Circulating miRNA signature as a potential biomarker for the prediction of analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone

Abstract

No practical biomarkers currently exist for the prediction of the analgesic efficacy of opioids. Previously, we reported circulating miRNA signatures differentially regulated by µ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists in healthy subjects. We hypothesized that these miRNAs could be potential pharmacodynamic biomarkers to estimate MOR stimulation, and predict the efficacy of opioids; i.e., patients with low MOR stimulation may be more vulnerable to strengthening of the MOR signal upon hydromorphone treatment. To test this hypothesis, plasma samples were obtained from 25 patients with cancer pain prior to the initiation of hydromorphone treatment and the circulating miRNA levels were evaluated, focusing on four miRNAs (i.e., hsa-miR-423-3p, hsa-let-7a-5p, hsa-miR-26a-5p, and hsa-let-7f-5p) and four miRNAs (i.e., hsa-miR-144-3p, hsa-miR-451a, hsa-miR-215, and hsa-miR-363-3p) that were most clearly up and downregulated by hydromorphone and oxycodone. The patients were classified into two classes with putative high and low MOR signal, estimated based on the plasma miRNA signature. A significant correlation was observed between the analgesic efficacy and the putative MOR signal level, and patients with low MOR signal achieved better pain control (i.e., ∆VAS < 0) through hydromorphone. These results suggested that plasma miRNA signatures could serve as clinical biomarkers for the prediction of the analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone.