Utility of microRNA analysis using liquid-based cytology samples for uterine endometrial cancer screening

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate microRNA (miRNA) expression in cytological specimens processed under clinical conditions to determine the potential of miRNA detection as a diagnostic biomarker of uterine endometrial cancer. Methods: We collected 40 lysates from cytology (LBC) specimens obtained during screening for endometrial cancer and normal endometrium, 18 surgically resected tissue specimens containing endometrial cancer and normal endometrium, and 14 LBC specimens of equivocal diagnosis at Hiroshima University Hospital. We compared the expression of four miRNAs (miR-96, miR-182, miR-183, and miR-143) and selected two (miR-96 and miR-143) that we predicted would be useful. Results: We confirmed that miR-96 expression was significantly elevated and miR-143 expression was significantly depressed in cancer samples relative to normal endometrial samples. Among the 14 LBC specimens diagnosed with equivocal results, seven were pathologically diagnosed with cancer and showed the same profile as described above. Conclusions: Our data suggest that miRNA analysis of LBC samples may be useful for endometrial cancer screening.