Adenocarcinoma (ACA) of the uterine cervix is increasing in incidence and currently accounts for approximately 20% of all cervical malignancies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been investigated as potential biomarkers of cervical cancer; however, their role in ACA remains unknown. Here, we characterized miRNA expression profiles and investigated miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic factors in ACA.

Evaluation of genome-wide miRNA expression profiles in ACA by microarray led to the identification of ten candidate miRNAs, whose expression patterns were validated by qRT-PCR in 45 ACA, 10 normal control, and 15 squamous cell carcinoma samples. The association between miRNA expression and prognosis was analyzed in patients with ACA.

Microarray analysis identified 86 miRNAs that were dysregulated more than 2.0-fold (p<0.05) in ACA relative to normal tissues of the uterine cervix. Five most over- and underexpressed miRNAs were selected respectively and their expression patterns were confirmed in the validation set. MiR-135b, miR-192, and miR194 were overexpressed in ACA, and miR-363-3p, miR-195 and miR-199b were significantly associated with conventional prognostic factors. Overexpression of miR-363-3p by more than 2.5-fold relative to the normal control was a strong predictor of favorable prognosis (hazard ratio, 0.1; 95% confidence interval, 0.009-0.779) after adjusting for confounders.

MiR-135b, miR-192, and miR-194 are altered in uterine cervical ACA, and miR-363-3p is an independent favorable prognostic factor in ACA. These miRNAs could be of value as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of ACA.