Overview of microRNAs as liquid biopsy biomarkers for colorectal cancer sub-type profiling and chemoresistance

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. It has also been demonstrated that over the last ten years the incidence of CRC among younger people below the age of 50 is also increasing. Screening for colorectal cancer is of utmost importance; the rationale behind screening is to target the malignancy and reduce the incidence and mortality of the disease. Diagnostic methods to screen for incidence or relapse are therefore a requisite to detect cancer as early as possible. Scientific findings demonstrate that many deaths are due to lack of screening and therefore early identification will lead to greater survivability. In colorectal cancer, diagnostic tests include liquid biopsy biomarkers. Since the discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs), many studies have demonstrated the relationship between miRNAs and the various sub-types of CRC. Several miRNAs have been identified after analysing serum or plasma samples in patients, and such miRNAs were found to be significantly dysregulated. Such findings place the possibility of miRNAs to be at the epicentre of novel diagnostic techniques for CRC identification and sub-type stratification, including other characteristics associated with CRC development such as patient prognosis. The following review serves to underline the latest findings for miRNAs with such potential for routine diagnostic employment in CRC diagnostics and treatments.

Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis Reveals Novel miRNA as Biomarkers Associated with Preeclampsia

“…At the same time, it is now known that miRNAs play a fundamental role as next-generation biomarkers [ 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ]. The miRNAs being measurable through biological fluids and regulating numerous cellular targets represent “the gold standard of biomarkers” in pathologies in which a rapid prognosis and constant monitoring are required [ 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ].…”

“…The search for stable miRNAs in the two tissues mainly involved in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia aims to employ these miRNAs as specific and sensitive biomarkers. Indeed, the biomarkers used in diagnosing and monitoring multifactorial disorders must be peculiar [ 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ].…”

The Role of microRNAs in Epigenetic Regulation of Signaling Pathways in Neurological Pathologies

“…Methods for measuring the levels of circulating microRNAs in blood serum deserve special attention as they can serve as diagnostic biomarkers for various diseases [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. The most commonly used methods for this purpose include quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) [ 52 ], loop-mediated isothermal amplification [ 53 , 54 ], and other amplification techniques [ 55 ].…”

Tumor Suppressor MicroRNAs in Clinical and Preclinical Trials for Neurological Disorders

“…miRNAs can be detected in tissue and extracellular samples not limited to feces and blood [ 41 ] and are reported to be relatively stable in a variety of biological fluids as well as formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues [ 42 , 43 ]. Extracellular miRNAs have been widely reported as potential biomarkers for various malignancies [ 44 ], with dysregulated circulating miRNAs being reported particularly in the early stages of various cancers [ 45 ].…”