Objective To investigate the value of serum microRNA (miRNA)-184 and miR-451a expression in predicting recurrent metastasis after radical resection of stage Ⅰ to ⅡA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods A total of 203 patients with radical resection of stage Ⅰ to ⅡA NSCLC in the hospital from January 2020 to October 2021 were selected as NSCLC group. According to the recurrence and metastasis status during the 2-year follow-up, they were divided into recurrence and metastasis group with 30 cases and non-recurrence and metastasis group with 173 cases. Additionally, 87 healthy volunteers with physical examinations in the same period were selected as control group. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect serum expression of miR-184 and miR-451a. Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors affecting recurrence and metastasis after radical resection of stage Ⅰ to ⅡA NSCLC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the value of serum miR-184 and miR-451a expression in predicting recurrence and metastasis.

Results Compared with the control group, the expression of serum miR-184 and miR-451a in the NSCLC group decreased significantly (P < 0.05). After 2 years of follow-up, the recurrence and metastasis rate of 203 patients with stage Ⅰ to ⅡA NSCLC was 14.78% (30/203). Compared with the non-recurrence and metastasis group, the expression of serum miR-184 and miR-451a in the recurrence and metastasis group decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The independent risk factors for recurrence and metastasis after radical resection of stage Ⅰ to ⅡA NSCLC were stage ⅡA, poor differentiation and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, while the independent protective factors were increased miR-184 and miR-451a expression (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the combined prediction of serum miR-184 and miR-451a expression for recurrence and metastasis after radical resection of stage Ⅰ to ⅡA NSCLC was 0.868, which was greater than 0.784 and 0.781 of serum miR-184 and miR-451a expression alone (P < 0.05).

Conclusion The serum miR-184 and miR-451a expression in patients with stage Ⅰ to ⅡA NSCLC is low and closely related to recurrence and metastasis after radical resection. The combined detection of serum miR-184 and miR-451a has a high predictive value for recurrence and metastasis after radical resection of stage Ⅰ to ⅡA NSCLC.