A novel microRNA panel exhibited significant potential in evaluating the progression of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common cancer of the head and neck in humans. The 5-years survival rate of patients with LSCC have declined in the past four decades. microRNAs (miRNAs) has been reported to be capable of predicting the prognosis outcomes of patients with different cancers. However, there are no reports on the usage of multi-miRNAs model as signature for the diagnosis or prognosis of LSCC. Methods: To establish the miRNAs expression-associated model for diagnosis, prognosis prediction and aided therapy of patients with LSCC, the present study enrolled 107 patients with LSCC in clinic and obtained 117 LSCC samples data from TCGA database for evaluation, respectively. Next generation sequencing (NGS), raw data processing, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm, Cox regression analysis, construction of nomogram and cell function assays (including proliferation, migration and invasion assays) were sequentially performed. Results: There were massively dysregulated miRNAs in the LSCC compared to normal tissues. A six-miRNAs signature consists of miR-137-3p, miR-3934-5p, miR-1276, miR-129-5p, miR-7-5p and miR-105-5p was built for prognosis prediction of LSCC patients. The six-miRNAs signature is strongly associated with the poor overall survival (OS, p = 2.5e-05, HR: 4.30 [2.20-8.50]), progression free interval (PFI, p = 0.025, HR: 1.94 [1.08-3.46]) and disease specific survival (DSS, p = 1.1e-05, HR: 5.00 [2.50-10.00]). A nomogram for prediction of 2-, 3- and 5-years OS was also developed based on the six-miRNAs signature and clinical features. Furthermore, blocking the function of each of the six miRNAs inhibited proliferation, invasion and migration of LSCC cells. Conclusions: The performance of six-miRNAs signature described in the current study demonstrated remarkable potential for progression assessment of LSCC. Moreover, the six-miRNAs signature may serve as predictive tool for prognosis and therapeutic targets of LSCC in clinic.