Cell‐free microRNAs as diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers for lung cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, accounting for over 1.37 million deaths annually. The clinical outcome and management of lung cancer patients could be substantially improved by the implementation of non-invasive biomarker assays for the early detection, prognosis as well as prediction and monitoring of treatment response. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the regulation of virtually all signaling circuits within a cell and their dysregulation has been shown to play an essential role in the development and progression of cancer. Recently, miRNAs were found to be released into the circulation and to exist there in a remarkably stable form. Furthermore, various cancers were shown to leave specific miRNA fingerprints in the blood of patients suggesting that cell-free miRNAs could serve as non-invasive biomarkers for the detection or monitoring of cancer and putative therapeutic targets. Since that, a considerable effort has been devoted to decode the information carried by circulating miRNAs. In the current review, we give an insight into the mechanisms of miRNA release into the bloodstream, their putative functional significance and systematically review the studies focused on the identification of cell-free miRNAs with the diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive significance in lung cancer and discuss their potential clinical utility.

miRNAs as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Current Perspectives

“…A single tumour tissue sample obtained by biopsy is not fully representative of the molecular changes occurring in developing lung cancers, nor does it reflect the diversity of tumour clones found in distant metastases. In this case, analysis of extracellular miRNAs should not only enable disease monitoring but also allow for effective treatment monitoring, which seems to be a key factor in improving prognosis [72]. Extracellular miRNA sequences might also be an early marker of recurrence after radical treatment.…”

MiR-181a-5p inhibits cell proliferation and migration by targeting Kras in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells

“…Despite intensive researches and resources being dedicated to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of NSCLC, the precise processes of initiation and progression remain largely unclear. Recently, accumulating evidence has shown that non-coding small RNAs may be involved in NSCLC pathogenesis, providing new insights into lung tumor biology [2][3][4][5].…”

Monitoring microRNAs Using a Molecular Beacon in CD133+/CD338+Human Lung Adenocarcinoma-initiating A549 Cells

“…miRNAs can regulate cancer cell differentiation, proliferation, survival, and metastasis, acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressors by regulating the expression of downstream genes through different cancer development and progression pathways (Chen, 2005;Garzon et al, 2009;Kwak et al, 2010;Zandberga et al, 2013). Accordingly, these molecules could constitute a powerful therapeutic strategy for interfering with cancer initiation and progression (Garofalo and Croce, 2011).…”