Circulating microRNA‐1246 as a possible biomarker for early tumor recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma

Aims Early tumor recurrence (ETR) after hepatic resection is a crucial predictor of poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to identify clinically significant serum microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the ETR of HCC. Methods We compared expression profiles of circulating miRNAs from serum samples between five HCC patients with ETR (recurrence within 12 months after hepatectomy) and five HCC patients without recurrence using microarray analysis of miRNA. The identified miRNA associated with ETR was further verified in 121 HCC patients, 73 liver disease patients, and 15 health controls by real‐time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results Of the approximately 2000 miRNAs analyzed, we identified 15 miRNAs for which expression levels correlated significantly with ETR. Of these miRNAs, we further investigated expression of miRNA‐1246 (miR‐1246). Quantitative PCR confirmed that miR‐1246 was upregulated in HCC with ETR, compared to the level in HCC without ETR (P