MicroRNA-182-5p and microRNA-205-5p as potential biomarkers for prognostic stratification of p16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nMicroRNAs constitute promising biomarkers.\n\n\nOBJECTIVE\nThe aim was to investigate diagnostic and prognostic implications of miR-182-5p and miR-205-5p in p16-positive and p16-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs).\n\n\nMETHODS\nExpression of miR-182-5p, miR-205-5p were determined via quantitative real-time-PCR in fresh frozen tissues of 26 p16-positive, 19 p16-negative OPSCCs and 18 HPV-negative oropharyngeal controls. Associations between miRNA-expression, clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis were analyzed.\n\n\nRESULTS\nHigher miR-182-5p expression was associated with significant inferior disease-specific survival for p16-positive OPSCCs (HR = 1.98E+09, 95% CI 0-Inf; P= 0.028) and a similar trend was observed for p16-negative OPSCCs (HR = 1.56E+09, 95% CI 0-Inf; P= 0.051). Higher miR-205-5p expression was associated with an inferior progression-free survival (HR = 4.62, 95% CI 0.98-21.83; P= 0.034) and local control rate (HR = 2.18E+09, 95% CI 0-Inf; P= 0.048) for p16-positive OPSCCs.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nResults indicate that miR-182-5p and miR-205-5p can further stratify patients with p16-positive OPSCC into prognostic groups.