microRNAs are a new-identified class of non-coding RNAs undergo miss-regulated expression in a lot of diseases such as cancer, in addition to their physiologic roles. Esophageal cancer is one of the most lethal cancers that its mortality: incidence ratio is about 91% and at the time of diagnosis, nearly 50% of patients have metastasis. Northeast of Iran has one of the highest incidence rates of esophageal cancer worldwide. Our aim in this study has been to evaluate miR-338-3p expression level in tumor cells of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in comparison with non-tumor marginal area, to evaluate the suitability of this microRNA as a potential biomarker. After preparation of 37 FFPE clinical samples (tumor cells and non-tumor marginal area), extraction total RNA, cDNA synthesis and Real-time PCR amplification of miR-338-3p was performed. Statistical analysis indicates that the expression level of miR-338-3p in tumor cells is significantly (0.01) different from non-tumor marginal area. This result suggests that miR-338-3p may be potential biomarker for early diagnosis of ESCC.

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