The circulating microRNA-200 family in whole blood are potential biomarkers for high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the leading cause of mortality with regard to gynaecological cancer. There is no effective biomarker and therefore prognosis is poor as the majority of cases are not diagnosed until advanced disease is present. MicroRNAs (miRs) are dysregulated in ovarian cancer tissue and are present in the circulation. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether circulating miRs from the miR-200 family served as potential candidate biomarkers for the early detection of EOC. Whole blood and ovarian tissue were collected from women with early (stage I/II, n=4), advanced EOC (stage III/IV, n=4), and women with benign ovarian masses (n=5). A panel of 5 miRs were s..