Circulating miR-532-502 cluster derived from chromosome X as biomarkers for diagnosis of breast cancer

• MiR-188-3p, miR-500a-5p and miR-501-5p in plasma were found to be significantly up-regulated in BC patients. • MiR-188-3p, miR-501-3p, miR-502-3p, miR-532-3p and miR-532-5p in serum were also observed to be up-regulated in BC patients. • The expression levels of miR-188-3p presented a trend of positive correlation between plasma and serum samples. • A three-miRNA panel in plasma and a five-miRNA panel in serum were established. • The two panels showed high diagnostic value in discriminating BC patients at different stages from HCs.