Study on the relationship between serum miR-146a-5p and miR-151a-3p and the sensitivity of synchronized radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer

Background: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between serum microRNA-146a-5p (miR-146a-5p) and serum microRNA-151a-3p (miR-151a-3p) and the sensitiv-ity to concurrent chemo-radiation (CCRT) in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). Methods: A total of one hundred LACC patients were selected. The healthy control group consisted of 100 cases of physical examination health checks performed throughout the same period. Using the solid tumor effectiveness evaluation criteria, the patients with cervical cancer were split into two groups: the resistant group (31 instances) and the sensitive group (69 cases). By using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), serum miR-146a-5p, and miR-151a-3p levels were found. In patients with LACC, the association between serum miR-146a-5p/miR-151a-3p and the resistance to CCRT therapy was examined. Results: Patients with LACC had significantly greater serum levels of miR-146a-5p and miR-151a-3p than the healthy control group (p < 0.05). Serum levels of miR-146a-5p and miR-151a-3p were significantly higher in the resistant group’s patients than in the sensitive group’s (p < 0.05). Tumor diameter greater than 4 cm, lymph node metastasis, and higher serum miR-146a-5p/miR-151a-3p levels were identified as independent risk factors for resistance to CCRT (p < 0.05). For predicting resistance to CCRT, the area under the curve (AUC) for serum miR-146a-5p was 0.835 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.748–0.902) and for serum miR-151a-3p it was 0.798 (95% confidence interval: 0.706–0.872). Additionally, a higher AUC value of 0.916 (95% confidence interval: 0.844–0.962) was achieved by combining serum miR-146a-5p and miR-151a-3p. Conclusions: Elevated levels of serum miR-146a-5p and miR-151a-3p serve as useful diagnostic biomarkers for non-invasive screening of resistance to CCRT in patients with LACC. These levels were found to be closely associated with the effectiveness of CCRT in these patients.

microRNA-146a-5p; microRNA-151a-3p; Locally advanced cervical cancer; Concurrent chemo-radiation

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