Micro-RNA expression profiles in upper tract urothelial carcinoma differentiate stage and tumor progression: screening data

Accurate grading and staging of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) often proves challenging, and improved knowledge of tumor biology could identify patients who are candidates for minimally invasive therapy rather than nephroureterectomy (NU). Total RNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded NU samples. Thirty-five samples with diverse pathologies were selected and screened via microRNA RT-qPCR array for 752 unique miRNA. Validation of differentially expressed miRNA was performed on 123 additional NU tissue specimens from two institutions. The data presented in this series are for the 35 samples analyzed in the screening analysis. The data was normalized to the global mean of each sample using microRNA detected in all samples with a Cq<37. FFPE nephroureterectomy specimens from 158 patients were analyzed for microRNA expression. 35 of these specimens were initially screened for 752 microRNA. The candidate microRNA identified in the screening analysis were tested on the remaining 123 samples. In an effort to develop a diagnostic model, samples in the secondary set were randomly assigned to either a training set to verify miRNA with differential expression, or a validation set to access the diagnostic capability of the training set miRNA signature. Each sample was only assigned to one of the testing groups. All microRNA levels were measured using RT-qPCR. Each of the microRNA tested in the screening analysis were measured once per samples (a single well), whereas the microRNA levels were measured in triplicate for the 123 samples of the secondary analysis.