miR-98-5p, miR-130a-3p, and miR-1246 Profiling in Tissue and Liquid Biopsies of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Simple Summary Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often develops in the context of chronic liver disease, and early diagnosis remains challenging. Circulating biomarkers could improve early HCC detection and provide prognostic information. The main aim of our study was to profile miRNAs with translational potential for HCC. Initially, we performed miRNA sequencing on EVs isolated from plasma of healthy individuals, patients with liver cirrhosis, and patients with HCC. Three candidate miRNAs, miR-98-5p, miR-130a-3p, and miR-1246, were subsequently quantified by droplet digital PCR in plasma, tissue, and plasma-derived EVs from an independent cohort. All three miRNAs showed altered levels in HCC patients, with plasma miR-1246 providing the greatest ability to discriminate HCC from liver cirrhosis. Higher plasma levels of all three miRNAs were associated with more favorable clinical outcomes. These exploratory findings highlight circulating miRNAs as both promising candidate indicators for HCC early diagnosis in high-risk patients and as putative HCC prognostic biomolecules.