Prognostic value of the tissue levels microRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma (a pilot study)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occupies a leading position among malignant liver tumors, is often characterized by an aggressive course and an unfavorable prognosis for patients. The search for reliable biomarkers capable of predicting individual risk for each patient at early stages, as well as determining a personalized approach to treatment, are key factors influencing patient survival. Objective. Assess the expression of 14 microRNAs in the tumor tissue of patients with HCC, its association with the aggressive course of the disease, BCLC stage, and tumor size. Material and methods. The study included 22 patients with aggressive and non-aggressive HCC, in whom the relative expression level of 14 microRNAs was determined in tissue samples obtained after trepan biopsy or surgical liver resection, as well as the level of AFP in blood plasma. Results. Statistically significant differences between the groups were found for miR-192: the median expression level of miR-192 in the aggressive course group was almost 2 times lower and amounted to -76.9 units (Q1; Q3: –54.8; –34.8) versus –45.5 units (–118.6; –54.2) in the second group (p=0.0083). The area under the ROC curve for miR-192 was 0.87, sensitivity was 81.8%, and specificity was 72.7%, which exceeds the similar indicators for serum AFP (63.6% for both parameters). A moderate negative correlation was found between tumor size and the expression of miR-122 (p=–0.50; p=0.018) and miR-192 (p=–0.45; p=0.036). When comparing BCLC stages (A, B, B3+C), significant differences were obtained for miR-20a (p=0.01), miR-18a (p=0.03), and miR-192 (p=0.03). No statistically significant associations were found for the other microRNAs. Conclusion. The decrease in miR-192 expression is associated with an aggressive course of HCC and has diagnostic value superior to AFP. The negative correlation of miR-122 and miR-192 with tumor size confirms their role as suppressors of tumor growth. The obtained data justify the feasibility of further studying miR-192 and miR-122 as promising biomarkers for stratifying the risk of HCC progression.