Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a major public health concern in Thailand, particularly in
the northeastern region. This aggressive cancer is difficult to treat due to the lack of effective
early diagnostic tools and poor response to chemotherapy. Consequently, the identification
of novel biomarkers is urgently needed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which regulate the expression of
oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, play key roles in various cancers, including CCA. This
study investigated the expression levels of miRNAs and mRNAs in the serum and blood of CCA
patients compared to healthy volunteers, using NanoString technology for quantification.
Results revealed a significant upregulation of miR-122-5p, which was found to be associated
with increased expression of the EGFR gene—a known promoter of CCA cell development.
These findings suggest that miR-122-5p may play an oncogenic role in CCA pathogenesis and
holds potential as a diagnostic and treatment monitoring biomarker. Additionally, genomic
analysis uncovered variations in immune-related genes, which will be further investigated for
their relevance to CCA.
