Akdeniz, Fatma TubaBarut, ZerrinAvsar, OrcunBakirezer, Selvi DumanAttar, RuksetIsbir, Turgay2026-02-152026-02-1520261467-30371467-304510.3390/cimb480101132-s2.0-105028746052https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48010113https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14517/8777Ovarian cancer is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage due to non-specific symptoms, contributing to high mortality. The limited diagnostic performance of current serum assays in early disease underscores the need for complementary circulating biomarkers. Circulating microRNAs and inflammation-related markers are promising candidates. Although miRNAs are implicated in cancer diagnostics, the role of miRNA-29a in ovarian cancer remains underexplored. Given that sST2 is elevated in several malignancies and is a direct target of miRNA-29a, concurrent evaluation may be informative. This pilot study compared serum miRNA-29a and sST2 levels in 23 ovarian cancer patients and 22 healthy female controls. miRNA-29a expression was quantified by real-time PCR (2(-Delta Delta Ct)), and sST2 was measured by ELISA; diagnostic performance was assessed using ROC analysis. miRNA-29a levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.05), whereas sST2 concentrations were significantly increased (p < 0.001) in patients versus controls. ROC analysis showed modest discrimination for miRNA-29a (AUC 0.678) and higher performance for sST2 (AUC 0.825). No significant correlation was observed between the two markers. These findings suggest that circulating miRNA-29a and sST2 may have biomarker potential in ovarian cancer; larger, well-designed studies are required to confirm clinical utility.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessOvarian CancerMicroRNA-29ASST2Receiver Operating Characteristic AnalysisBiomarkerqPCRELISAArticle