Circulating miRNA as a Biomarker in Oral Cancer Liquid Biopsy

Abstract

Oral cancer is currently challenging the healthcare system, with a high incidence among the population and a poor survival rate. One of the main focuses related to this malignancy is the urge to implement a viable approach for improving its early diagnosis. By introducing the use of liquid biopsy and the identification of potential biomarkers, aiming for a noninvasive approach, new advancements offer promising perspectives in the diagnosis of oral cancer. The present review discusses the potential of circulating miRNAs as oral cancer biomarkers identified in body fluids such as serum, plasma, and saliva samples of oral cancer patients. Existing results reveal an important implication of different miRNA expressions involved in the initiation, development, progression, and metastasis rate of oral malignancy. Liquid biomarkers can play a crucial role in the development of the concept of personalized medicine, providing a wide range of clinical applications and future targeted therapies.

Impact of juglone on oral carcinogenesis induced by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) in rat model

“…Oral carcinogenesis involves a series of complex simultaneous stages that include the development of precancerous lesions and the processes of invasion and metastasis [4]. The main challenges in oral cancer can be listed as late diagnosis and drug resistance [5,6]. Head and neck cancers is a term that includes the oral and nasal cavities, pharynx, larynx, and paranasal sinuses; however, there is no standard definition of the term oral cancer, as there is no clear distinction regarding whether some anatomical regions (such as the base of the tongue and soft palate) are included in the oral cavity or oropharynx.…”

Salivary miRNAs as auxiliary liquid biopsy biomarkers for diagnosis in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Despite the progress in cancer diagnosis and treatment, head and neck cancer is often diagnosed at advanced stages and associated with an approximately 50% mortality rate ( Chen et al, 2013 ). Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel approaches that improve and conclude early diagnosis ( Masood et al, 2015 ; Roi et al, 2023 ).…”

Proteome Fishing for CRISPR/Cas12a-Based Orthogonal Multiplex Aptamer Sensing

“…In the clinical setting, noninvasive or minimally invasive liquid biopsy, such as blood- or urine-based biomarker detection, are more favored options for early cancer diagnosis , owing to the merits of facile operation and easy interpretation. Previous works mainly focused on cell-free nucleic acids, such as ctDNA and miRNA, − but these typically need large volumes of fresh blood and require additional transport and storage conditions. Despite their sensitivity and accuracy, nucleic acid extraction and PCR amplification must be attended by highly trained technicians to avoid the bias of intersample variation when conducting a large number of samples.…”