Identification of eight meta-signature miRNAs as potential biomarkers for oropharyngeal cancers.

BACKGROUND: Oropharyngeal Cancers (OC) is a commonly-seen disease with a high risk. The earlier studies of miRNAs on this disease were restricted by factors as sequencing platform, filtration conditions, causing the inconformity in the obtained result. We aimed to explore the miRNA biomarkers that can function as the predictive and therapeutic markers. Meta-analysis was performed on the currently obtained miRNA result and the functions of the target genes regulated by meta-signature miRNA were further investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven representative miRNA datasets of OC were selected, and the meta-signature miRNAs were determined by overlap comparison. The corresponding target genes were predicted by TargetScan software. Then, functional enrichment and transcriptional factors analysis were performed on these target genes by DAVID (The Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery) dataset and Tfacts dataset. RESULTS: Eight meta-signature miRNAs were identified, including seven were up-regulated and one down-regulated (hsa-miR-203a-5p). The up-regulated miRNAs were mainly enriched in pathways as GO:0000122-negative regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter, phosphatidylinositol phosphorylation, MAPK signaling pathway, and Ras signaling pathway, etc., while the down-regulated miRNAs were enriched in pathways as, response to reactive oxygen species, p53 signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, etc. A total of 124 transcription factors (TFs) were identified, 43 among were found to co-exist in both types of target genes. CONCLUSION: Eight important miRNAs were identified by meta-analysis as well as the corresponding target genes and transcription factors. The potential functions were revealed, which will provide novel insights for the target treatment of OC.