Exosomal MicroRNA: A Diagnostic Marker for Lung Cancer

doi:10.3816/CLC.2009.n.006

Clinical Lung Cancer

Volume 10, Issue 1, January 2009, Pages 42-46

https://doi.org/10.3816/CLC.2009.n.006 Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose

To date, there is no screening test for lung cancer shown to affect overall mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNA genes found to be abnormally expressed in several types of cancer, suggesting a role in the pathogenesis of human cancer.

Patients and Methods

We evaluated the circulating levels of tumor exosomes, exosomal small RNA, and specific exosomal miRNAs in patients with and without lung adenocarcinoma, correlating the levels with the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) disease stage to validate it as an acceptable marker for diagnosis and prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Results

To date, 27 patients with lung adenocarcinoma AJCC stages I-IV and 9 controls, all aged 21-80 years, were enrolled in the study. Small RNA was detected in the circulating exosomes. The mean exosome concentration was 2.85 mg/mL (95% CI, 1.94–3.76) for the lung adenocarcinoma group versus 0.77 mg/mL (95% CI, 0.68–0.86) for the control group (P < .001). The mean miRNA concentration was 158.6 ng/mL (95% CI, 145.7–171.5) for the lung adenocarcinoma group versus 68.1 ng/mL (95% CI, 57.2–78.9) for the control group (P < .001). Comparisons between peripheral circulation miRNA-derived exosomes and miRNA-derived tumors indicated that the miRNA signatures were not significantly different.

Conclusion

The significant difference in total exosome and miRNA levels between lung cancer patients and controls, and the similarity between the circulating exosomal miRNA and the tumor-derived miRNA patterns, suggest that circulating exosomal miRNA might be useful as a screening test for lung adenocarcinoma. No correlation between the exosomal miRNA levels and the stage of disease can be made at this point.

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¹: Both authors contributed equally to this work.

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Clinical Lung Cancer

Abstract

Purpose

Patients and Methods

Results

Conclusion

References (19)

MicroRNA pathways in flies and worms: growth, death, fat, stress, and timing [published erratum in: Cell 2003; 114:269]

Cell

Unique microRNA molecular profiles in lung cancer diagnosis and prognosis

Cancer Cell

Quantitation of peroxidase-antibody binding to membrane fragments using column chromatography

Anal Biochem

Malignant effusions and immunogenic tumour-derived exosomes

Lancet

Shed membrane fragment associated markers for endometrial and ovarian cancers

Gynecol Oncol

Cancer statistics, 2005 [published erratum in: CA Cancer J Clin 2005; 55:259]

CA Cancer J Clin

Screening for lung cancer

Cochrane Database Syst Rev

Computed tomography screening and lung cancer outcomes [published erratum in: JAMA 2007; 298:518]

JAMA

Cited by (1114)

A label-free electrochemical sensor for the detection of two kinds of targets based on CRISPR/Cas12a system

Exosomal microRNAs in regulation of tumor cells resistance to apoptosis

Circulating tumor cells reveal early predictors of disease progression in patients with stage III NSCLC undergoing chemoradiation and immunotherapy

BeWo exomeres are enriched for bioactive extracellular placenta-specific C19MC miRNAs

Exosome regulation of immune response mechanism: Pros and cons in immunotherapy

Liquid biopsy in colorectal cancer

Original ContributionExosomal MicroRNA: A Diagnostic Marker for Lung Cancer

Abstract

Purpose

Patients and Methods

Results

Conclusion

Cell

Cancer Cell

Anal Biochem

Lancet

Gynecol Oncol

Cancer statistics, 2005 [published erratum in: CA Cancer J Clin 2005; 55:259]

CA Cancer J Clin

Screening for lung cancer

Cochrane Database Syst Rev

Computed tomography screening and lung cancer outcomes [published erratum in: JAMA 2007; 298:518]

JAMA

Original Contribution
Exosomal MicroRNA: A Diagnostic Marker for Lung Cancer