Downregulated miR-367-3p, miR-548aq-5p, and miR-4710 in Human Whole Blood: Potential Biomarkers for Breast Cancer With Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis

It remains to be determined whether whole blood miRNAs could be biomarkers in breast cancer axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM). Here it was found that miR-367-3p, miR-548aq-5p and miR-4710 were downregulated in breast cancer with ALNM. The three-miRNA signature showed better predictive value. MiR-367-3p, miR-548aq5p and miR-4710 and the three-miRNA signature may serve as biomarkers for breast cancer with ALNM.Background: Increasing studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) have great diagnostic value in cancer. Axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) is closely related to the prognosis of breast cancer. However, it remains unknown whether miRNAs in whole blood could be promising biomarkers in breast cancer ALNM. Methods: An miRNA microarray was used to screen potential differentially expressed miRNA candidates in whole blood of three breast cancer patients with ALNM and three without ALNM. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect candidate differentially expressed miRNAs in the whole blood of 109 breast cancer patients. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis was carried to predict the potential targets and enriched pathway of miRNAs. Results: QRT-PCR validated the fact that miR-367-3p, miR-548aq-5p and miR-4710 are downregulated in breast cancer with ALNM compared to it without ALNM. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that miR-367-3p, miR-548aq-5p and miR-4710 have good diagnostic values. Notably, the three-miRNA signature showed better predictive value, with an area under ROC curve (AUC) of 0.7414. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the miRNAs could participate in a complex network and thus be involved in cancer-related pathways. Conclusions: Our findings support the potential of miR-367-3p, miR548aq-5p and miR-4710 and the three-miRNA signature as biomarkers for breast cancer with ALNM.

Automated summary

The study investigates the potential of miRNAs in whole blood as biomarkers for breast cancer axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM). It identifies downregulated expression of miR-367-3p, miR-548aq-5p, and miR-4710 in breast cancer with ALNM. The three-miRNA signature shows better predictive value and may serve as biomarkers for breast cancer with ALNM.