miR-3653-3p Expression in PBMCs: Unveiling the Diagnostic Potential for Ovarian Cancer


Delek F. S. P., Tunçer Ş. B., Ödemiş D., Erciyas S., Erdoğan Ö., Saip P., ...More

BIOCHEMICAL GENETICS, vol.63, no.3, pp.2172-2189, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 63 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s10528-024-10819-0
  • Journal Name: BIOCHEMICAL GENETICS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, EMBASE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.2172-2189
  • Keywords: Biomarker, miR-3653-3p, miRNA expression, Oncology, Ovarian cancer
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage, recurs early and often, and currently lacks effective treatment. Therefore, overall survival and progression-free survival are relatively short for this disease. Sensitive and specific biomarkers for early diagnosis and follow-up for effective treatment of the disease are currently lacking. MicroRNA (miRNA/miR) expression studies are widely used in cancer research. Disruption or malfunction of miRNAs, a class of noncoding small RNAs, has been implicated in cancer progression in several publications. Of note, the expression of a series of miRNAs is known to differ in ovarian cancer. In cancer research, it is crucial to analyze expression patterns in both cancer patients and healthy individuals to identify cancer-specific biological markers and to understand their role in cancer. In the present study, the expression levels of miR-3653-3p in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 150 patients with high-risk ovarian cancer were determined, including those with a family history of cancer or an early-age diagnosis of ovarian cancer, as well as 100 healthy individuals. The results were then compared between the two groups. The expression level of miR-3653-3p in the PBMCs of patients with ovarian cancer was determined to be 9.49-fold higher than that in the healthy control group, and this result was statistically significant (P < 0.001). In addition, receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis of PBMC showed statistical significance of miR-3653-3p in discriminating ovarian cancer patients from healthy subjects (P < 0.001). These results suggest that miR-3653-3p detected in peripheral blood may be used as a non-invasive biomarker for ovarian cancer.