BACKGROUND: For the clinical management of @entity1636 it is crucial to correctly distinguish between benign and @entity5 . Even histomorphologically based scoring systems do not allow precise @entity75 , thus novel parameters are desired which offer a more accurate differentiation. The tremendous potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) as diagnostic biomarkers in surgical pathology has recently been shown in a broad variety of @entity5 . METHODS: In order to elucidate the diagnostic impact of miRNA expression in @entity1636 , a cohort of 20 adrenocortical specimens including normal adrenal tissue (n=4), @entity822 ( @entity822 ) (n=9), @entity1636 ( @entity1636 ) (n=4) and @entity3 (n=3) was analysed using TaqMan low density arrays to identify specific miRNA profiles in order to distinguish between benign and malignant @entity14114 . Results were validated in a validation cohort (n=16). RESULTS: Concerning the differential diagnosis of @entity822 and @entity1636 , 159 out of 667 miRNAs were up- and 89 were down-regulated in @entity822 . Using real-time PCR analysis of three of the most significantly expressed single key miRNAs allowed separation of @entity822 from @entity1636 . @entity1636 exhibited significantly lower levels of @entity22393 (up to 8.49-fold, p<0.001), @entity33956 (up to 23.25-fold, p<0.001) and @entity16105 (up to 5.25-fold, p<0.001). A validation cohort of 16 specimen with known Weiss score showed up-regulation of @entity16105 and @entity33956 in the majority of cases with probable malignant course, although overlapping values exist. CONCLUSION: miRNA profiling of @entity33956 and @entity16105 helps in discriminating @entity1636 from @entity822 . miRNA analysis may indicate malignant behaviour in cases with indeterminate malignant potential.

Differential expression of @entity33956 , @entity22393 -3p and @entity16105 in benign and malignant XXXX .

@entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['malignant tumours', 'tumours'] @entity75 :: ('MESH:D001927', 'Disease') :: ['separation in single lesions'] @entity14114 :: ('MESH:C565972', 'Disease') :: ['adrenocortical lesions'] @entity16105 :: ('442904', 'Gene') :: ['miR-335'] @entity33956 :: ('100033819', 'Gene') :: ['miR-675'] @entity1636 :: ('MESH:D018268', 'Disease') :: ['adrenocortical carcinomas', 'adrenocortical neoplasms', 'ACCs'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastases'] @entity822 :: ('MESH:D018246', 'Disease') :: ['ACAs', 'adrenocortical adenomas'] @entity22393 :: ('406931', 'Gene') :: ['miR-139-3p']
@entity5 :: (MESH:D009369,Disease) :: ['adrenocortical tumours']
