AIM: To investigate the expressions of micro RNA-20a(mi R-20a) and let-7a in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) and their diagnostic value. METHODS: Seventy patients with ESCC and 40 healthy subjects were enrolled to investigate the expression of mi R-20 a and let-7a using quantitative real-time PCR. The expression of mi R-20 a and let-7a was compared between ESCC patients and healthy subjects. The plasma levels of mi R-20 a and let-7a in relation to patient clinicopathologic parameters, the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve, and the sensitivity and specificity of mi R-20 a and let-7a in ESCC diagnosis were analyzed.RESULTS: Plasma levels of mi R-20 a were significantly higher in ESCC patients than in healthy controls, and plasma levels of let-7 were lower in ESCC patients than in healthy controls(both P < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve of mi R-20 a was 0.767(95%CI: 0.677-0.857; P < 0.001), when the cut-off value was set at 4.77, the sensitivity and specificity were 64.3% and 75.0%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve of let-7a was 0.829(95%CI: 0.754-0.904; P < 0.001), when the cut-off value was set at 6.22, the sensitivity and specificity were 74.3% and 85.0%, respectively. Thus, the sensitivity and specificity of let-7a were higher than those of mi R-20 a. The median relative plasma expression of let-7a in clinical stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ(0.24) was lower than that in stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ(0.42), while the expression of mi R-20 a according to stage was not statistically different. The expressions of mi R-20 a and let-7a were not related to gender, age, tumor diameter, tumor grade, or pathologic stage.CONCLUSION: Plasma mi R-20 a and let-7a levels are significantly altered in patients with ESCC and can be used as potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of ESCC. AIM: To investigate the expressions of microRNA-20a (mi R-20a) and let-7a in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and their diagnostic value. METHODS: Seventy patients with ESCC and 40 healthy subjects were enrolled to investigate the expression of mi R-20 a and let-7a using quantitative real-time PCR. The expression of mi R-20 a and let-7a was compared between ESCC patients and healthy subjects. The plasma levels of mi R-20 a and let- 7a in relation to patient clinicopathologic parameters, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the sensitivity and specificity of mi R-20 a and let-7a in ESCC diagnosis were analyzed .RESULTS: Plasma levels of mi R-20 a were higher in ESCC patients than in healthy controls, and plasma levels of let-7 were lower in ESCC patients than in healthy controls (both P <0.05). The area under the ROC curve of mi R-20 a was 0.767 (95% CI : 0.677-0.857; P <0.001), when the cut-off value was set at 4.77, the sensitivity and specificity we The area under the ROC curve of let-7a was 0.829 (95% CI: 0.754-0.904; P <0.001), when the cut-off value was set at 6.22, the sensitivity and specificity Thus, the sensitivity and specificity of let-7a were higher than those of mi R-20 a. The median relative plasma expression of let-7a in clinical stage III / IV (0.24) was lower than that in stage Ⅰ / Ⅱ (0.42), while the expression of mi R-20 a according to stage was not displayed different. The expressions of mi R-20 a and let-7a were not related to gender, age, tumor diameter , tumor grade, or pathologic stage. CONCLUSION: Plasma mi R-20 a and let-7a levels are significantly altered in patients with ESCC and can be used as potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of ESCC.