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Published in: Cellular Oncology 4/2017

Open Access 01-08-2017 | Original Paper

microRNA-371a-3p as informative biomarker for the follow-up of testicular germ cell cancer patients

Authors: Ton van Agthoven, Wil M. H. Eijkenboom, Leendert H. J. Looijenga

Published in: Cellular Oncology | Issue 4/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

α-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin subunit beta (B-HCG) are informative serum biomarkers for the primary diagnosis and follow-up of testicular germ cell cancer (TGCC) patients. About 20% of TGCC patients with a non-seminoma (NS) and about 80% with a seminoma (SE) are, however, negative for these biomarkers. Embryonic stem cell microRNAs (miRs) may serve as promising alternative serum biomarkers. Here we investigated a retrospective series of serum samples from selected TGCC patients who developed a relapse in time to test the possible additional value of the serum-based ampTSmiR test compared to the conventional serum-based protein biomarkers for follow-up.

Methods

We investigated 261 retrospective serum samples of six selected fully evaluated TGCC patients with a proven relapse using the ampTSmiR test for miR-371a-3p, miR-373-3p, and miR-367-3p and compared the results to those of the conventional protein biomarkers.

Results

At primary diagnosis, elevated serum B-HCG, AFP and LDH levels were found to be informative in 4/6, 3/6 and 3/6 patients, respectively. At primary diagnosis the levels of miR-371a-3p and miR-373-3p were elevated in 4/4, and miR-367-3p in 3/4 patients. For two cases no starting serum sample was available for retrospective miR analysis. Residual disease (overlooked by histopathological examination) was detected in one case by miR-371a-3p only. The miR-371a-3p level was increased in one patient two months before detection of an intracranial metastasis. B-HCG was informative in 3/4 and the ampTSmiR test in 4/4 patients with a relapse or residual disease. None of the biomarkers were informative for the detection of residual mature teratoma.

Conclusions

The ampTSmiR test is more sensitive than the conventional TGCC protein biomarkers for the detection of residual disease and relapse, excluding mature teratoma.
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Metadata
Title
microRNA-371a-3p as informative biomarker for the follow-up of testicular germ cell cancer patients
Authors
Ton van Agthoven
Wil M. H. Eijkenboom
Leendert H. J. Looijenga
Publication date
01-08-2017
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Cellular Oncology / Issue 4/2017
Print ISSN: 2211-3428
Electronic ISSN: 2211-3436
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13402-017-0333-9

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