MicroRNA-10a-5p and microRNA-34c-5p in laryngeal epithelial premalignant lesions: differential expression and clinicopathological correlation

This study was to analyze the dys-regulation of microRNA-10a-5p and microRNA-34c-5p and their correlations with clinicopathological characteristics of laryngeal epithelial premalignant lesions (LEPL). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the expression of microRNA-10a-5p and microRNA-34c-5p in 94 cases of LEPL and 47 controls. Retrospective follow-up data of all patients were collected and the correlation between the dys-regulation of microRNA-10a-5p/microRNA-34c-5p and clinicopathological characteristics was examined by linear regression analysis. Expression of microRNA-10a-5p was down-regulated in LEPL, showing statistical difference between low-risk lesion group and high-risk lesion group, while microRNA-34c-5p expression was up-regulated gradually in LEPL groups and dropped suddenly in squamous cell carcinoma group. In addition, the differential expression of microRNA-10a-5p is profiled with either LEPL grade or gender, showing a linear correlation; and microRNA-34c-5p expression is correlated with alcohol consumption in LEPL patients (P < 0.05). The dys-regulation of microRNA-10a-5p and microRNA-34c-5p in LEPL and their correlations with clinicopathological characteristics might provide important theoretical and experimental basis for LEPL classfication and the two microRNAs can serve as more valuable markers in diagnosis and clinical management of LEPL.