Effects of Chemoradiotherapy on Plasma Oncogenic Mirnas As Biomarkers in Cervical Cancer Patients: A Prospective Observational Study Publisher Pubmed



Parvizi M ; Taghizadehteymorloei M ; Vaezi M ; Bakhshandeh M ; Mobarakiasl N ; Esmati E ; Eghdamzamiri R ; Jeddi F ; Karimi A
Source: Science Progress Published:2025

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is a leading cause of death among women worldwide, predominantly driven by high-risk human papillomavirus infection. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression and may serve as noninvasive biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring in CC. Objective: This study aimed to identify circulating miRNAs linked to HPV-related CC and evaluate their potential as biomarkers for prognosis and response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Methods: In this prospective study, plasma samples from 36 CC patients were collected before and after treatment. Five miRNAs (hsa-miR-1-3p, hsa-miR-10a-5p, hsa-miR-34a-5p, hsa-miR-34c-5p, and hsa-miR-409-3p) were selected via literature review and pathway analysis. miRNA levels were quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and normalized to hsa-miR-16. Associations with clinicopathological features and survival were analyzed statistically. Results: Pathway analysis confirmed the involvement of selected miRNAs in cancer and HPV-related pathways, including PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling. Post-CRT, significant downregulation of hsa-miR-34a-5p, hsa-miR-34c-5p, and hsa-miR-409-3p was observed (p < 0.05), indicating their potential as treatment response markers. Baseline hsa-miR-1-3p expression was significantly associated with Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage (p = 0.043). No miRNAs showed significant associations with overall survival. Conclusions: Circulating miRNAs, especially hsa-miR-34a-5p, hsa-miR-409-3p, and hsa-miR-34c-5p hold promise as noninvasive biomarkers for monitoring treatment efficacy in CC. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings and clarify their prognostic value. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.