Solid tumors of childhood display specific serum microRNA profiles.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Serum biomarkers for diagnosis and risk stratification of childhood solid tumors would improve the accuracy/timeliness of diagnosis and reduce the need for invasive biopsies. We hypothesized that differential expression and/or release of microRNAs (miRNAs) by such tumors may be detected as altered serum miRNA profiles.

Methods

We undertook global quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) miRNA profiling (n = 741) on RNA from 53 serum samples, representing 33 diagnostic cases of common childhood cancers plus 20 controls. Technical confirmation was performed in a subset of 21 cases, plus four independent samples.

Results

We incorporated robust quality control steps for RNA extraction, qRT-PCR efficiency and hemolysis quantification. We evaluated multip

SUBMITTER: Murray MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4340540 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature