Plasma miR-187* is a potential biomarker for oral carcinoma.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is prevalent worldwide, and survival in OSCC has not improved significantly in the past decades. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have an important regulatory role in oral carcinogenesis. This study investigated the functional and clinical implications of miR-187* in OSCC pathogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Expression of miR-187* in OSCC tissues and patient plasma was assayed using quantitative RT-PCR. The diagnostic power was specified using receiver operator curve analysis. The phenotypic influence of miR-187* in OSCC cells was delineated using exogenous expression. RESULTS: miR-187* was upregulated in OSCC tissue relative to control mucosa. Overexpression of miR-187* enhanced the oncogenic phenotype of OSCC cells, including cell migration and anchorage-independent colony formation. Plasma miR-187* levels could be used to distinguish patients from controls with a separating power of 0.73. Patients showing a reduction in plasma miR-187* after tumor resection had a better prognosis. CONCLUSION: miR-187* plays oncogenic roles in oral carcinogenesis. Plasma miR-187* could be validated as a marker of OSCC for diagnostic uses. CLINICAL RELEVANCE This research implied that plasma miR-187* was a diagnostic marker for patients with OSCC, and plasma miR-187* level could be a prognostic factor for OSCC patients who received ablation surgery.