miRNA in a Multiomic Context for Diagnosis, Treatment Monitoring and Personalized Management of Metastatic Breast Cancer

Abstract

Metastatic breast cancer is characterized by aggressive spreading to distant organs. Despite huge multilevel research, there are still several important challenges that have to be clarified in the management of this disease. Therefore, recent investigations have implemented a modern, multiomic approach with the aim of identifying specific biomarkers for not only early detection but also to predict treatment responses and metastatic spread. Specific attention is paid to short miRNAs, which regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Aberrant miRNA expression could initiate cancer development, cell proliferation, invasion, migration, metastatic spread or drug resistance. An miRNA signature is, therefore, believed to be a promising biomarker and prediction tool that could be utilized in all phases of carcinogenesis. This article offers comprehensive information about miRNA profiles useful for diagnostic and treatment purposes that may sufficiently advance breast cancer management and improve individual outcomes in the near future.

MicroRNA‐221 promotes breast cancer resistance to adriamycin via modulation of PTEN/Akt/mTOR signaling

“…It is well documented that microRNAs have a significant effect on the management of various tumor progression . For example, microRNA‐221 is up‐regulated in human oral squamous cell carcinoma, which induces cell proliferation via the modulation of TIMP3 expression .…”

“…It is well documented that microRNAs have a significant effect on the management of various tumor progression. 5,6 | 1545 YIN et al…”

Why the Gold Standard Approach by Mammography Demands Extension by Multiomics? Application of Liquid Biopsy miRNA Profiles to Breast Cancer Disease Management

“…Contextually, this article is aiming to provide insights into mammography deficits and current clinical data demonstrating the great potential of non-invasive diagnostic tool utilizing circulating miRNA profiles as an adjunct to conventional mammography for the population screening and personalization of BC management [6]. To this end, innovative screening strategies should consider primary [11] and secondary [26] levels of predictive and preventive medical approach, including both non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors [27] based on comprehensive individual patient profiles that means application of multi-omics [28,29], big data processing [30] and artificial intelligence such as machine learning approach [5].…”

“…MiRNAs are encoded by genomic DNA and are located mostly in intergenic regions (about 52%), intronic regions of genes (40%) and within exons (8%) [111,112]. They represent the human genome information, previously considered to be junk DNA, nowadays believed to be the hidden treasure regarding their potential relevance in diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and follow-up of cancer [113], including BC [6]. The miRNAs were initially discovered in 1993 [114].…”

“…However, it is important to decide for which population the mammography-based screening should be considered to be optimal i.e., the "golden standard" approach (see Table 1). Both false positive and false negative BC diagnosis [23], excessive Further, at the level of secondary prevention, cancer-diagnosed patients could demonstrate longer survival rates and have much better quality of life if the disease-management process would adapt treatment algorithms that are tailored exactly to the individualized patient profiles [5,6]. For the population screening, early and predictive diagnosis, as well as prognosis and disease monitoring, a multi-level diagnostics (multi-omics, sub-cellular and medical imaging) method utilizing the great information potential of liquid biopsy is considered to be the most appropriate tool [7] and is thoroughly analyzed in the current paper using the example of breast cancer (BC) management.…”