Purpose: To analyze MiRs expression in serum of UM patients, respect to healthy donors, and to compare this data with MiRs expressed in
formalin-fixed,
paraffin-embedded UM samples. Methods: Expression profile of 754
miRNAs was performed in serum of patients with
uveal melanoma who underwent primary enucleation. The level of
miRNAs increased in serum was individually analyzed on FFPE UM samples and compared to choroidal melanocytes from unaffected eyes. Results: Fourteen patients with
uveal melanoma were included in the study. We found 8 serum
miRNAs differentially expressed compared to normal controls: 2 upregulated
miRNAs (
miRNA-146a, miR-523); 6 downregulated
miRNAs (miR-19a, miR-30d, miR-127, miR-451, miR-518f, miR-1274B). When data on upregulated
miRNAs were singularly validated only a significant overexpression of miRNA-146a was found. A statistically significant upregulation of miRNA-146a was also found on FFPE UM samples, compared to choroidal melanocytes from unaffected eyes. Conclusions: miRNA-146a is increased in serum of patients with UM and in FFPE
tumor samples. Further studies will show if it could be considered a potential marker of UM in the blood.