MicroRNA-17, MicroRNA-19b, MicroRNA-146a, MicroRNA-302d Expressions in Hepatoblastoma and Clinical Importance

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Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common liver malignancy in children. The prognosis changes according to the histologic subtypes of HB. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the expression level of selected microRNAs (miRNAs) in HB as well as in histologic subtypes, and to consider the association with the prognosis. A total of 22 HB tumor samples, subtyped as fetal (n= 16) and embryonal (n= 6), and 10 nontumorous surrounding liver samples were evaluated in this study. Expressions of miR-17, miR-146a, miR-302d, and miR-19b were analyzed in 22 HB tumor samples and 10 nontumorous surrounding liver samples by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Lower miRNA-17 expression levels were obtained in tumor samples in comparison with nontumorous surrounding liver samples (P= 0.028). Lower miRNA-17 expression was significant for predicting prognosis in HB patients (area under receiver-operator characteristic curve= 0.875, P= 0.044). A higher-level of miR-19b was found in embryonal samples (P= 0.008). Overall and event-free survival was not found to correlate with miRNA expression levels (P> 0.05). This research finds miRNA-17 and miRNA-19b expression levels can provide important data on diagnosis and prognosis in HB showing different clinical behaviors.