Tissue microRNAs as Cancer Tissue Biomarkers

Abstract

microRNA (miRNA) is non-coding RNA sequences that modify DNA, typically through cleavages. They can have an effect on cell cycle progression, namely through inhibiting regulators for tumorigenesis control. Because of this, specific miRNA sequences can be monitored for cancer detection purposes. This detection is conducted through a variety of methods, such as in tissue, blood plasma, serum, ductal lavage fluid and nipple aspirate fluid. Recent research has been done to compare miRNA detection accuracy between these methods, especially with tissue analyses since this tends to be more invasive. Imaging methods have been utilized for cancer detection, but they are less effective in staging cancers, which is necessary for clinicians to provide individualized treatments. In several cases, detection accuracy has been compared to the accuracy from biopsy methods, which is a common practice but also invasive. In the future, non-invasive techniques of detection and personalized treatments will be the emphasis of research in cancer detection.