Exosomal miR‐6803‐5p as potential diagnostic and prognostic marker in colorectal cancer

Abstract Accumulating data have suggested exosome‐delivered microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical role in carcinogenesis and cancer progression. However, little is known about the influence of exosomal miR‐6803‐5p on the development and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Levels of serum exosomal miR‐6803‐5p were determined by microarray analysis and verified by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR). Outcomes of overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) of CRC patients were estimated by Kaplan‐Meier analysis. We used cox regression analysis to investigate the association between exosomes‐encapsulated miR‐6803‐5p and the clinicopathological factors of CRC patients. The exosomal miR‐6803‐5p was significantly increased in serum samples from patients with CRC in contrast to healthy controls. Significantly higher levels of serum exosomal miR‐6803‐5p were observed in CRC patients at later TNM stage or with lymph node metastasis as well as liver metastasis. Patients with elevated levels of serum exosomal miR‐6803‐5p had much poorer OS and DFS. Cox regression analysis revealed high levels of exosomal miR‐6803‐5p was associated with poor prognosis in CRC independent of other confounding factors. Thus, exosomal miR‐6803‐5p is a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for patients with CRC.