MicroRNA Array Analysis from Normal and Colon Cancer Serum Samples

Samples from a pooled Normal serum preparation and from a male caucasian (age 73) with Adenocarcinoma of the colon were used in this study. Exosomes were precipitated from 250ul of serum using ExoQuick and then purified and exoRNAs amplified using the SeraMir kit (cat# RA820A-1). The T7-amplified "sense" exoRNAs were then used for direct labeling analyses on LC Sciences miRBase ver.16 array chips (performed in triplicate). The exoRNAs were hybridized across 1,214 different microRNAs on the probe set.

Of the 1,214 microRNAs analyzed, 79 microRNAs showed a signal intensity >32. Within this set of 79, there was a clear colon versus normal "signature set" of 40 microRNAs that could discriminate normal from colon cancer serum samples with a p-value < 0.01. The identities of the microRNAs found in this study have been masked while further investigation continues.