Serum miRNA expression profile of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with different radiosensitivity

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a squamous cell carcinoma arising from the nasopharynx epithelium. So far, there have been no effective biomarkers to predict the radiosensitivity of NPC. Based on miRNA profile screened out from NPC patients with different radiosensitivity, this study was conducted to explore the correlation between serum miRNAs and radiotherapy response in NPC, and to identify biomarkers for predicting the radiosensitivity of NPC. Total RNA containing small RNA was extracted from the serum specimens of 12 NPC patients with different radiosensitivity (including 7 radiosensitive NPC patients and 5 radioresistant NPC patients).