Low miR-498 expression levels are associated with poor prognosis in ovarian cancer

J. Cong, R. Liu, X. Wang, J. Wang, H. Wang, J. Hou

Department of Gynaecology, Qingdao University Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, Shandong, China. yn702@163.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: Decreased expression levels of microRNA (miR)-498 were reported in several human cancers. However, the prognostic value of the miR-498 expression in ovarian cancer has not been assessed. In this study, we addressed this knowledge gap by evaluating an association of miR-498 expression levels with ovarian cancer prognosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: qPCR was used to detect expression levels of miR-498 in cancer specimens and matched adjacent normal tissue specimens. The log-rank test was used to analyze survival rate, whereas the Cox regression model was used fir multivariate analysis of potential prognostic factors.

RESULTS: Expression levels of miR-498 were significantly lower in ovarian cancer tissue specimens compared with matched normal adjacent tissue (p < 0.001). Decreased miR-498 expression levels correlated well with FIGO stage, tumour grade and lymph node metastases (respective p = 0.001, 0.015, and 0.017). Furthermore, patients with lower miR-498 expression had shorter overall and progression-free survival (both p < 0.01 vs. those with high miR-498 expression).

CONCLUSIONS: Decreased expression levels of miR-498 are associated with worse overall survival and poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer, highlighting potential usefulness of this miR for prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer.

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