Cancer medicine
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Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been used as promising diagnostic biomarkers for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We performed miRNA expression profiling using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) based Exiqon panels from three ESCC pools and one normal control (NC) pool samples. Using qRT-PCR, identified serum miRNAs were further confirmed in training (32 ESCC vs. 32 NCs) and testing stages (108 ESCC vs. 96 NCs). ⋯ The expression levels of the miRNAs were also determined in tissues, arterial serum, and exosomes. MiR-20b-5p, miR-28-3p, and miR-192-5p were significantly upregulated in ESCC tissues, while miR-296-5p was overexpressed in ESCC serum exosomes. In conclusion, we identified a 5-miRNA signature in serum for the detection of ESCC.