Profiling of Serum Extracellular Vesicles Reveals miRNA-4525 as a Potential Biomarker for Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

Aim To identify novel diagnostic markers for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), we analyzed miRNAs in serum extracellular vesicles (EVs). Materials and methods EVs were purified from serum of healthy controls and patients with localized and advanced RCC using T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-containing protein 4 conjugated to magnetic beads. miRNA profiling of EVs was conducted by microarray analysis. miRNA expression was examined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Lastly, proteomic analysis of RCC cells transfected with a miRNA inhibitor was performed to identify its potential targets. Results Microarray analysis revealed that nine miRNAs were increased by more than 1.5-fold in EVs from patients with RCC. Among them, miRNA-4525 was significantly elevated; miRNA-4525 expression was higher in RCC tissue than in the adjacent normal tissue. Proteomic analysis identified alpha fetoprotein and albumin as its potential targets. Conclusion These findings suggest the potential of miRNA-4525 in serum EVs as a novel biomarker for advanced RCC.