Radiogenomics predicts the expression of microRNA-1246 in the serum of esophageal cancer patients

Radiogenomics is a new field that provides clinically useful prognostic predictions by linking molecular characteristics such as the genetic aberrations of malignant tumors with medical images. The abnormal expression of serum microRNA-1246 (miR-1246) has been reported as a prognostic factor of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). To evaluate the power of the miR-1246 level predicted with radiogenomics techniques as a predictor of the prognosis of ESCC patients. The real miR-1246 expression (miR-1246(real)) was measured in 92 ESCC patients. Forty-five image features (IFs) were extracted from tumor regions on contrast-enhanced computed tomography. A prediction model for miR-1246(real) was constructed using linear regression with selected features identified in a correlation analysis of miR-1246(real) and each IF. A threshold to divide the patients into two groups was defined according to a receiver operating characteristic analysis for miR-1246(real). Survival analyses were performed between two groups. Six IFs were correlated with miR-1246(real) and were included in the prediction model. The survival curves of high and low groups of miR-1246(real) and miR-1246(pred) showed significant differences (p = 0.001 and 0.016). Both miR-1246(real) and miR-1246(pred) were independent predictors of overall survival (p = 0.030 and 0.035). miR-1246(pred) produced by radiogenomics had similar power to miR-1246(real) for predicting the prognosis of ESCC.