MiR-3614-5p Is a Potential Novel Biomarker for Colorectal Cancer

MiR-3614-5p has been found in a variety of cancers including colorectal cancer. However, the association of miR-3614-5p with colorectal cancer is still unclear. Based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, the relationship between miR-3614-5p and colorectal cancer can be proved. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare the miR-3614-5p expression in colorectal cancer tissues and under normal conditions, respectively. The logistic regression method was further employed to analyze the relationship between miR-3614-5p and clinicopathological characteristics. Also, the correlation between miR-3614-5p and survival rate was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis. Besides, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to investigate the biological functions of miR-3614-5p. The decrease of miR-3614-5p expression of colorectal cancer was significantly correlated with N stage (OR) = 0.7 for N1&N2 vs. N0), M stage (OR = 0.5 for M1 vs. M0), pathologic stage (OR = 0.7 for Stage III & Stage IV vs. Stage I & Stage II), neoplasm type (OR = 0.5 for rectum adenocarcinoma vs. colon adenocarcinoma), and lymphatic invasion (OR = 0.6 for YES vs. NO) (all p-values < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that colorectal cancer with low miR-3614-5p has a poorer prognosis than that of high miR-3614-5p (p = 0.005). According to univariate analysis, low miR-3614-5p was associated with poor overall survival (OS) [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.599; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.418-0.857; p = 0.005]. In multivariate analysis, miR-3614-5p was closely related to OS (HR = 0.630; 95% CI: 0.405-0.978, p = 0.021). GSEA showed that the high expression phenotype of miR-3614-5p differentially enriches the P53 pathway. Meanwhile, the high expression phenotype of miR-3614-5p enhanced NK T cell activation, negative T cell selection, response to interleukin 2, and response to tumor cells. MiR-3614-5p is a possible prognostic marker of low survival rate for patients with colorectal cancer. Moreover, the P53 pathway and P38MAPK pathway may be the key pathways regulated by miR-3614-5p in colorectal cancer.

Automated summary

MiR-3614-5p is associated with colorectal cancer, with low expression predicting poor survival rate and correlating with N, M, pathologic stage, neoplasm type, and lymphatic invasion. High expression enriches the P53 pathway and enhances NK T cell activation.