MicroRNA as potential biomarker in HCV-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

AIMS: To identify molecular characteristics to hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) through a comprehensive miRNAs expression profiling. METHODS: In this study, miRNA profiles were obtained from 37 patients with DLBCLs and 60 patients with reactive lymph nodes, equally distributed according to HCV presence. Germinal centres, from reactive lymph nodes were used as controls. Clinical features at presentation were available for all patients. RESULTS: A set of 52 miRNAs define a signature for HCV-associated DLBCL. Importantly, decreased expression of miR-138-5p and increased expression of miR-147a, miR-147b and miR-511-5p in HCV DLBCL was found to be a poor prognostic factor for HCV-positive DLBCL patients. CONCLUSIONS: These data reveal molecular differences in diffuse DLBCL patients according to HCV presence, potentially useful as novel prognostic or therapeutic biomarkers.