MicroRNA signatures in total peripheral blood of gallbladder cancer patients

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that function as negative regulators of gene expression. Expression analysis of miRNAs can reflect the developmental lineage and differentiation state of the tumor. Thus, the miRNA profiles could play essential roles in gallbladder cancer (GBC). However, their role as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of GBC is unclear yet. We assessed here for the first time whole-genome miRNA expression in peripheral blood samples of 40 GBC patients using microRNA microarray. We identified 11 miRNAs, which are significantly dysregulated in GBC patients in comparison to 40 healthy controls. Among these, the expression of let-7a, miR-21, miR-187, miR-143, miR-202, and miR-335 are in agreement with those measured by real-time PCR (p < 0.05). Furthermore, dysregulated miR-187, miR-143, and miR-202 demonstrate a significant correlation with clinicopathologic features (p < 0.05). Our results suggest a possible pathological relationship between the differential expression of miRNA in peripheral blood and GBC, and these dysregulated miRNAs could be novel tumor biomarkers for early detection of GBC.