Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38780899›Full record

ArticleCancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology2025

Effects of Clinical Covariates on Serum miRNA Expression among Women without Ovarian Cancer.

Laura Wollborn, James W Webber, Stephanie Alimena, Sudhanshu Mishra, Chad B Sussman, Cameron E Comrie, Daniel G Packard, Marta Williams, Trinity Russell, Wojciech Fendler and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Laura WollbornDivision of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0009-0007-3543-1643
James W WebberDivision of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0009-0000-0090-119X
Stephanie AlimenaDivision of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0000-0001-9130-4904
Sudhanshu MishraDivision of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0009-0006-7985-9054
Chad B SussmanHarvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0000-0003-4907-0926
Cameron E ComrieHarvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0000-0001-5677-4556
Daniel G PackardTufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0000-0002-1390-7221
Marta WilliamsHarvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0009-0003-9065-7398
Trinity RussellHarvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0009-0000-8330-2570
Wojciech FendlerDana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0000-0002-5083-9168
Dipanjan ChowdhuryHarvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0000-0001-5645-3752
Kevin M EliasDivision of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0000-0003-1502-5553

Funding

Project 2: Combined personal neoantigen-targeting cancer vaccines with immune checkpoint blockade for ovarian cancerP50CA240243 · NCI · DANA-FARBER CANCER INST · PI CASTRO, CESAR M · 2020 to 2024
$11.5M
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) 450518177Honorable Tina Brozman Foundation (Tina's Wish)Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) Bits to Bytes GrantNational Cancer Institute (NCI) P50CA240243NCI NIH HHS P50 CA240243V Foundation for Cancer Research (VFCR)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSerum miRNAs are potential biomarkers for ovarian cancer; however, many factors may influence miRNA expression. To understand potential confounders in miRNA analysis, we examined how sociodemographic factors and comorbidities, including known ovarian cancer risk factors, influence serum miRNA levels in women without ovarian cancer.

methodsData from 1,576 women from the Mass General Brigham Biobank collected between 2012 and 2019, excluding subjects previously or subsequently diagnosed with ovarian cancer, were examined. Using a focused panel of 179 miRNA probes optimized for serum profiling, miRNA expression was measured by flow cytometry using the Abcam FirePlex assay and correlated with subjects' electronic medical records.

resultsThe study population broadly reflected the New England population. The median age of subjects was 49 years, 34% were current or prior smokers, 33% were obese (body mass index > 30 kg/m2), 49% were postmenopausal, and 11% had undergone prior bilateral oophorectomy. Significant differences in miRNA expression were observed among ovarian risk factors such as age, obesity, menopause, BRCA1 or BRCA2 germline mutations, or existence of breast cancer in family history. Additionally, miRNA expression was significantly altered by prior bilateral oophorectomy, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Other variables, such as smoking; parity; age at menarche; hormonal replacement therapy; oral contraception; breast, endometrial, or colon cancer; and diabetes, were not associated with significant changes in the panel when corrected for multiple testing.

conclusionsSerum miRNA expression patterns are significantly affected by patient demographics, exposure history, and medical comorbidities. IMPACT: Understanding confounders in serum miRNA expression is important for refining clinical assays for cancer screening.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorMicroRNAsOvarian NeoplasmsAdultAgedFemaleHumansMiddle AgedRisk FactorsBiomarkers, TumorMicroRNAs

Identifiers

PMID38780899
PMCPMC11873719

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.