Beyond circulating microRNA biomarkers: Urinary microRNAs in ovarian and breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide, and ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy. Women carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation have a very high lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. The only effective risk-reducing strategy in BRCA-mutated women is a prophylactic surgery with bilateral mastectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. However, many women are reluctant to undergo these prophylactic surgeries due to a consequent mutilated body perception, unfulfilled family planning, and precocious menopause. In these patients, an effective screening strategy is available only for breast cancer, but it only consists in close radiological exams with a significant burden for the health system and a significant distress to the patients. No biomarkers have been shown to effectively detect breast and ovarian cancer at an early stage. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulatory molecules operating in a post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Aberrant expression of miRNAs has been documented in several pathological conditions, including solid tumors, suggesting their involvement in tumorigenesis. miRNAs can be detected in blood and urine and could be used as biomarkers in solid tumors. Encouraging results are emerging in gynecological malignancy as well, and suggest a different pattern of expression of miRNAs in biological fluids of breast and ovarian cancer patients as compared to healthy control. Aim of this study is to highlight the role of the urinary miRNAs which are specifically associated with cancer and to investigate their role in early diagnosis and in determining the prognosis in breast and ovarian cancer.

Mir-29b Regulates Oxidative Stress by Targeting SIRT1 in Ovarian Cancer Cells

“…Of note, our data are in agreement with previous reports demonstrating that miR-29s is capable of regulating SIRT1 in age-related hearing loss and self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells, adding a novel role of the tumor suppressor miRNA miR-29b in cancerous oxidative stress [24, 25]. Intriguingly, recent studies have observed a panel of differentially expressed miRNAs in urines of ovarian cancer patients as compared to healthy control [26]. Superior to blood to some extent, urine is the ideal bio-fluid for the biomarker detection for it allows non-invasive collection.…”

Whole blood microRNAs as potential biomarkers in post-operative early breast cancer patients

“…miRNA are considered ideal markers because of their high stability in extreme conditions such as low pH or high temperatures [ 44 ]. Their presence in body fluids other than plasma and serum, such as urine [ 45 ], saliva [ 46 ] and pancreatic juice [ 47 ] has been shown to have a solid diagnostic value [ 48 ]. Independent studies have also established the value of whole blood miRNA profiling in early phases of cancer development [ 26 , 27 , 49 , 50 ].…”

Role of microRNAs in Diagnosis, Prognosis and Management of Multiple Myeloma

“…Since miRNAs have been found in body fluids such as plasma, serum, saliva, urine and semen, circulating miRNAs have been proposed as novel disease biomarkers that may aid in diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of treatment response [ 177 , 178 , 179 , 180 ]. The circulating miRNAs were stable when refrigerated or frozen for up to 72 h and at room temperature for 24 h, making them suitable biomarkers [ 181 , 182 ].…”