A Systematic Review of Esophageal MicroRNA Markers for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Barrett's Esophagus.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Esophageal epithelial microRNAs may be used to diagnose Barrett's esophagus (BE) and possibly monitor its progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC).

AIMS:

We reviewed studies that have investigated this to identify microRNAs with high biomarker potential for screening and disease monitoring in BE.

METHODS:

PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for studies that quantified esophageal epithelial microRNAs. Publications reporting microRNA comparisons of normal, non-dysplastic BE, BE with high-grade dysplasia (HGD), and EAC tissues using both unbiased discovery and independent validation phases were reviewed.

RESULTS:

Eleven studies on microRNA expression differences between normal epithelium and non-dysplastic BE (seven studies), HGD (4) or EAC (7), or between non-dysplastic BE and HGD (3) or EAC (6) were identified, and the findings of their validation phase were analyzed. Increased miR-192, -194, and -215, and reduced miR-203 and -205 expression in BE compared to normal was noticed by all 4-6 of the seven studies that examined these microRNAs. In heterogeneity tests of the reported fold-change values, the I (2) statistics were 7.9-17.1 % (all P < 0.05). Elevated miR-192, -194, and -215, and diminished miR-203 and -205 levels were also noted for comparisons of HGD or EAC against normal. In contrast, a consistent microRNA expression difference was absent for the comparisons of HGD or EAC against BE.

CONCLUSIONS:

MicroRNAs miR-192, -194, -203, -205, and -215 are promising tissue biomarkers for diagnosing BE. Cross-sectional data suggest that microRNAs may have a limited role in separating BE from HGD/EAC epithelia but need further testing in longitudinal follow-up studies.

• Authors: Reema Mallick, Santosh K Patnaik, Sachin Wani, Ajay Bansal
• Journal: Digestive diseases and sciences (Dig Dis Sci) Vol. 61 Issue 4 Pg. 1039-50 (Apr 2016) ISSN: 1573-2568 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26572780 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review, Systematic Review)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• MicroRNAs

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (etiology, metabolism)
• Barrett Esophagus (complications, diagnosis, metabolism)
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Esophageal Neoplasms (etiology, metabolism)
• Humans
• MicroRNAs (metabolism)