Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is definitely a global public health concern. the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) values of 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76C0.94), 0.82 (95% CI: 0.72C0.91), and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.81C0.97), respectively. In addition, these miRNAs could distinguish HCC cases from CLD controls with a medium accuracy. However, the ability of these miRNAs in differentiating CLD patients from normal controls was not satisfactory. Panel of these miRNAs displayed a better performance compared with single miRNA assay, with AUC values of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.89C0.99) in discriminating HCC patients from normal controls and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.80C0.97) in discriminating HCC patients from CLD controls. Results of meta-analysis of previous studies combined with the current study suggested that circulating miRNAs could well differentiate HCC from normal controls, with AUC values of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.82C0.89) for single miRNA assay and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91C0.96) for miRNA panel assay. Serum miR-10b, miR-106b, and miR-181a have great potential to serve as accurate and noninvasive biomarkers for HCC preliminary screening. Meta-analysis of previous studies combined with current study further confirmed that circulating miRNAs could play an important role in HCC detection. Further large-scale studies are needed to confirm the clinical significance of circulating miRNAs in HCC screening. INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of most prevalent malignancies worldwide with high mortality. According to latest GLOBOCAN 2012 report, there are approximately 782,000 new cases and 746,000 deaths in 2012.1 Most of the HCC cases occur in less-developed regions, especially in China. China accounts for over half of HCC cases and deaths in the global world.2 The carcinogenesis of HCC is reported to become connected with chronic liver diseases, infection with hepatitis C or B disease, aswell as excessive usage of alcohol.3 non-etheless, the underlying mechanism isn’t well elucidated still. The entire 5-year survival price for HCC individuals remains suprisingly low, which range from 5% to 9%.4,5 The high mortality rate of HCC is because of past due diagnosis and insufficient effective treatments mainly. Nevertheless, the 5-yr survival rate increase to 69%, if HCC individuals are diagnosed at early stage.6,7 Therefore, probably the most urgent want is to find accurate diagnostic approaches for early-stage HCC. Medical imaging systems such as 248281-84-7 manufacture for example ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), etc, have already been employed in HCC detection broadly.8 Advancements in medical imaging technology possess contributed to raised characterization of hepatic lesions in HCC individuals. Regardless, little tumors remain challenging to detect, in the current presence of cirrhosis particularly. Ultrasound like a diagnostic way of HCC includes a level of sensitivity of 65% to 85% and a specificity of >90%.9 However, ultrasound is operator-dependent diagnostic procedure how the accuracy from the results depends upon the power of technologist to properly operate the gear.10 The primary disadvantage of CT scan is it provokes a threat of radiation to patients. MRI can be a delicate imaging way of HCC recognition extremely, whereas the high price of tools may limit its usage in tumor analysis.11 Percutaneous biopsy can provide definitive evidences of disease 248281-84-7 manufacture when the imaging results are uncertain.12 But it may cause discomfort or pain during the procedure. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) level can serve as a useful tumor marker for HCC diagnosis. The false-negative rate of AFP screening test may be as high as 40% for early-stage HCC detection.13 Even in patients with HOXA2 advanced-stage HCC, AFP screening test still has 15% to 30% false-negative rate.14 Thus, noninvasive and accurate biomarkers are urgently needed for HCC diagnosis. Previous studies have examined the diagnostic performance of miRNAs as novel biomarkers for HCC detection. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, noncoding, approximately 22-nucleotides-long RNAs, which may function as post-transcriptional regulator of gene expression. An estimated 30% of all protein-coding genes are regulated by miRNAs.15 MiRNAs bind to the 3-untranslated region of messenger RNAs, leading to translational repression or mRNA degradation. Several studies indicate that miRNAs are involved in a variety of physiological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and apoptosis etc. It has been reported that the change in miRNAs expression may correlate with pathogenesis of cancer.16 In addition, miRNAs are detectable and remarkably stable in clinical samples like blood, serum, plasma, urine, and feces. Furthermore, miRNAs are 248281-84-7 manufacture shown to be resistant to endogenous RNase activity, extreme pH, high temperature,.