Dysregulation of exosomal miRNAs and their related genes in head and neck cancer patients.

The present study aimed to figure out the potential role of exosomal microRNAs, and their targeted genes in HNC detection/diagnosis. In the present study, exosomes were extracted from the serum samples of 400 HNC patients and 400 healthy controls. Exosomes were characterized using TEM, NTA, TEM-immunogold labeling and ELISA. Quantitative PCR was used to measure the expression level of exosomal miRNA-19a, miRNA-19b and targeted genes and in HNC patients and controls. The deregulation of miR-19a (p < 0.01), miR-19b (p < 0.03), (p < 0.04) and (p < 0.04) was observed in HNC patients vs controls. ROC curve and Kaplan-Meier analysis showed the good diagnostic/prognostic value of selected exosomal microRNAs and related genes in HNC patients.