Correlation of microRNAs-10b/21/34a expression levels with IDH1-mutation status in patients with glioblastoma

Abstract

Introduction/Objective Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations play a significant role in gliomagenesis. Specific microRNAs, such as microRNA-10b and microRNA-21, act as oncogenic microRNAs, whereas microRNA-34a acts as a tumor suppressor in glioblastoma. Our study aimed to investigate whether the IDH1 mutation status correlates with microRNA-10b,-21, and-34a expression levels in patients with glioblastoma. Methods The study included 43 patients diagnosed with glioblastoma. We examined microRNA-10b,-21, and-34a expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after surgery and prior to concurrent radiotherapy with temozolomide, as well as at the 15th and 30th fractions of radiotherapy with temozolomide. Data on IDH1 mutation status were gathered from medical histories and histopathology. Results Two groups were created to assess the association of microRNA-10b,-21, and-34a expression levels: glioblastoma IDH1-wildtype and glioblastoma IDH1-mutant + not otherwise specified (NOS). The median microRNA-10b expression level before the initiation of concurrent radiotherapy with temozolomide was 130.44 (52.2–622.53) in the IDH1-wildtype group and 94.61 (2.13–816.89) in the IDH1-mutant + NOS group. The median microRNA-21 expression level was 57.16 (2.68–278.98) in the IDH1-wildtype group and 69.74 (4.6–825.43) in the IDH1-mutant + NOS group. The median microRNA-34a expression level was 13.52 (3.16–105.20) in the IDH1-wildtype group and 10.11 (1–210.55) in the IDH1-mutant + NOS group. The results showed no statistically significant difference in the expression levels of microRNA-10b,-21, or-34a between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion Our findings suggest that IDH1 mutation status may not be a critical factor for altered expression of microRNA-10b,-21, and-34a in glioblastoma patients. © 2025, Serbia Medical Society. All rights reserved.