Role of MicroRNA-124 as a Prognostic Factor in Multiple Neoplasms: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract EN

Objective.

MicroRNA-124 (miR-124) was revealed to be an attractive prognostic tumour biomarker in recent studies.

However, the results remain inconclusive.

Hence, this meta-analysis was carried out to clarify the precise predictive value of miR-124.

Materials and Methods.

Relevant studies were searched in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library up to October 2018.

Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were extracted from the selected studies.

Results.

A total of 29 articles investigating the correlation between miR-124 expression and prognosis were initially identified.

The pooled HR for overall survival (OS) of high miR-124 expression in multiple cancers was 0.55 (95%CI=0.50–0.61).

Disease-free survival (DFS)/progression-free survival (HR=0.48, 95%CI=0.38–0.61) revealed a protective role of increased miR-124 expression.

Epigenetic hypermethylation of miR-124 mediated the silencing of its expression, which is correlated significantly with unfavourable survival (OS: HR=2.06, 95%CI=1.68–2.53; DFS/recurrence-free survival: HR=2.77, 95%CI=1.85–4.16).

Conclusions.

Taken together, our results suggest that miR-124 plays an antioncogenic role in various tumors, such as lung cancer and colorectal cancer.

If methylation of miR-124 could be prevented, progression and metastasis would be improved; thus, miR-124 may be a promising biomarker and novel therapeutic target.

Further large-scale studies are needed to confirm this possible effect.