Urinary microRNA-192 and microRNA-21 as potential indicators for liver fluke-associated cholangiocarcinoma risk group

Opisthorchis viverrini infection induces chronic inflammation in the bile ducts, leading to periductal fibrosis (PDF), which possibly associates to cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Patients with CCA have a poor prognosis, which is linked to asymptomatic disease and late diagnosis. Hence, detecting early stage CCA is essential. Secretory miRNAs have been promoted as biomarkers for pathological changes associated with parasitic infections, fibrosis and/or cancer. We aimed to determine levels of miR-192 and miR-21 in the urine of O. viverrini infected, periductal fibrosis (PDF) and CCA groups using qRT-PCR. We found that miR-192 was significantly higher in O. viverrini infected, PDF and also CCA groups (p < 0.05) than in healthy controls. By utilizing the Receiver Operation Characteristics (ROC) analysis, miR-192 differentiated patients with opisthorchiasis (the area under the curve; AUC = 0.766), PDF subjects (AUC = 0.781) and CCA patients (AUC = 0.682) from healthy controls. MiR-21 was significantly higher in PDF and CCA groups (p < 0.05) than in healthy controls. MiR-21 discriminated PDF subjects (AUC = 0.735) and CCA patients (AUC = 0.682) from healthy controls. Combined levels of these two miRNAs revealed an increased AUC of 0.812 for separating opisthorchiasis, AUC of 0.815 in discriminating PDF subjects, and AUC of 0.849 in differentiating CCA from healthy controls. Odds ratios (OR) indicated high levels of miR-192/miR-21 as risk predictors for opisthorchiasis, PDF and CCA. Levels of these miRNAs declined significantly for patients following praziquantel treatment. In conclusion, urinary miR-192/miR-21 have potential as risk indicators for opisthorchiasis and PDF-associated CCA in the endemic region.