Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression by targeting their corresponding messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Dysregulated miRNAs have been considered as a new type of ‘‘oncomiRs” or ‘‘tumor suppressors,” playing essential roles in cancer initiation and progression. Using genome-wide detection methods, ubiquitously aberrant expression profiles of miRNAs have been identified in a broad array of human cancers, showing great potential as novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of cancer with high specificity and sensitivity. The detectable miRNAs in tissue, blood, and other body fluids with high stability provide an abundant source for miRNA-based biomarkers in human cancers. Despite the fact that an increasing number of potential miRNA biomarkers have been reported, the transition of miRNAs-based biomarkers from bench to bedside still necessitates addressing several challenges. In this review, we will summarize our current understanding of miRNAs as potential biomarkers in human cancers.
Highlights
According to NIH (National Institutes of Health), a biomarker is described with a characteristic that it is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention [1]
Overview of miRNAs: Definition, Biogenesis, and Functions miRNAs belong to the heterogeneous class of ncRNAs, of 22–24 nt RNAs that play important regulatory roles by targeting messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for cleavage or translational repression [8]
Following the first identified tumor suppressive miRNA gene miR-15a/miR-16-1 revolving in the development of B-cell lymphocytic leukemia [20], a growing number of oncomiRs have been validated as well as tumor suppressive miRs
Summary
According to NIH (National Institutes of Health), a biomarker is described with a characteristic that it is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention [1]. With the extensive use BioMed Research International of generation of technologies such as miRNA microarrays and high-throughput deep sequencing techniques [6], translating biomarker into practice with increased diagnostic and therapeutic sensitivity and specificity would be less of a problem [7]. Among these contexts, the potential of miRNAs being involved in carcinogenesis as cancer biomarkers has been extensively investigated and developed. We will overview recent advances in the dysregulation of tumor-associated miRNAs in both biopsies and circulation and highlight some critical challenges for the transition of miRNAs as cancer biomarkers from a research setting into clinical application
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