). Potential correlation between plasma mir-21 concentrations with chemotherapeutic responses was analyzed in 35 patients with advanced NSCLC (stages IIIB and IV).

Results

Plasma miR-21 was significantly higher in NSCLC patients relative to the healthy controls (P<0.0001). As a biomarker, plasma mir-21 had a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve area of 0.729 with 61.04% sensitivity and 83.33% specificity. Chemotherapeutic response in the 35 patients with advanced NSCLC (stages IIIB and IV) included partial response (PR) (n=11), stable disease and progression disease (SD+PD) (n=24). The overall response rate (CR+PR) was 31.4%. Plasma miR-21 in patients who achieved PR was significantly lower than those who did not respond (SD+PD) (P=0.0487), and comparable to that of the healthy controls (P=0.2744).

Conclusion

Plasma miR-21 is a good biomarker for NSCLC, and could be used to predict responses to chemotherapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China

    Juan Wei, Lian-ke Liu, Wen Gao, Cheng-jun Zhu, Yi-qian Liu, Ting Cheng & Yong-qian Shu

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  1. Juan Wei
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  2. Lian-ke Liu
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  3. Wen Gao
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  4. Cheng-jun Zhu
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  5. Yi-qian Liu
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  6. Ting Cheng
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  7. Yong-qian Shu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yong-qian Shu.

Additional information

This work was supported by the grants from the National Natural Science foundation of China (No. 30772549) and the Development Foundation of Medical Science from Public Health Department of Jiangsu Province (No. P200965)

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Wei, J., Liu, Lk., Gao, W. et al. Reduction of plasma MicroRNA-21 is associated with chemotherapeutic response in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Chin. J. Cancer Res. 23, 123–128 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11670-011-0123-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11670-011-0123-2

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