Serum microRNA‐21 is a novel biomarker in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Serum miRNA-21 is considered to be a novel biomarker for diagnosing ESCC, and it can also be used as a response marker during chemotherapy for ESCC patients.

Identification of Serum MicroRNA-21 as a Biomarker for Early Detection and Prognosis in Human Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

“…Wang and his colleagues revealed that serum miR-21 was elevated in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, and high serum miR-21 was significantly correlated with tumor-node metastases stage, lymph node metastasis, and shorter survival . Kurashige et al reported up-regulation of serum miRNA-21 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients and its correlation with chemosensitivity (Kurashige et al, 2012). Zhang et al (2011b) confirmed elevated serum miR-21 levels in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer and its potential value in predicting the efficacy of docetaxelbased chemotherapy.…”

miRNA–mRNA crosstalk in esophageal cancer: From diagnosis to therapy

“…Not only miR-21 expression was higher in sera of ESCC patients [141][142][143] but also, miR-21 serum concentration higher than 8.4 folds, was reported to be associated with metastasis [144]. Furthermore, after one month of surgical removal of tumor, the concentrations of miR-21 were found to be significantly reduced postoperatively in patients with high preoperative plasma miR-21 [141][142] and re-elevation was reported in one patient on recurrence of cancer, opening new doors towards cancer monitoring and recurrence detection [141]. Another study revealed that miR-21 can also be used as a response biomarker during chemotherapy as its levels were significantly reduced in patients who responded to chemotherapy as compared to those who did not [142].…”

“…Although, miRNA expression profile has been studied in different cancers like gastric cancer [136] ovarian cancer [137], pancreatic cancer [138], from healthy control patients with overwhelming 88% sensitivity and 70%specificity [141]. Not only miR-21 expression was higher in sera of ESCC patients [141][142][143] but also, miR-21 serum concentration higher than 8.4 folds, was reported to be associated with metastasis [144]. Furthermore, after one month of surgical removal of tumor, the concentrations of miR-21 were found to be significantly reduced postoperatively in patients with high preoperative plasma miR-21 [141][142] and re-elevation was reported in one patient on recurrence of cancer, opening new doors towards cancer monitoring and recurrence detection [141].…”

Serum miRNA expression in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

“…It has been previously reported that miRNA-21 can serve as a marker for the diagnostic and prognostic monitoring of esophageal cancer (23)(24)(25). However, miRNA-21 expression was also shown to be elevated in other types of tumors and diseases, such as colorectal, lung and gastric cancer (26)(27)(28), and thus cannot in fact serve as a specific marker for esophageal cancer.…”