Prognostic value of Serum miR-217 Level in Osteosarcoma Patients

Abstract Background: MicroRNA (miR)-217 is a tumor suppressor significantly associated with osteosarcoma. We try to evaluate serum levels miR-217 in osteosarcoma patients and evaluate its prognostic significance.Methods: A total of 163 consecutive osteosarcoma patients and 96 healthy participates were enrolled. Serum miR-217 levels were evaluated by using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions(RT-PCR). The association between serum miR-217 level and survival outcomes was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Serum miR-217 levels in osteosarcoma patients was significantly lower than healthy volunteers (P<0.05). Low serum miR-217 was significantly related to advanced cancer and metastasis (both P<0.05). Moreover, patients with a low serum miR-217 had a poorer overall survival than those with a high serum miR-217 levels (P<0.05). Serum miR-217 level also been showed as independent risk factor for osteosarcoma in multivariate analysis (HR, 0.42; 95%CI: 0.12–0.98; p<0.01). Conclusions: Serum miR-217 levels was significantly downregulated in osteosarcoma patients and remarkably associated with poor prognosis, indicating that serum miR-217 might serve as a useful diagnostic and prognostic indicator for osteosarcoma.