Urine cell-free microRNA as biomarkers for transitional cell carcinoma.

cDNA libraries were produced based on small RNAs in urine samples of fourteen TCC patients and twenty healthy volunteers. Resulting reads were deep sequenced on Illumina HiSeq sequencer with the intent of characterizing cell free urine miRNA profiles. A statistically significant difference was found for a single miRNA; miR-210 was > sixfold higher in the TCC group compared to the control group. Furthermore, we were able to produce a diagnostic score by summing of standardized levels of overexpressed miRNA. This score was considerably higher in TCC patients with a sensitivity of 0.93, specificity of 0.76 and negative predictive value > 0.97.