On the one hand, to investigate the targeted regulation of miR-98–5p on heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HBEGF) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). On the other hand, elucidate the predictive effect of miR-98–5p combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data on the clinical prognosis of HCC patients.

Serum samples from 98 HCC patients and 54 healthy subjects were selected in order to detect miR-98–5p as well as HBEGF expression levels via real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). A Luciferase reporter assay was performed to detect the interaction between miR-98–5p and HBEGF gene. The serum levels of IL-2, TNF-α, TGF-β1 and IFN-γ in HCC patients and in the control group (healthy subjects) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) was utilized to analyze the predictive ability of miR-98–5p combined with HBEGF for HCC. Finally, the survival curves were used to analyze the effect of HBEGF and miR-98–5p on the survival of patients with HCC.

RT-qPCR results showed that the expression level of miR-98–5p was significantly decreased, while HBEGF expression was significantly increased in the serum of HCC patients compared with the control group. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-98–5p could target and bind HBEGF. Additionally, according to ELISA, IL-2, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 were significantly increased, while IFN-γ was significantly decreased in the serum of HCC patients compared with the control group. The results of ROC indicated that expressive levels of miR-98–5p and HBEGF had a high diagnostic value for HCC. At the same time, the survival curve results indicated high HBEGF expression and low miR-98–5p expression, suggesting a poor prognosis for HCC patients.

MiR-98–5p can target the down-regulating HBEGF gene. In addition, miR-98–5p combined with MRI data is of crucial guiding value in assessing the prognosis of patients with HCC in the clinic.