The Predictive Efficacy of Serum Exosomal microRNA-122 and microRNA-148a for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Smart Healthcare

OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a devastating tumor globally. Serum exosomes are reliable biomarkers for tumors, including HCC. Hence, this study explored the efficacy and mechanism of serum exosomes in HCC. METHODS: microRNA (miR)-122 and miR-148a expressions in serum exosomes from HCC patients and healthy subjects and their predictive efficacy for HCC were detected. Correlation between serum exosomal miR-122/148a expressions with survival rate, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, and tumor differentiation level and levels of HCC-related serum markers (CA199, FucAFP, ALD-A, and AFu) were detected. PAX2 staining intensity and expression in HCC were measured. PAX2 predictive efficacy for HCC and its correlation with clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, tumor differentiation level, and HCC-related serum marker levels were analyzed. The targeted binding relationship between miR-122 and miR-148a and PAX2 was predicted and verified. RESULTS: Serum exosomal miR-122 and miR-148a expressions were downregulated in HCC, showing potent predictive efficacy for HCC, which was negatively related to clinical stage and lymph node metastasis and positively related to tumor differentiation level, patient survival rate, and HCC-related serum marker levels. PAX2 showed increased staining intensity and expression in HCC, together with high predictive efficacy for HCC. PAX2 expression showed a positive correlation with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis and a negative correlation with tumor differentiation level and HCC-related serum marker levels. miR-122 and miR-148a conjointly targeted PAX2 in HCC. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that serum exosomal miR-122 and miR-148a played a predictive role and were linked to prognosis in HCC via interactions with PAX2.