Identification of a serum-based microRNA signature that detects recurrent oral squamous cell carcinoma before it is clinically evident

Br J Cancer. 2023 Nov;129(11):1810-1817. doi: 10.1038/s41416-023-02405-9. Epub 2023 Oct 5.

Abstract

Background: Survival rates for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have remained poor for decades, a fact largely attributable to late-stage diagnoses and high recurrence rates. We report analysis of serum miRNA expression in samples from patients with high-risk oral lesions (HRL, including OSCC/carcinoma in situ lesions) and healthy non-cancer controls, with the aim of non-invasively detecting primary or recurrent disease before it is clinically evident.

Methods: Discovery, test, and validation sets were defined from a total of 468 serum samples (305 HRL and 163 control samples). Samples were analysed using multiple qRT-PCR platforms.

Results: A two-miRNA classifier comprised of miR-125b-5p and miR-342-3p was defined following discovery and test analyses. Analysis in an independent validation cohort reported sensitivity and specificity of ~74% for this classifier. Significantly, when this classifier was applied to serial serum samples taken from patients both before treatment and during post-treatment surveillance, it identified recurrence an average of 15 months prior to clinical presentation.

Conclusions: These results indicate this serum miRNA classifier is effective as a simple, non-invasive monitoring tool for earlier detection of recurrent disease when lesions are typically smaller and amenable to a wider array of treatment options to improve survival.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / metabolism
  • Chronic Disease
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Mouth Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Mouth Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Mouth Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / genetics
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / genetics

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • Biomarkers, Tumor