Identification of microRNAs From the miR-371~373 and miR-302 clusters as potential serum biomarkers of malignant germ cell tumors

Am J Clin Pathol. 2011 Jan;135(1):119-25. doi: 10.1309/AJCPOE11KEYZCJHT.

Abstract

Current serum biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring of malignant germ cell tumors (GCTs) show limited sensitivity and specificity. We previously observed that microRNAs of the miR-371∼373 and miR-302 clusters are overexpressed in all malignant GCTs, regardless of patient age, histologic subtype, or anatomic site, but are not reported to be coordinately up-regulated in other tumor types or disease states. Herein we show that levels of all 8 main members of the miR-371∼373 and miR-302 clusters were elevated in the serum of a 4-year-old boy at the time of diagnosis of yolk sac tumor. Levels returned to normal during an uneventful clinical follow-up, with kinetics similar to those of the conventional marker α-fetoprotein. We describe in detail the multiplex polymerase chain reaction protocol used to quantify serum microRNA levels, which is highly robust and reproducible. Our study indicates that miR-371∼373 and miR-302 cluster microRNAs are promising candidate biomarkers for improving disease monitoring (and potentially diagnosis) in malignant GCTs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood
  • Child, Preschool
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Endodermal Sinus Tumor / genetics*
  • Endodermal Sinus Tumor / secondary
  • Endodermal Sinus Tumor / therapy
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / blood*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Pelvic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Pelvic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pelvic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • MicroRNAs