tRF-23-R9J89O9N9:A novel liquid biopsy marker for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

Non-coding small RNA, specifically tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs), are readily detectable in cancer patients, exhibit remarkable stability, and are present in high abundance. They play a significant role in tumor development. However, the clinical significance of serum tsRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains poorly understood. In this study, we explored the impact of a novel tsRNA, named tRF-23-R9J89O9N9, in the adjuvant diagnosis, disease monitoring, and prognosis assessment of HCC.

METHODS

The tRF-23-R9J89O9N9 was identified as the target molecule through screening the The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) database. Its expression levels were measured using qRT-PCR. Various methods, including agarose gel electrophoresis, Sanger sequencing, gradient dilution experiments, room temperature stability tests, and repeated freeze-thaw assessments, were employed to evaluate the performance of tRF-23-R9J89O9N9. The correlation between tRF-23-R9J89O9N9 levels and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed using the χ2 test. The diagnostic value of tRF-23-R9J89O9N9 in HCC was assessed with ROC curve analysis, while the prognostic value was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curves.

RESULTS

Serum tRF-23-R9J89O9N9 expression levels were significantly elevated in HCC patients, while levels in postoperative patients were restored to those of healthy subjects. Additionally, the expression of tRF-23-R9J89O9N9 related to TNM stage(P = 0.009), lymph node metastasis(P＜0.0001), and degree of differentiation(P＜0.0001). Furthermore, the combination of AFP, PIVKA-II, and CEA greatly improved the diagnostic value for HCC. Serum tRF-23-R9J89O9N9 was also identified as a potential biomarker for dynamic monitoring and prognosis of HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

tRF-23-R9J89O9N9 may regard as a potential novel biomarker for the adjuvant diagnosis of HCC.