MicroRNA-154 (miR-154) was previously reported to be downregulated in several types of human cancers and may act as a tumour suppressor. This study aimed to measure miR-154 levels and determine its clinical significance in human glioma.

This retrospective study analysed fresh human glioma specimens and non-neoplastic brain tissues using real-time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction to determine the relative levels of miR-154. The association between miR-154 levels and various clinicopathological characteristics and survival was analysed.

A total of 115 patients with gliomas and 115 non-neoplastic brain tissues were examined. MiR-154 levels were significantly downregulated in gliomas compared with non-neoplastic brain tissues. Low levels of miR-154 were associated with high World Health Organization grade, large tumour size (≥ 5 cm), a low Karnofsky performance status score (< 80), and a shorter overall survival. Multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards regression model confirmed that decreased miR-154 level was an independent predictor of a poor prognosis.

These results suggest that miR-154 downregulation may be involved in glioma formation and progression, and that miR-154 might serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for patients with this disease.