Integrated expression analysis of microRNA and its associated gene network in thyroid cancer.

Abstract

e18042 Background: Thyroid cancer, the most common endocrine malignancy, is increasing in incidence globally, underscoring the need for novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. This study aimed to evaluate the expressional patterns of miR-296-3p and the DDHD2 gene and their potential role in thyroid carcinogenesis. Methods: This study was conducted on histopathologically confirmed thyroid cancer patients and both cancerous tissue and their adjacent normal tissues were collected after surgery. Demographic and clinical data including age, gender, thyroid function status (TSH, T3, and T4 levels), tumor size, cancer stage, and family history were recorded. While gene and miRNA expression levels were assessed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: Demographic analysis showed a mean patient age of 40 years, with majority of patients were female which is consistent with known epidemiological trends and tumors were predominantly detected at early stages with moderate sizes. Hormonal analysis showed that the majority of patients had mean TSH (2.9 mIU/L), T4 (9.92 µg/dL), and T3 (2.57 pg/mL) levels within normal ranges. Family history revealed that most cases were sporadic, with limited familial links. Molecular analysis showed significant upregulation of miR-296-3p in tumor tissues in thyroid cancer. Although miR-296-3p is reported as a tumor suppressor in several previously reported studies like on NSCLC and colorectal cancer, in this study (and in glioblastoma), its overexpression suggests a possible oncogenic role in thyroid cancer. Similarly, the DDHD2 gene was also significantly upregulated in thyroid cancer, aligning with prior findings of its involvement in lipid signaling and tumor progression in papillary thyroid cancer and breast cancer. A moderate positive correlation between miR-296-3p and DDHD2 was observed in thyroid cancer, suggesting a possible co-regulation mechanism. Conclusions: These results highlight the potential of miR-296-3p and DDHD2 as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in thyroid cancer. This study provides critical insight into the molecular landscape of thyroid cancer within the Pakistani population and supports further validation through large-scale studies.