Serum 2-miRNA panel as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker for adenomyosis

Abstract

Adenomyosis (AM) is a common non-cancerous condition of the uterus that has significant effects on women’s health. Despite its clinical importance, the advancement of dependable non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers has yet to be achieved. This study sought to examine the potential role of serum microRNAs (miRNAs) as biomarkers for the diagnosis of AM. Initial high-throughput Solexa sequencing revealed a significant increase in serum concentrations of miR-101-3p and miR-143-3p in patients with AM compared to healthy individuals. The results were later validated through the application of absolute quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Each miRNA demonstrated strong diagnostic potential, as indicated by the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUCs) of 0.881 and 0.901, respectively. The diagnostic performance exhibited notable improvement when the two miRNAs were integrated into a panel, resulting in an AUC of 0.941. At a specific threshold of 0.385, the panel demonstrated sensitivity and specificity rates of 93.33 % and 96.67 %, respectively. Additionally, the panel demonstrated excellent discriminatory power (AUC > 0.9) in distinguishing AM from other gynecological conditions. Notably, serum miRNA levels and the composite panel score exhibited significant positive correlations with key clinical features of AM. Methodological assessments indicated that serum miRNAs remained stable under extended storage at 4 °C and after repeated freeze–thaw cycles. These results support the serum 2-miRNA panel as a reliable, non-invasive diagnostic tool for AM, with potential to enhance diagnostic precision and improve disease management.