Circulating microRNA-21, microRNA-122, and microRNA-222 as diagnostic biomarkers for hepatitis c virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRs) are now a well-known subject in various tumor genesis and are studied as early diagnostic biomarker. Many arrays of miRs were incorporated in the pathogenesis of HCV-related hepatocellular carcinomas (HCV-HCC). In this respect, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic role of circulating miR-21, miR-122, and miR-222 in Egyptian patients with HCV-HCC.

Between June 2018 and April 2019, a cross-sectional comparative study was designed to evaluate the circulating miR-21, miR-122, and miR-222 by quantitative Real-Time PCR. For analytical purposes, patients were categorized into three groups: chronic HCV group (CHC-group, n = 22), HCV-related liver cirrhosis (LC-group, n = 22), and HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCV-HCC-group, n = 54).

Serum levels of miR-21 and miR-222 increased with the progressive course from CHC to LC and HCC; p < .001. Serum levels of miR-122 in HCC patients were significantly lower than non-HCC patients (CHC and LC patients, n = 44); p < .001. However, the differences in levels of serum miR-122 between CHC and LC were not statistically significant; P = 0.8.

ROC curve analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of miR-21 were 61.1% and 95.5%, miR-222 were 71.7% and 93.2%, and miR-122 were 98.2% and 100%. The positive predictive value for miRNA-21, miRNA-122, and miRNA-222 were 13.4%, 93.3%, and 10.5% respectively. The Negative predictive value for miRNA-21, miRNA-122, and miRNA-222 were 94.3%, 97.8%, and 92.7% respectively.

MiR-21 and miR-222 could be potential markers for advanced liver damage, while miR-122 had the best diagnostic accuracy and could be a promising marker for detection of HCC.