Evaluation of potential of miR-8073 and miR-642 as diagnostic markers in pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer is a cancer with an insidious course. Since disease is often diagnosed at advanced stages, clinical outcome is impaired. Thus identification of biomarkers for this malignancy has importance in enhancement of patients' survival. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the current study, we assessed expression levels of miR-8073 and miR-642 in the circulation of 50 patients with pancreatic cancer and 50 controls. Plasma levels of miR-8073 and miR-642 were significantly higher in patients with pancreatic cancer compared with controls (P value < 0.0001 and P value = 0.0068, respectively). Plasma levels of miR-642 were inversely correlated with albumin levels (R=-0.28, P value = 0.049), WBC count (R=-0.35, P value = 0.01), as well as CRP level (R=-0.30, P value = 0.035). On the other hand, levels of this miRNA were positively correlated with lipase level (R = 0.29, P value = 0.042). Levels of miR-8073 were not correlated with any of the available parameters. Plasma levels of miR-8073 could separate patients with pancreatic cancer from controls with AUC, sensitivity and specificity values of 0.82, 0.77 and 0.78, respectively. miR-642 could differentiate these two groups with AUC, sensitivity and specificity values of 0.63, 0.58 and 0.78, respectively. Combination of these two parameters resulted in AUC, sensitivity and specificity values of 0.79, 0.77 and 0.78, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these two miRNAs are suggested as possible blood markers for pancreatic cancer.

Intronic polymorphisms of the SMAD7 gene in association with colorectal cancer.

Based on genome-wide association studies (GWAS) a linkage between several variants such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in intron 3 of SMAD7 (mothers against decapentaplegic homolog7) were, rs12953717, rs4464148 and rs4939827 has been noted for susceptibility to colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study we investigated the relationship of rs12953717 and rs4464148 with risk of CRC among 487 Iranian individuals based on a case- control study. Genotyping of SNPs was performed by PCR-RFLP and for confirming the outcomes, 10% of genotyping cases were sequenced with RFLP. Comparing the case and control group, we have found significant association between the rs4464148 SNP and lower risk of CRC. The AG genotype showed decreased risk with and odds ratio of 0.635 (adjusted OR=0.635, 95% CI: 0.417-0.967, p=0.034). There was no significant difference in the distribution of SMAD7 gene rs12953717 TT genotype between two groups of the population evaluated (adjusted OR=1.604, 95% CI: 0.978-2.633, p=0.061). On the other hand, rs12953717 T allele showed a statistically significant association with CRC risk (adjusted OR=1.339, 95% CI: 1.017-1.764, p=0.037). In conclusion, we found a significant association between CRC risk and the rs4464148 AG genotype. Furthermore, the rs12953717 T allele may act as a risk factor. This association may be caused by alternative splicing of pre mRNA. Although we observed a strong association with rs4464148 GG genotype in affected women, we did not detect the same association in CRC male patients.

Metabonomics exposes metabolic biomarkers of Crohn's disease by (1)HNMR.

Metabonomics and other "omics" fields are essential science in analytical chemistry. Modern analytical instruments such as proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) can be provided the great quantity of analytical information. In order to assign unknown samples, chemometrics methods recognition build classification model based on experimental data. Firstly some current strategies for regarding disease diagnosis are exhibited in metabonomics studies. Some disease such as crohn's disease can be difficult to diagnosis since its signs and symptoms may be similar to other medical problems or often mimic other symptoms. Applications of NMR and supervised pattern recognition in the field of metabonomics are also reviewed in recent years. The aim of present study was to review the assessment of (1)HNMR to investigate a metabolic profile of crohn's disease.