Perioperative serum microRNA 371a-3p and 372-3p levels in patients with clinically localized testicular masses Journal Article


Authors: Matulewicz, R. S.; Baky, F.; Knezevic, A.; Sheinfeld, J.; Williams, B. M.; Kantor, R. E.; Liso, N.; Hossain, J.; Bromberg, M.; Valentino, A.; So, R.; Funt, S. A.; Ye, F.; Feldman, D. R.
Article Title: Perioperative serum microRNA 371a-3p and 372-3p levels in patients with clinically localized testicular masses
Abstract: Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) show promise as blood-based tumor markers for germ cell tumors (GCTs), with miRNA-371-3p being the most studied. The marginal benefit of including other candidate miRNAs to aid with the management of testicular GCTs remains unclear. Objective: To assess the performance of our combined miRNA assay (371a-3p and 372-3p) in patients with clinically localized testicular masses. Design, setting, and participants: This was a retrospective review of patients prospectively enrolled in an ongoing protocol collecting serum miR-371a-3p and miR-372-3p levels (together, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center [MSK] miRNA assay [MMA]) in patients with a suspected or diagnosed testicular GCT. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The coprimary outcomes of interest were sensitivity and specificity of miR-371a-3p and 372-3p, individually and together, to detect nonteratomatous GCTs in the orchiectomy specimen. Secondary outcomes included additional assay diagnostic parameters, the relationship of patient and disease factors with variations in miRNA levels, and temporal patterns of miRNA normalization after orchiectomy. Results and limitations: Sixty-two patients were included, 52 had a viable GCT at orchiectomy, and ten had no cancer or a non-GCT. Forty-six patients with a GCT had positive preorchiectomy MMA (sensitivity 88.5% [95% confidence interval {CI}: 79.8, 97.2]), and one patient had positive preorchiectomy MMA but no GCT (specificity 90.0% [95% CI: 71.4, 100]). The diagnostic performance of miR-371a-3-p and miR-372-3p was similar. The time for miRNA to decrease to undetectable levels varied, with some patients having positive levels up to 3 wk after orchiectomy. Conclusions: The biomarkers miR-371a-3p and miR-372-3p demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for localized testicular GCTs, but causes of variation in relative miRNA levels and time to normalization for individual patients remain unclear. Patient summary: We studied the ability of the blood-based biomarkers miR-371a-3p and miR-372-3p to detect testicular cancer (germ cell tumors) in patients with small testicular masses. We found that together and individually these were sensitive and specific for testicular cancer. © 2024 The Author(s)
Keywords: adult; controlled study; unclassified drug; major clinical study; outcome assessment; prospective study; sensitivity and specificity; biomarkers; microrna; cohort analysis; retrospective study; kinetics; diagnostic value; lactate dehydrogenase; perioperative period; testicular cancer; orchiectomy; testis cancer; germ cell tumors; receiver operating characteristic; alpha fetoprotein; chorionic gonadotropin; patient; diagnostic test accuracy study; human; male; article; testicular germ cell tumor; rna blood level; microrna 371a 3p; microrna 372 3p
Journal Title: European Urology Open Science
Volume: 68
ISSN: 2666-1691
Publisher: Elsevier BV  
Date Published: 2024-10-01
Start Page: 1
End Page: 9
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.euros.2024.08.003
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC11381432
PUBMED: 39257620
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) acknowledged in PDF -- MSK corresponding author is Richard Matulewicz -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Stacey Funt
    9 Funt
  2. Darren Richard Feldman
    341 Feldman
  3. Joel Sheinfeld
    254 Sheinfeld
  4. Nicole E Benfante
    161 Benfante
  5. Andrea Knezevic
    106 Knezevic
  6. Fei Ye
    14 Ye
  7. Fady Baky
    12 Baky
  8. Rachel Eve Kantor
    2 Kantor