Clinicopathological role of microRNA-205, microRNA-223 and microRNA-590 in vulvar cancer

Abstract

Vulvar cancer is a rare malignancy whose development involves environmental, immunologic, genetic and viral factors, including high-risk HPV infection. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) regulate key oncogenic pathways and may serve as biomarkers in gynecological cancers. However, limited data are available on the role of miR-205, miR-223 and miR-590 in vulvar carcinoma. The present study thus assessed their expression and clinical relevance. A total of 38 women with vulvar carcinoma were included in the study. miRNA expression was quantified using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded surgical specimens. Among the enrolled patients, 25 had both tumor tissue and matched non-malignant vulvar tissue available for analysis, enabling paired comparisons and fold-change calculations, whereas 13 patients contributed tumor tissue only due to insufficient RNA yield from the matched non-malignant specimen. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Clinicopathological features were evaluated using International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging and histological grading. The results revealed that miR-205 expression was higher in patients with advanced disease, with a significant difference observed between FIGO I–III and FIGO IV tumors. miR-223 expression exhibited a tendency toward an association with poorer tumor differentiation, suggesting its potential as an unfavorable prognostic indicator. miR-590 expression was associated with tumor grade, with higher levels detected in well-differentiated lesions; additionally, the absence of miR-590 expression was linked to a lower likelihood of malignancy, supporting its diagnostic value. A reduced expression of miR-223 was independently associated with an improved overall survival (log-rank, P=0.013). No significant associations between miR-205 or miR-590 and overall survival were identified. On the whole, the present study demonstrated that miR-205, miR-223 and miR-590 expression patterns are associated with the tumor stage, grading and survival outcomes of patients with vulvar cancer. These miRNAs may thus serve as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers, with miR-223 exhibiting the strongest prognostic significance and miR-590 demonstrating diagnostic specificity. Due to the rarity of vulvar cancer, larger multicenter studies and international datasets are required to validate these findings and to further elucidate the biological roles of miRNAs in this malignancy.