Integrated meta-analysis reveals circulating miRNA panel for hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis

Objective

HCC is the leading cause of deaths primarily in patients with liver ailment. Considering its incidence rate as global burden, efficacy of multiple drugs have changed the landscape of overall management of this disease. Recently, diagnosis based on non-invasive microRNAs has impacted the clinical outcomes of various cancers. The current study focuses on identifying potential non-invasive biomarkers for the early detection of HCC.

Methods

This research underscores the significance of a unique panel of circulating miRNAs observed at three distinct stages of liver disease: chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and HCC. The dataset, comprising microarray profiles of circulating miRNAs, was acquired from GEO repository. The DE-miRNAs and their overlapping at different stages of liver diseases were identified. The bioinformatics analyses were performed and statistical analysis was conducted to identify the significant and unique panel of circulating miRNAs.

Results

Altogether, 3 miRNAs such as hsa-miR-1290, hsa-let-7a-5p, and hsa-mir-16-5p were found with AUC ≥0.80 and P-value ≤0.05. Furthermore, pathways enrichment analysis revealed association of genes and signalling pathways.

Conclusion

In conclusion, suggested panel of circulating miRNAs may provide a potential approach for non-invasive diagnosis of HCC. These miRNAs could serve as timely indicators for detecting HCC, thereby offering a promising strategy for the effective management of this condition.