Body fluid micro(mi)RNAs as biomarkers for human cancer

Abstract

Accepted screening tools for early cancer detection run the gamut from Papanicolaou staining to detect cervical cancer to colonoscopy and biopsy for colorectal cancer detection to imaging (mammogram and, in high risk women, magnetic resonance imaging) and biopsy for breast cancer detection. These modalities use standard cytopathologic assessment to determine if disease is present. There are few biologic (DNA, RNA, protein or carbohydrate) markers (biomarkers) that are in general use for the detection of any cancer, or to identify individuals at increased cancer risk. Biomarkers have been identified that provide information to physicians on disease prognosis. Panels of biomarkers are being developed to predict response to treatment in individuals with known cancer, and some are currently in use. Nonetheless, there is a great need to identify accurate biomarkers for the early detection of a new cancer, to identify individuals at increased cancer risk, and among those with cancer, to determine their likelihood of responding to a given treatment, risk of disease relapse and death. Micro (mi)RNAs hold promise as biomarkers for determining at risk individuals, for early cancer detection, and among those with cancer, to assess how likely a person is to respond a given treatment, as well as their risk of disease recurrence and death. Compared to methods in current practice to diagnose most malignancies, the assessment of body fluids is much less invasive. The focus of the present review is miRNAs in body fluids, and the potential role that their evaluation may play as a noninvasive tool for early cancer detection. © N. Patel and E.R. Sauter, 2011.