Investigation of the correlation of changes in miRNA expression levels with tumorbiology in thyroid nodules and malignities

Investigation of the correlation of changes in miRNA expression levels with tumor biology in thyroid nodules and malignities AIM: Various studies are available to determine the potential therapeutic effects of miRNAs in different types of thyroid cancers, including papillary thyroid carcinoma, follicular thyroid carcinoma, anaplastic thyroid cancer, and medullary thyroid carcinoma. However, no study examining the changes in the Turkish population has been found. In addition, the number of studies analyzing changes in the expression levels of genes they target with miRNAs is limited. In this context, the current study aimed to analyze the changes in miRNA levels in patients with malignant, benign, and atypia of uncertain significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, a total of 63 patients between the ages of 18-75 with thyroid nodules who applied to the General Surgery unit of Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital between June 2018 and January 2022 were included in the study. Patients with benign nodules were used for the control group study. During the routine follow-up of the patients, blood samples were taken from routine hemogram and biochemistry tubes. The blood samples taken from the patients were centrifuged at 1500 g for 10 minutes and their serums were obtained. The samples were stored at -80oC until the experiments were performed. Samples were first taken for RNA isolation. Then cDNA analysis from RNA was performed. In the last step, real time PCR was performed and miRNA 146b and miRNA 155 levels were checked. RESULTS: As a result of our study, the data of a total of 63 patients were analyzed. The pathology of 37 of these patients was reported as benign, and the pathology of 26 of them was reported as malignant. When micro RNA levels were compared, miRNA 146b level increased 8.08 times (p<0,001) in malignant patients compared to benign patients; It was observed that miRNA 155 level increased 1.88 times (p<0,001). CONCLUSION: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. The high prevalence of benign thyroid diseases in the population necessitates the distinction between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Patients diagnosed with thyroid nodules are approached on a wide scale ranging from outpatient follow-up to surgery. For this reason, biochemical data predicting malignancy after the detection of a thyroid nodule is important. Keywords: miRNA, thyroid cancer, thyroid nodule.