Circulating miR-۲۱-۵p as a Diagnostic Biomarker in Colorectal Cancer: Clinical Evaluation and Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis of Its Molecular Targets

Background: Circulating microRNAs have emerged as promising minimally invasive biomarkers for colorectal cancer (CRC). This study evaluated the expression and diagnostic performance of circulating hsa-miR-۲۱-۵p and investigated its potential molecular targets using integrated bioinformatics analysis.Methods: Plasma samples were obtained from ۵۰ treatment-naïve male patients with histologically confirmed grade II CRC and ۲۰ healthy male controls. Circulating RNA was extracted and miR-۲۱-۵p expression was quantified using stem-loop reverse transcription quantitative PCR. Hsa-miR-۱۲۲۸-۳p was used as the endogenous reference, and relative expression was calculated using the ۲^−ΔΔCq method. Diagnostic performance was assessed by receiver operating characteristic analysis. High-confidence target genes were identified using miRDB and TargetScan, followed by protein–protein interaction analysis using STRING.Results: The mean ages of patients and controls were ۵۵ and ۴۹ years, respectively, with no significant between-group difference (P=۰.۱۶۲). Circulating miR-۲۱-۵p expression was significantly higher in CRC patients than in healthy controls (P=۰.۰۰۲). ROC analysis yielded an area under the curve of ۰.۸۷۳ (۹۵% CI, ۰.۷۶۶–۰.۹۷۹; P<۰.۰۰۰۱). Target prediction identified a set of high-confidence genes involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, immune regulation, adhesion, extracellular-matrix organization, and transcriptional control. STRING analysis revealed a functionally connected network containing central signaling proteins, including STAT۳, YAP۱, SKP۲, PDCD۴, TRAF۶, and SPRY-family proteins.Conclusion: Circulating miR-۲۱-۵p demonstrated good ability to distinguish CRC patients from healthy controls. The bioinformatics findings suggest that its biological effects may involve interconnected oncogenic, apoptotic, immune, and invasion-related pathways.

کلیدواژه ها:

colorectal cancercirculating microRNAmiR-۲۱-۵pliquid biopsyprotein&ndash ، Protein Interaction