Low MicroRNA-19b Expression Shows a Promising Clinical Impact in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Abstract

The standard treatment for patients with locally advanced colorectal cancer (LARC) is neoadjuvant 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgical mesorectal excision. However, the lack of response to this preoperative treatment strongly compromises patient outcomes and leads to surgical delays and undesired toxicities in those non-responder cases. Thus, the identification of effective and robust biomarkers to predict response to preoperative CRT represents an urgent need in the current clinical management of LARC. The oncomiR microRNA-19b (miR-19b) has been reported to functionally play oncogenic roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells as well as regulate 5-FU sensitivity and determine outcome in CRC patients. However, its clinical impact in LARC has not been previously investigated. Here, we show that miR-19b deregulation is a common event in this disease, and its decreased expression significantly associates with lower tumor size after CRT (p = 0.003), early pathological stage (p = 0.003), and absence of recurrence (p = 0.001) in LARC patients. Interestingly, low miR-19b expression shows a predictive value of better response to neoajuvant CRT (p < 0.001), and the subgroup of LARC patients with low miR-19b levels have a markedly longer overall (p = 0.003) and event-free survival (p = 0.023). Finally, multivariate analyses determined that miR-19b independently predicts both patient outcome and response to preoperative CRT, highlighting its potential clinical usefulness in the management of LARC patients.

The Natural Compound Hydrophobic Usnic Acid and Hydrophilic Potassium Usnate Derivative: Applications and Comparisons

“…Cancer is a term used to describe more than 100 different diseases that have in common the fact that they are the result of an uncontrollable growth of cells, which can invade neighboring tissues [ 57 ]; colorectal cancer is among the most common types [ 58 ]. In this approach, Yang et al [ 59 ] evaluated the anticancer activity of usnic acid (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) and potassium usnate in an in vitro and in vivo experimental model of colorectal cancer for the oral bioavailability of both molecules.…”

Development and Validation of a Nomogram and a Comprehensive Prognostic Analysis of an LncRNA-Associated Competitive Endogenous RNA Network Based on Immune-Related Genes for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer With Neoadjuvant Therapy

“…Different responses to CRT are very important for LARC patients because of the close relationship between treatment and the survival rate (35). Therefore, it is (36), and some prognostic biomarkers were found to be linked with the response to CRT (37). IRGs as factors linked with tumor regression and clinical outcome (38), also play important roles in the response to CRT (39).…”

“…Previously, Nie Ke et al. built a high predictive model based on multiparametric MRI ( 36 ), and some prognostic biomarkers were found to be linked with the response to CRT ( 37 ). IRGs as factors linked with tumor regression and clinical outcome ( 38 ), also play important roles in the response to CRT ( 39 ).…”

Predicting Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Response in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Using Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Density

“…Currently, the most accurate way to identify pCR patients is still the evaluation of specimens after total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery. Meanwhile, several biomarkers have been proved as potential predictors of nCRT response, for instance, gene (such as microRNA-19b) and radiology (such as radiomics signature), 4,5 while lacking further validation before clinical application. Despite these biomarkers cannot accurately predict pCR, serving as nCRT pre-predictors remains valuable.…”