Title : MicroRNA expression analyses reveal biomarker candidates for improved diagnosis and prognosis of pediatric Burkitt lymphoma
Abstract:
Burkitt lymphoma is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children. Pediatric Burkitt lymphomas (pBLs) are characterized by fast tumor growth; therefore, rapid diagnosis and initiation of therapy is of utmost significance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that were extensively studied in a variety of cancer types. However, the roles of microRNAs (miRNA) in diagnosis and prognostication were not fully investigated in these lymphomas. In this study, we identified differentially expressed miRNAs in tumor tissues and plasma of pBL cases as circulating cell-free or exosomal miRNAs through microRNA sequencing (miRNA-Seq) so as to discover potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Through ROC analyses, we identified several overexpressed miRNAs with the potential to improve diagnosis. Analyses of the prognostic potential of 133 overexpressed miRNAs revealed that 7 of them are associated with inferior overall survival. We also identified circulating cell-free and exosomal miRNAs overexpressed in pBL cases which can potentially improve diagnosis through ROC analyses. Analysis of the diagnostic potential of total miRNA concentrations showed that total circulating cell-free miRNAs may have the potential to improve diagnostication. Finally, we cross-validated expression of selected miRNAs. To sum up, certain tumor tissue and plasma miRNAs may potentially be used as biomarkers for improved diagnosis and prognostication. Validation of the identified plasma miRNAs in independent cohorts will be needed to ensure their non-invasive biomarker potential.
