Microrna-150 and Microrna-101 As Diagnostic Markers for Hepatitis B Virus Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Egypt

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an increasing difficult problem in Egypt. MicroRNAs are defined as small RNAs that are non-coding RNAs which regulate gene expression after transcription. Circulating microRNAs are promising biological noninvasive markers for cancer.
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate miRNAs in Egyptian HBV related Hepatocellular carcinoma and their relation to clinical parameters.
Methods: MiR-150 and miR-101 relative expression were evaluated by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in 70 serum samples (20 from controls, 25 from chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and 25 samples from HBV related HCC patients), the diagnosis of HCC was based on typical imaging finding by dynamic computed tomography.
Results: Our results revealed that the serum relative expression levels of circulating miR-150 were lower and miR-101 were higher in patients with HCC when compared with healthy controls and CHB without HCC patients (p<0.0001). By using Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses it was suggested that miR-150 in serum had significant diagnostic value for HCC in chronic HBV patients with 75 % sensitivity and 90 % specificity. Also miR-101 in serum had significant diagnostic value for HCC in chronic HBV patients with 90 % sensitivity and 90 % specificity.
Conclusion: In conclusion, both miR-150 and miR-101 relative expression in serum in patients with HBV-related HCC could be used as noninvasive biomarkers for the early detection of HBVrelated HCC patients.