Abstract
The identification of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in peripheral blood and other body fluids has led to considerable research interest in investigating their potential clinical application as non-invasive biomarkers of cancer, including lung cancer, the deadliest malignancy worldwide. Several studies have found that alterations in the levels of miRNAs in circulation are able to discriminate lung cancer patients from healthy individuals (diagnosis) and are associated with patient outcome (prognosis) and treatment response (prediction). Increasing evidence indicates that circulating miRNAs may function as mediators of cell-to-cell communication, affecting biological processes associated with tumor initiation and progression. This review is focused on the most recent studies that provide evidence of the potential value of circulating miRNAs in blood and other body fluids as non-invasive biomarkers of lung cancer in terms of diagnosis, prognosis, and response to treatment. The status of their potential clinical application in lung cancer is also discussed, and relevant clinical trials were sought and are described. Because of the relevance of their biological characteristics and potential value as biomarkers, this review provides an overview of the canonical biogenesis, release mechanisms, and biological role of miRNAs in lung cancer.
Highlights
IntroductionIts high mortality is mainly attributed to most patients being initially diagnosed in the late stages of the disease [2,3]
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death due to malignancy worldwide [1]
Six of twentytwo miRNAs that were found differentially expressed in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients compared with healthy controls were further tested by qPCR, and the results indicated that miR-5684 and miR-125b-5p were downregulated in NSCLC patients
Summary
Its high mortality is mainly attributed to most patients being initially diagnosed in the late stages of the disease [2,3]. This late diagnosis is due to a combination of the absence of specific clinical symptoms in the early stages, a lack of effective screening methods, and confirmatory diagnosis being often postponed as it requires tissue samples to be obtained using invasive techniques [3]. Alternative biomarkers are urgently needed for the early and accurate diagnosis, classification, prognosis, and prediction of therapeutic response in lung cancer. Due to the risks associated with undergoing lung tissue biopsy or resection procedures, the use of novel biomarkers obtained from biological samples through minimally invasive or non-invasive methods is preferred, such as peripheral blood or other body fluids
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