Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-27-2025
Identifier
DOI: 10.3390/cancers17233791; PMCID: PMC12691150
Abstract
BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function as post-transcriptional gene expression regulators and influence the development and progression of several cancers, yet their roles in pediatric sarcomas remain poorly defined.
METHODS: RNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue scrolls of 108 pediatric tumors, including 32 osteosarcoma (OS), 26 Ewing's sarcoma (EWS), and 50 rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cases, were analyzed for microRNA expression using the NanoString multiplex nCounter platform that yielded information on 827 human miRNAs. The expression of candidate miRNAs was validated with in situ hybridization (miRNA-ISH) and QuPath quantification on tissue microarray slides comprising an independent set of 48 OS, 17 EWS, and 104 RMS adult and pediatric cases collectively.
RESULTS: The differential expression analysis of nCounter data identified 23 miRNAs enriched in RMS, 33 in EWS, and 45 in OS (>3 fold change and
CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these findings demonstrate that distinct miRNA profiles can differentiate pediatric sarcoma types and subtypes and offer clinically relevant insights into tumor biology, prognosis, and potential diagnostic application.
Journal Title
Cancers (Basel)
Volume
17
Issue
23
PubMed ID
41374993
Keywords
Ewing’s sarcoma; NanoString nCounter; microRNA; microRNA in situ hybridization; osteosarcoma; rhabdomyosarcoma
Recommended Citation
Flatt TG, Yermakov LM, Akilesh S, et al. MicroRNA Profiling Identifies Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers in Pediatric Sarcoma. Cancers (Basel). 2025;17(23):3791. Published 2025 Nov 27. doi:10.3390/cancers17233791
Comments
Grants and funding
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Publisher's Link: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/17/23/3791