High circulating microRNA-122 expression is a poor prognostic marker in patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma who undergo radiofrequency ablation

• Published in: Clinical biochemistry 2015-11, Vol.48 (16-17), p.1073-1078
• Main Authors: Cho, Hyo Jung, Kim, Jai Keun, Nam, Ji Sun, Wang, Hee Jung, Lee, Jei Hee, Kim, Bong Wan, Kim, Soon Sun, Noh, Choong Kyun, Shin, Sung Jae, Lee, Kee Myung, Cho, Sung Won, Cheong, Jae Youn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - blood; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - genetics; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - virology; Catheter Ablation - methods; Female; Hepatitis B - blood; Hepatitis B - genetics; Hepatitis B - pathology; Hepatitis B - virology; Hepatitis B virus - pathogenicity; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Humans; Liver Neoplasms - blood; Liver Neoplasms - genetics; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Liver Neoplasms - virology; Male; MicroRNA-122; MicroRNAs - blood; MicroRNAs - genetics; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Radiofrequency ablation; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 0009-9120; 1873-2933
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2015.06.019

Aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic potential of plasma microRNA-122 levels in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatic resection or radiofrequency ablation (RFA). A total of 120 patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent hepatic resection (n=63) or RFA (n=57) were included. The pretreatment plasma microRNA-122 level was assessed using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, and the correlation between microRNA-122 expression and various clinical parameters was investigated. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that, in all patients, a low platelet count (100) had significantly lower OS on Kaplan–Meier analysis (P=0.042). Furthermore, high microRNA-122 expression (hazard ratio [HR]=2.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.12–6.35; P=0.026) and advanced tumor stage (HR=2.27; 95% CI=1.23–4.18; P=0.009) were independent risk factors for poor OS in patients treated with RFA. The combination of microRNA-122 and tumor stage resulted in an area under the curve of 0.818 for predicting 1-year OS in patients who underwent RFA. High plasma microRNA-122 expression was associated with poor OS in patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent RFA. •We examined the prognostic potential of circulating microRNA-122 in HCC patients.•Circulating microRNA-122 negatively correlated with remained liver function.•High plasma microRNA-122 expression is poor prognostic factor of HCC patients.