Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research | Abstract | Circulating microRNAs in cancer: origin, function and application
The complete article is available as a provisional PDF. The fully formatted PDF and HTML versions are in production.
Review
Circulating microRNAs in cancer: origin, function and application
Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research 2012,
31:38
doi:10.1186/1756-9966-31-38
Published: 30 April 2012
Abstract (provisional)
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression
at the posttranscriptional level. The dysregulation of miRNAs has been linked to a
series of diseases, including various types of cancer. Since their discovery in the
circulation of cancer patients, there has been a steady increase in the study of circulating
miRNAs as stable, non-invasive biomarkers. However, the origin and function of circulating
miRNAs has not been systematically elucidated. In this review, we summarize the discovery
of circulating miRNAs and their potential as biomarkers. We further emphasize their
possible origin and function. Finally, we discuss the application and existing questions
surrounding circulating miRNAs in cancer diagnostics. Although several challenges
remain to be concerned, circulating miRNAs could be useful, non-invasive biomarkers
for cancer diagnosis.
The complete article is available as a provisional PDF. The fully formatted PDF and HTML versions are in production.
Biomarkers in the circulation
"Circulating biomarkers undoubtedly play an increasingly significant role in clinicalapplications such as disease diagnostics, monitoring therapeutic effect and predicting recurrence in cancer patients. The currently used fluid-based biomarkers are primarily proteins, such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) [8], chromogranin A (CgA) [9], nuclear matrix
protein 22 (NMP 22) [10], carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA 125) [11]; enzymes, such as prostate specific antigen (PSA) [12]; and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) [13]. While these biomarkers provide an opportunity to analyze tumors comprehensively in an invasive
way, low sensitivity and specificity limit their clinical application. For example, serum levels of AFP are often elevated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, this is also the case in germ cell tumors, gastric, biliary and pancreatic cancers.......
reference/cited (google):
23. Resnick KE, Alder H, Hagan JP, Richardson DL, Croce CM, Cohn DE: The detection of differentially expressed microRNAs from the serum of ovarian cancer patients using a novel real-time PCR platform. Gynecol Oncol 2009, 112:55–59.
