Molecular diagnostics in cancer should provide the highest specificity and sensitivity in classification, prognostic stratification and early detection. MicroRNAs could contribute to hit the mark, or at least to come nearer, in virtue of their cancer-specific expression and stability. Indeed, differently from other RNA classes, microRNAs can be detected and quantified not only in frozen tissues, but also in formalin fixed paraffin-embedded tissues as well as serum/plasma samples. Thus, microRNA studies have quickly moved from research on the molecular basis of cancer to areas of clinical application. This review summarizes the potential role of microRNAs as molecular markers for cancer classification, prognostic stratification and drug-response prediction. It also summarizes their potential as circulating markers and cancer-predisposing genes. If we consider that studies on microRNAs in cancer therapy have already given important contributions, microRNAs already had an impact in all cancer areas. Whether this will translate into clinical applications is still too early to say. However, in the diagnostic field, microRNAs may already represent an improvement over presently available approaches: for example, their expression profile is effective in the identification of metastasis tissue of origin. In addition, circulating microRNAs are expected to provide improved specificity and/or sensitivity over presently available markers.
Micro-markers: microRNAs in cancer diagnosis and prognosis
FERRACIN, Manuela;VERONESE, Angelo;NEGRINI, Massimo
2010
Abstract
Molecular diagnostics in cancer should provide the highest specificity and sensitivity in classification, prognostic stratification and early detection. MicroRNAs could contribute to hit the mark, or at least to come nearer, in virtue of their cancer-specific expression and stability. Indeed, differently from other RNA classes, microRNAs can be detected and quantified not only in frozen tissues, but also in formalin fixed paraffin-embedded tissues as well as serum/plasma samples. Thus, microRNA studies have quickly moved from research on the molecular basis of cancer to areas of clinical application. This review summarizes the potential role of microRNAs as molecular markers for cancer classification, prognostic stratification and drug-response prediction. It also summarizes their potential as circulating markers and cancer-predisposing genes. If we consider that studies on microRNAs in cancer therapy have already given important contributions, microRNAs already had an impact in all cancer areas. Whether this will translate into clinical applications is still too early to say. However, in the diagnostic field, microRNAs may already represent an improvement over presently available approaches: for example, their expression profile is effective in the identification of metastasis tissue of origin. In addition, circulating microRNAs are expected to provide improved specificity and/or sensitivity over presently available markers.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
