Role of a Schistosoma haematobium-specific microRNA-71a and its target gene MAPK3 as a tumor biomarker for early diagnosis and prognosis of bilharzial bladder cancer in Egypt

Background: Schistosoma miRNAs and their target genes are utilized in diagnosis and/or prognosis of schistosomiasis. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic role of Sh-miRNA-71a and its target gene MAPK3 in bilharzial bladder cancer (BC) in Egypt. Patients and Methods: This case-control study recruited 40 patients with S. haematobium aged 17-70, of both sexes, and 20 apparently healthy volunteers of similar age range, and gender. Based on clinical examination, and pathological characteristics, patients were divided into two equal groups; BC, and chronic cystitis. From each patient with CB, a histopathological report for CB diagnosis and grading was obtained. Urine samples were collected from all participants, and miRNA, and MAPK3 RNA were extracted, followed by cDNA synthesis, amplification, and Sh-miRNA-71a and MAPK3 quantification using real time PCR (RT-PCR) assay. The obtained results were correlated with CB type and grade. Results: Tested Sh-miRNA-71a was significantly higher in the bilharzial BC group than the chronic cystitis (P=0.005). The MAPK3 was significantly higher in patients with bilharzial BC than those with chronic cystitis, and controls. It was also significantly (P<0.05) higher in chronic cystitis, than the controls. In addition, Sh-miRNA-71a and MAPK3 were significantly (P<0.001) higher in patients with high-grade bilharzial BC than in patients with low-grade bilharzial BC. There was a positive correlation between MAPK3 and Sh-miRNA-71a (r=0.313, P=0.049) indicating that both biomarkers can significantly predict malignancy, and differentiate between high- and low-grade malignancy. Conclusions: Urinary Sh-miRNA-71a and its target gene MAPK3 can be used as non-invasive prognostic markers to predict bilharzial BC and differentiate between high- and low-grade cases with positive significant correlation