MicroRNAs in colorectal cancer: A comparative analysis of circulating and tissue microRNA levels
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. The gold standard screening methods for early detection and monitoring are colonoscopy and stool-based tests. However, innovative and minimally invasive biomarkers need to be integrated into clinical practice. AIM: To identify circulating microRNAs as potential CRC biomarkers through a comparative analysis of tissue and plasma samples from patients with CRC. METHODS: This case-control study conducted a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of 84 microRNAs in tumoral and peritumoral tissues, and 179 microRNAs in plasma from 19 patients with CRC. A control cohort for the tissue analysis and another control cohort for the plasma analysis have been enrolled. RESULTS: In total, 14 microRNAs were significantly differentially expressed in the tissue and plasma samples. Notably, five microRNAs (miR-26b-5p, miR-101-3p, miR-30d-5p, miR-107, and miR-21-5p) presented the same trend in terms of fold change in both types of biological samples. Significant associations between the circulating levels of miR-21-5p and miR-26b-5p and lymphovascular invasion were found. CONCLUSION: These five microRNAs with significantly altered levels in plasma and tumoral tissue, could be good non-invasive CRC biomarkers candidates, enhancing screening, and supporting precision and individualized patient care.
Language: English
Subfield: Cancer Research
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4416126529