Effects of chemoradiotherapy on plasma oncogenic miRNAs as biomarkers in cervical cancer patients: A prospective observational study
Background
Cervical cancer (CC) is a leading cause of death among women worldwide, predominantly driven by high-risk human papillomavirus infection. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression and may serve as noninvasive biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring in CC.
Objective
This study aimed to identify circulating miRNAs linked to HPV-related CC and evaluate their potential as biomarkers for prognosis and response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT).
Methods
In this prospective study, plasma samples from 36 CC patients were collected before and after treatment. Five miRNAs (hsa-miR-1-3p, hsa-miR-10a-5p, hsa-miR-34a-5p, hsa-miR-34c-5p, and hsa-miR-409-3p) were selected via literature review and pathway analysis. miRNA levels were quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and normalized to hsa-miR-16. Associations with clinicopathological features and survival were analyzed statistically.
Results
Pathway analysis confirmed the involvement of selected miRNAs in cancer and HPV-related pathways, including PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling. Post-CRT, significant downregulation of hsa-miR-34a-5p, hsa-miR-34c-5p, and hsa-miR-409-3p was observed ( p < 0.05), indicating their potential as treatment response markers. Baseline hsa-miR-1-3p expression was significantly associated with Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage ( p = 0.043). No miRNAs showed significant associations with overall survival.
Conclusions
Circulating miRNAs, especially hsa-miR-34a-5p, hsa-miR-409-3p, and hsa-miR-34c-5p hold promise as noninvasive biomarkers for monitoring treatment efficacy in CC. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings and clarify their prognostic value.