A Mini Review on Epigenetics MiRNAs and their Influence on Bladder Cancer Development

Abstract

Bladder cancer is the 10 th most common cancer worldwide, with significant morbidity and mortality. Its early diagnosis is crucial and there is an urgent need for the development of non-invasive and specific biomarkers to detect bladder cancers at an early stage. Epigenetic alterations are innovative cancer biomarkers that show great potential for assay development to assist in patient management because of their stability and accessibility in body fluids. Recent studies demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are molecules involved in the epigenetic events emerging as diagnostic biomarkers and either their downregulation or upregulation occurs through epigenetic changes. Urological neoplasms (prostate, bladder, kidney), lung, breast and colorectal cancers are the most common and despite major advances in their characterization, this has not yet translated into biomarkers suitable for clinical practice. However, large multicenter validation studies are required to foster translation to the clinics. Herein we review the most promising epigenetic, diagnostic and predictive biomarkers in different types of biological sample related to patients harbouring bladder cancer.