Research Article MicroRNA Expression in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma and Asbestosis: A Pilot Study Paola Mozzoni, 1 Luca Ampollini, 2 Matteo Goldoni, 3 Rossella Alinovi, 3 Marcello Tiseo, 4 Letizia Gnetti, 5 Paolo Carbognani, 2 Michele Rusca, 2 Antonio Mutti, 3 Antonio Percesepe, 1 and Massimo Corradi 3 1 Molecular Genetics, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy 2 Thoracic Surgery, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy 3 Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy 4 Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy 5 Pathological Anatomy and Histology, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy Correspondence should be addressed to Matteo Goldoni; matteo.goldoni@unipr.it Received 21 February 2017; Revised 21 May 2017; Accepted 5 June 2017; Published 3 July 2017 Academic Editor: Alvaro González Copyright © 2017 Paola Mozzoni et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Background. The identification of diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers for asbestos-related diseases is relevant for early diagnosis and patient survival and may contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease development and progression. Aims. To identify a pattern of miRNAs as possible diagnostic biomarkers for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and asbestosis (ASB) and as prognostic biomarkers for MPM patients. Methods. miRNA-16, miRNA-17, miRNA-126, and miRNA-486 were quantified in plasma and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples to evaluate their diagnostic and prognostic roles compared to patients with other noncancerous pulmonary diseases (controls). Results. The expression of all the miRNAs was significantly lower in patients with MPM and ASB than that in controls. miRNA-16, miRNA- 17, and miRNA-486 in plasma and tissue of MPM patients were significantly correlated. Furthermore, the expression of miRNA-16 in plasma and tissue, and miRNA-486 only in tissue, was positively related with cumulative survival in MPM patients. Conclusions. All the miRNA levels were decreased in patients with MPM or ASB, supporting the role of circulating miRNAs as a potential tool for diseases associated with exposure to asbestos fibers. miRNA-16 was directly related to MPM patient prognosis, suggesting its possible use as a prognostic marker in MPM patients. 1. Introduction Long-term exposure to asbestos is the cause of some typical malignant and benign diseases, as malignant pleural meso- thelioma (MPM) and asbestosis. MPM is a tumor originating from the mesothelial surfaces of the lung and is characterized by a poor prognosis. Chronic inflammation and genetic pre- disposition are concurrent factors in MPM pathogenesis. The silent clinical progression leads to a very late diagnosis, which strongly limits the therapeutic intervention and the extreme resistance to current chemotherapeutic agents. The diagnosis is histological and/or radiological and allows a median survival time of 9-10 months [1]. Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. It is char- acterized by inflammatory response and production of free radicals, with consequent cytotoxic effects and stimulation of the proliferation and activation of fibroblasts in the inter- stitium. The deposition of collagen in the interstitium promotes the thickening of the bronchial and alveolar wall and, in short, diffuses interstitial fibrosis [2]. The identification of diagnostic biomarkers for MPM and asbestosis is relevant for early diagnosis and patient Hindawi Disease Markers Volume 2017, Article ID 9645940, 10 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/9645940