Characterization of a miRNA Signature with Enhanced Diagnostic and Prognostic Power for Patients with Bladder Carcinoma

Sep 24, 2026

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Bladder carcinoma is globally prevalent and carries high mortality at advanced stages, yet its diagnosis often depends on invasive procedures that cause discomfort. Non-invasive molecular biomarkers such as miRNAs offer alternatives for early detection and outcome prediction. A computational workflow combining transcriptome profiling, survival analyses, and diagnostic-power calculations was used to identify a miRNA signature from TCGA-BLCA (429 patients). The selected eight-miRNA panel shows strong diagnostic performance and prognostic relevance, with expression linked to overall survival. Its diagnostic specificity is supported across multiple solid cancer types, and computational functional assessment suggests involvement in cell-cycle regulation. Abundance in body fluids, including peripheral blood and urine, further supports non-invasive clinical utility.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Non-invasive biomarkers and limitations of current diagnostics

Rationale for miRNA-based molecular approaches

Abstract

Keywords

Background and study context

Article Characterization of a miRNA Signature with Enhanced Diagnostic and Prognostic Power for Patients with Bladder Carcinoma Maria Samara 1, Panagiotis J. Vlachostergios 2, Eleni Thodou 1, Ioannis Zachos 3, Lampros Mitrakas 3, Konstantinos Evmorfopoulos 3, Vassilios Tzortzis 3,* and Antonis Giakountis 4, * Citation: Samara, M.; Vlachostergios, P.J.; Thodou, E.; Zachos, I.; Mitrakas, L.; Evmorfopoulos, K.; Tzortzis, V.; Giakountis, A. Characterization of amiRNA Signature with Enhanced Diagnostic and Prognostic Power for Patients with Bladder Carcinoma. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 16243. [https://](https://)[ ](https://)[doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216243](doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216243) Academic Editor: Georg C. Hutterer Received: 12 October 2023 Revised: 4 November 2023 Accepted: 10 November 2023 Published: 13 November 2023 Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://](https://)[ ](https://)[creativecommons.org/licenses/by/](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[ ](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[4.0/](4.0/)) . 1 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41335 Larissa, Greece 2 Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA 3 Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, 41335 Larissa, Greece 4 Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, 41335 Larissa, Greece * [Correspondence: vtzortzis@med.uth.gr](Correspondence: vtzortzis@med.uth.gr) (V.T.); [agiakountis@uth.gr](agiakountis@uth.gr) (A.G.) Abstract: Bladder carcinoma is globally among the most prevalent cancers and is associated with a high mortality rate at advanced stages. Its detection relies on invasive diagnostic methods that are unpleasant for the patient. Non-invasive molecular biomarkers, such as miRNAs, could serve as alternatives for early detection and prognosis of this malignancy. We designed a computational approach that combines transcriptome proﬁling, survival analyses, and calculation of diagnostic power in order to isolate miRNA signatures with high diagnostic and prognostic utility. Our analysis of TCGA-BLCA data from 429 patients yielded one miRNA signature, consisting of ﬁve upregulated and three downregulated miRNAs with cumulative diagnostic power that outperforms current diagnostic methods. The same miRNAs have a strong prognostic signiﬁcance since their expression is associated with the overall survival of bladder cancer patients. We evaluated the expression of this signature in 19 solid cancer types, supporting its unique diagnostic utility for bladder carcinoma. We provide computational evidence regarding the functional implications of this miRNA signature in cell cycle regulation, demonstrating its abundance in body ﬂuids, including peripheral blood and urine. Our study characterized a novel miRNA signature with the potential to serve as a non-invasive method for bladder cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Keywords: miRNAs; bladder carcinoma; diagnosis and prognosis; genitourinary transcriptomics; ROC analysis 1. Introduction Urothelial bladder carcinoma (BLCA) ranks as the seventh most frequently diagnosed cancer among males but falls to the tenth position when both genders are included. The incidence and mortality rates of bladder cancer exhibit variations among different countries due to disparities in risk factors, practices related to detection and diagnosis, and accessibility of treatment options [1] . The majority of BLCA are non-muscle-invasive carcinomas with a high risk of recurrence within the ﬁrst year after diagnosis [2,3] . Non-invasive traditional methods such as ultrasound scans and cytology evaluation are wi

FAQs

Why are non-invasive biomarkers needed for bladder carcinoma diagnosis and prognosis?

Current bladder cancer detection often relies on invasive methods such as cystoscopy, which can be uncomfortable. Non-invasive biomarkers are sought to improve patient experience while supporting early detection and outcome prediction.

What approach was used to identify the miRNA signature?

A computational strategy combined transcriptome profiling with survival analyses and diagnostic-power calculations to isolate miRNA signatures with diagnostic and prognostic utility.

What evidence supports the diagnostic and prognostic value of the miRNA signature?

From TCGA-BLCA data of 429 patients, the signature’s miRNAs show cumulative diagnostic power that outperforms existing methods. The same miRNAs have prognostic significance because their expression correlates with overall survival, and the signature maintains diagnostic utility when evaluated across multiple solid cancer types.

Sep 24, 2026

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