Abstract: Objective To investigate the presence of miRNA-144 in the saliva of patients with esophageal cancer and its value for
early diagnosis of esophageal cancer. Methods Saliva samples were collected form patients with esophageal cancer admitted in
the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College between
January, 2011 and May, 2013, with saliva samples from 50 middle-aged healthy volunteers matched for age and gender ratio as
the control group. The contents of miRNA-144 in the samples were detected with RT-PCR. Results The levels of miRNA-144 in
both the whole saliva and saliva supernatant were significantly higher in esophageal cancer group than in the control group (P<
0.05). In the whole saliva, the cut-off point of miRNA-144 was ≥100, with a sensitivity of 74.6% and a specificity of 92.0% for
esophageal cancer diagnosis (Az=0.865); in saliva supernatant, the cut-off point was ≥20 with a sensitivity of 53.7% and a
specificity of 94.0% (Az=0.754), suggesting a moderate diagnostic value of miRNA-144 in whole saliva and saliva supernatant.
Conclusion miRNA-144 is highly expressed in the saliva of patients with esophageal cancer and can be used as a genetic
marker for early diagnosis of esophageal cancer.