Combined Predictive Value of miR-140-5p，miR-20b-5p and miR-421 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Tissues for Radiosensitivity

Shufang ZHANG; Linhai ZHONG; Shizhen WU

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Shufang ZHANG, Linhai ZHONG, Shizhen WU. Combined Predictive Value of miR-140-5p，miR-20b-5p and miR-421 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Tissues for Radiosensitivity[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

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Shufang ZHANG, Linhai ZHONG, Shizhen WU. Combined Predictive Value of miR-140-5p，miR-20b-5p and miR-421 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Tissues for Radiosensitivity[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

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Combined Predictive Value of miR-140-5p，miR-20b-5p and miR-421 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Tissues for Radiosensitivity

1.
Department of Radiotherapy
2.
Department of Oncology，Nanping First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University，Nanping Fujian 353000，China

Received Date: 2026-02-11

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression levels of microRNA-140-5p （miR-140-5p）, microRNA-20b-5p （miR-20b-5p）, and microRNA-421 （miR-421） in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues and the radiotherapy sensitivity, as well as the predictive value of combined detection of these indicators for radiotherapy sensitivity. Methods This retrospective study included 183 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who received radiotherapy in Nanping First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University from April 2018 to August 2024. Patients were retrospectively selected and divided into a sensitive group （n = 120 ） and a resistance group （n = 63） according to the sensitivity of radiotherapy. Clinical data and levels of miR-140-5p, miR-20b-5p and miR-421 were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors of radiosensitivity, and ROC curve analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive value of combined detection of the three microRNAs for radiosensitivity. Results The proportion of patients in the resistant group with T_3-4, N_2-3, M₁, clinical stage III-IV, and low differentiation of patients, as well as the levels of miR-20b-5p and miR-421 were higher than those in the sensitive group, while the miR-140-5p level and tumor regression rate were significantly lower compared to the sensitive group （P < 0.05）; miR-140-5p, miR-20b-5p, and miR-421 were independent factors affecting radiotherapy sensitivity （P < 0.05）. The interaction terms （ miR-140-5p × clinical stage, miR-20b-5p × clinical stage, miR-421 × clinical stage, miR-140-5p × differentiation degree, miR-20b-5p × differentiation degree, miR-421 × differentiation degreee） were all statistically significant （P < 0.05）. The AUC for the combined detection of miR-140-5p, miR-20b-5p, and miR-421 in predicting radiotherapy sensitivity was significantly higher than that of any single index （P < 0.05）. Conclusion The levels of miR-140-5p, miR-20b-5p, and miR-421 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues are associated with the sensitivity of radiotherapy. Their combined detection can provide a clinical reference for predicting the sensitivity of radiotherapy in patients.
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma,
- microRNA-140-5p,
- microRNA-20b-5p,
- microRNA-421,
- Radiotherapy sensitivity,
- Combined detection

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References(30)

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