Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Lung cancer has the highest incidence and mortality rates globally, with the majority of cases classified as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Due to the absence of specific tumor biomarkers, most lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Therefore, the identification of novel molecular biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity for early diagnosis is deemed crucial for enhancing the treatment of NSCLC. Transfer RNA-derived small RNA (tsRNA) is closely associated with malignant tumors and holds promise as a potential biomarker for tumor diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate whether serum tsRNA could serve as a biomarker for NSCLC. METHODS: Differentially expressed tsRNAs were identified through high-throughput sequencing of serum samples obtained from patients with NSCLC and healthy individuals. Additional serum samples were collected for validation using Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). The diagnostic performance of these tsRNAs was assessed through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve Analysis. Furthermore, preliminary functional exploration was undertaken through cell experiments. RESULTS: tsRNA-49-73-Glu-CTC is highly expressed in the serum of patients with NSCLC and demonstrates superior diagnostic value compared to commonly used tumor markers in clinical practice, such as Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE), and Cytokeratin 19 Fragment (CYFRA). A combined diagnostic approach enhances the accuracy of NSCLC detection. Additionally, tsRNA-49-73-Glu-CTC is highly expressed in A549 cells, and transfection with a tsRNA-49-73-Glu-CTC inhibitor significantly reduces both proliferation and migration capabilities. CONCLUSIONS: tsRNA-49-73-Glu-CTC has the potential to serve as a novel molecular diagnostic biomarker for NSCLC and plays a significant role in the biological processes associated with NSCLC proliferation and migration.