Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the chief origin of death due to cancer. The development of a less invasive diagnostic technique for NSCLC, especially at the beginning, can improve outcomes. By means of microarray platforms, we formerly diagnosed 12 microRNAs (miRNAs) abnormally expressed in primary cancer cells associated with early NSCLC.

Objective: In this study, we will extend previous studies to determine if miRNAs may be beneficial as a NSCLC potential plasma biomarker.

Methods: We primarily confirmed miRNA expression from PCR of 32 stage one NSCLC patients with lung tumor and plasma specimens were assessed, then assessed the investigative value of plasma miRNAs in 61 patients of NSCLC and 30 normal subjects. It was confirmed that the alteration of MiRNA expression influences the regeneration of neoplastic tumors. MiRNAs were steady and reliable in plasma measurements. The cohort consisted of 21 men and 11 women. Their age ranges from 47 to 80 years. AC tumors were classified in 17 and SCC in 15 patients. Smoking packets use in these patients were 39 ± 28. In addition, IV blood were taken from healthy subjects with matched data distribution to studied group as age, race, sex and smoking, and aided as a control to evaluate fluctuations in plasma in cancer patients.

Results: Five out of 12 miRNAs showed a significant change of level in plasma and the corresponding tumor tissue (all r40850, all P< 0.05). Four genes (miRNA-126, 21, 486-5 and 210p) set the best logistic regression pattern, with 87% sensitivity and 97% of specificity of at the time of NSCLC in differentiating from healthy patients. Moreover, the miRNA genes generated a sensitivity of 79.41% and 92.59% of specificity in patients diagnosed with SCC and AC. Moreover, genes have specificity of 96.67% in the analysis of lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. (P less than 0.05). A change in square miRNA expression may offer potential NSCLC blood-derived biomarker.

Conclusion: Finally, we show that miRNA expression identified from surgical tumor tissue can be easily and correctly determined in plasma. Though, prominently, a plasma miRNA recognition panel would be cast-off as a less invasive analytic method for NSCLC, including long-term adenocarcinoma. However, the presence of an independent potential biomarker requires further verification.

Keywords: Lung cancer; Diagnosis; Plasma; Microrna; Qrt-PCR