Abstract
As an essential part of central dogma, RNA delivers genetic and regulatory information and reflects cellular states. Based on high-throughput sequencing technologies, cumulating data show that various RNA molecules are able to serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of various diseases, for instance, cancer. In particular, detectable in various bio-fluids, such as serum, saliva and urine, extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) are emerging as non-invasive biomarkers for earlier cancer diagnosis, tumor progression monitor, and prediction of therapy response. In this review, we summarize the latest studies on various types of RNA biomarkers, especially extracellular RNAs, in cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and illustrate several well-known RNA biomarkers of clinical utility. In addition, we describe and discuss general procedures and issues in investigating exRNA biomarkers, and perspectives on utility of exRNAs in precision medicine.
Highlights
Biomarkers are defined as measurable alterations in biological substance that associate with normal or abnormal conditions [1]
The abundance of microRNAs in (miRNAs) in recipient cells can be altered by miRNAs transferred from vesicles, which will lead to the downregulation of several mRNAs inside the cells [48]
Many more extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) continue to be found as potential biomarkers
Summary
Biomarkers are defined as measurable alterations in biological substance that associate with normal or abnormal conditions [1]. Various types of biomarkers have assisted diagnosis and prognosis of diseases in clinical trials [2,3]. In the field of oncology, biomarkers generally possess three types of clinical relevance: diagnostic values, prognostic values, and predictive values. The diagnostic values include early detection of diseases, determination of tumor origins, and classification of cancer subtypes. The prognostic values include prediction of disease outcomes and risk assessment independent of treatments. Sensitive and specific biomarkers in many clinical trials are essential to precision medicine in that they enable the determination of clinical outcomes in a relatively earlier stage. Integration of biomarker data using bioinformatics methods would enhance our understanding of biological pathways and regulatory mechanisms associated with diseases [6]. We will describe biogenesis and clinical relevance of exRNA, and related bioinformatics methods and databases
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