Application of next-generation sequencing in RNA biomarker discovery in cancer research

Abstract

The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has opened up a plethora of possibilities in cancer research by allowing for an unprecedented characterization of the cancer genome. The sensitivity, broad dynamic range, speed, and reduced cost per sample make the NGS technology a highly attractive platform in biomedical research compared to other sequencing and expression profiling techniques. NGS is being currently employed in several malignancies for both quantitative and qualitative profiling of nucleic acids and has already uncovered novel genetic determinants that play an important role during tumor development. In particular, the use of NGS technology for profiling the transcriptome from tumor tissues and body fluids has led to the identifi cation of novel molecular targets that could potentially be translated in the clinic as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers. Currently, efforts are also being undertaken in the clinic to characterize an individual's cancer genome for guiding evidence-based molecular therapies tailored for individual patients. In this chapter, we review recent advances in the use of NGS technology for RNA-based biomarker studies in cancer and its potential implications in the overall management of the disease.