Clinical significance of tumor miR-21, miR-221, miR-143, and miR-106a as biomarkers in patients with osteosarcoma

Objective: To investigate the expression of miR-21, miR-221, miR-143, and miR-106a in patients’ osteosarcoma samples, and to explore the correlation between these microRNAs (miRNAs) and the clinical stage of osteosarcoma. Methods: RNA was extracted from tumor and tumor-adjacent normal bone tissues from 94 patients with osteosarcoma. RNA reverse-transcription was carried out using an miRNA reverse transcription kit. The levels of miR-21, miR-221, miR-143, and miR-106a in osteosarcoma and normal bone tissues were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction using SYBR Premix Ex Taq™II. Results: The expression levels of miR-21, mirR-221, and miR-106a were significantly higher in 90.42%, 84.04%, and 92.55 % of the osteosarcoma samples compared to the adjacent normal tissues (P