Novel miRNA markers for the diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial cancer

Abstract

As endometrial cancer (EC) is a major threat to female health worldwide, the ability to provide an accurate diagnosis and prognosis of EC is promising to improve its treatment guidance. Since the discovery of miRNAs, it has been realized that miRNAs are associated with every cell function, including malignant transformation and metastasis. This study aimed to explore diagnostic and prognostic miRNA markers of EC. In this study, differential analysis and machine learning were performed, followed by correlation analysis of miRNA-mRNA based on the miRNA and mRNA expression data. Nine miRNAs were identified as diagnostic markers, and a diagnostic classifier was established to distinguish between EC and normal endometrium tissue with overall correct rates >95%. Five specific prognostic miRNA markers were selected to construct a prognostic model, which was confirmed more effective in identifying EC patients at high risk of mortality compared with the FIGO staging system. This study demonstrates that the expression patterns of miRNAs may hold promise for becoming diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for EC.