Abstract

ARDILA-MOLANO, Javier; VIZCAINO, Milena  and  SERRANO, Martha Lucía. Circulating microRNAs as potential cancer biomarkers. rev.colomb.cancerol. [online]. 2015, vol.19, n.4, pp.229-238. ISSN 0123-9015.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rccan.2015.08.002.

Cancer is currently recognized as a major cause of mortality worldwide, and, as such, has a significant impact on public health. Successful early detection strategies are linked to a decrease in mortality; however, because they are invasive, highly complex, and have low specificity, their application has been limited. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNA sequences capable of regulating gene expression. Molecular mechanisms of miRNAs in cancer are not fully understood, but specific patterns of miRNAs expression have been associated with many tumour types. MicroRNAs as biomarkers can help to identify tumour origin and allow their early detection. They can also be used to monitor progression and therapeutic response. The presence and stability of miRNAs in blood, as circulating miRNAs, are major factors that contribute to their use as potential biomarkers in a clinical context. The aim of this article is to present a review of miRNAs as circulating biomarkers in cancer.

Keywords : Circulating microRNA; Early detection; Cancer; Biomarkers; Prognosis.

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