Serum level of miR-142-3p predicts prognostic outcome for colorectal cancer following curative resection.

Objective: MicroRNA (miR)-142-3p may function as a tumor suppressor in the development of various cancers. In this study, we measured serum levels of miR-142-3p in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of miR-142-3p.

Methods: Serum samples from 363 consecutive CRC patients and 156 healthy controls were retrospectively collected. Serum miR-142-3p levels were measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. All patients were followed up regularly after tumor resection. The correlation between serum miR-142-3p level and survival outcomes was analyzed.

Results: Serum levels of miR-142-3p were significantly lower in CRC patients than in healthy volunteers. A low serum miR-142-3p level was significantly associated with advanced cancer. Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with a low serum miR-142-3p had a lower 5-year overall survival rate than patients with a high serum miR-142-3p level (67.4% vs. 76.9%). Serum miR-142-3p level was also shown to be an independent risk factor for CRC in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 2.68; 95% confidence interval: 1.21-7.95).

Conclusions: Serum miR-142-3p might serve as a useful diagnostic and prognostic marker for CRC.