Blood-based microRNAs as Potential Diagnostic biomarkers for Melanoma: A Meta-analysis

Amir Hossein Aalami; Hossein Abdeahad; Ali Mokhtari; Farnoosh Aalami; Amir Amirabadi; Ehsan Kargar Aliabadi; Omid Pirzade; Amirhossein Sahebkar

doi:10.2174/0929867330666230509110111

Blood-based microRNAs as Potential Diagnostic biomarkers for Melanoma: A Meta-analysis

Curr Med Chem. 2023 May 9. doi: 10.2174/0929867330666230509110111. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Amir Hossein Aalami¹, Hossein Abdeahad², Ali Mokhtari¹, Farnoosh Aalami³, Amir Amirabadi⁴, Ehsan Kargar Aliabadi⁵, Omid Pirzade⁶, Amirhossein Sahebkar^{7

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Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
² Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
³ Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.
⁴ Department of Internal Medicine, Mashhad Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
⁵ Biochemical Research Center, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
⁶ Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.
⁷ Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁸ Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁹ Department of Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

PMID: 37165504
DOI: 10.2174/0929867330666230509110111

Abstract

Introduction: Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) serve as noninvasive diagnostic markers in many cancers. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of circulating microRNAs for melanoma.

Material and methods: The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and ROC curve were evaluated using the Meta-Disc V.1.4 and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis V.3.3 software packages. To investigate the heterogeneity, the I2 and Chi-square tests were used. The publishing bias was evaluated using Begg's rank correlation and Egger regression asymmetry tests.

Results: A total of 9 articles covering 13 studies (more than 50 miRs individually and in combination) were included, containing 1,355 participants (878 cases and 477 controls). The overall pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and AUC were 0.78 (95% CI: 0.76-0.81), 0.80 (95% CI: 0.77-0.83), 4.32 (95% CI: 3.21-5.82), 0.17 (95% CI: 0.09-0.32), 28.0 (95% CI: 15.34-51.09), and 0.91, respectively. According to Begg's and Egger's tests, there was no publication bias (Begg's p = 0.160 and Egger's p = 0.289).

Conclusion: Circulating miRNAs can serve as fair and non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for melanoma. Additionally, specific miRNAs still need to be discovered for diagnosing melanoma.

Keywords: immune cells; metabolic reprogramming; metabolomics; system vaccinology; trained immunity; vaccines.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis