MicroRNA-130a-3p and microRNA-205-5p expression validation in liquid biopsy samples as progression in cervical cancer biomarkers

• Grant number: 24/16601-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Epidemiology
• Principal Investigator: Rhafaela Lima Causin
• Grantee: Geovanna Marques Pereira
• Host Institution: Hospital do Câncer de Barretos. Fundação Pio XII (FP). Barretos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Background: There are countless and well-documented evidence in the literature demonstrating that pap smear test is limited as an isolated method for screening cervical cancer. Previous studies have identified microRNAs (miRNAs) as a potential disease progression biomarker. Therefore, the expression of previously identified miRNAs needs to be validated. Aim: To validate the expression of the miR-130a-3p and miR-205-5p in cervical cancer progression process. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 retrospectives, stored liquid-based cytology (LBC) of cervical samples from women previously undergoing colposcopy at the Barretos cancer hospital were included (being: Normal n=50, CIN1 n=50, CIN2/3 n=50) and 20 cases of cervical cancer tissues versus its respective adjacent normal tissue. The samples of LBC and tumoral tissues have been submitted for high-risk (hr-HPV) detection, RNA isolation, and expression analysis of the miRNAs (miR130a-3p and miR-205-5p) using Real-time PCR technology. The expression profile of miRNAs was compared between groups (dCIN1 vs. CIN2+). The accuracy of each of the molecular tests (microRNA and hr-HPV) was measured and compared to each other through sensitivity, specificity, predictive values (positive and negative), and area under the ROC curve (AUC). Expected results: If these biomarkers prove to be accurate and reproducible, they may present a new way of identifying women at high risk of disease progression.Keywords: Cervical cancer, microRNAs, Biomarker, Disease progression, Liquid-based cytology.