RESUMEN
Non-small cell lung cancer is the predominant form of lung cancer and is associated with a poor prognosis. MiRNAs implicated in cancer initiation and progression can be easily detected in liquid biopsy samples and have the potential to serve as non-invasive biomarkers. In this study, we employed next-generation sequencing to globally profile miRNAs in serum samples from 71 early-stage NSCLC patients and 47 non-cancerous pulmonary condition patients. Preliminary analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs revealed 28 upregulated miRNAs in NSCLC compared to the control group. Functional enrichment analyses unveiled their involvement in NSCLC signaling pathways. Subsequently, we developed a gradient-boosting decision tree classifier based on 2588 miRNAs, which demonstrated high accuracy (0.837), sensitivity (0.806), and specificity (0.859) in effectively distinguishing NSCLC from non-cancerous individuals. Shapley Additive exPlanations analysis improved the model metrics by identifying the top 15 miRNAs with the strongest discriminatory value, yielding an AUC of 0.96 ± 0.04, accuracy of 0.896, sensitivity of 0.884, and specificity of 0.903. Our study establishes the potential utility of a non-invasive serum miRNA signature as a supportive tool for early detection of NSCLC while also shedding light on dysregulated miRNAs in NSCLC biology. For enhanced credibility and understanding, further validation in an independent cohort of patients is warranted.
RESUMEN
Biobanks are vital for high-throughput translational research, but the rapid development of novel molecular techniques, especially in omics assays, poses challenges to traditional practices and recommendations. In our study, we used biospecimens from oncological patients in Polish clinics and collaborated with the Indivumed Group. For serum/plasma samples, we monitored hemolysis, controlled RNA extraction, assessed cDNA library quality and quantity, and verified NGS raw data. Tissue samples underwent pathologic evaluation to confirm histology and determine tumor content. Molecular quality control measures included evaluating the RNA integrity number, assessing cDNA library quality and quantity, and analyzing NGS raw data. Our study yielded the creation of distinct workflows for conducting preanalytical quality control of serum/plasma and fresh-frozen tissue samples. These workflows offer customization options to suit the capabilities of different biobanking entities. In order to ensure the appropriateness of biospecimens for advanced research applications, we introduced molecular-based quality control methods that align with the demands of high-throughput assays. The novelty of proposed workflows, rooted in innovative molecular techniques, lies in the integration of these QC methods into a comprehensive schema specifically designed for high-throughput research applications.