Circulating nucleic acids in cancer and pregnancy.
Circulating nucleic acids are present in the blood of humans and other vertebrates. During the last 10 years researchers actively studied cell-free nucleic acids present in plasma or serum with great expectations of their use as potential biomarkers for cancer and other pathologic conditions. In the present manuscript the main findings related to the principal characteristics of circulating nucleic acids, the hypothesis on their origin and some methodological considerations on sample collection and extraction as well as on some innovative assay methods have been summarized. Recent reports on the importance of circulating nucleic acids in the intercellular exchange of genetic information between eukaryotic cells have been reviewed.
Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence and Istituto Toscano Tumori, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy. ppinzani@gmail.com
Pamela
P
Pinzani
Francesca
F
Salvianti
Mario
M
Pazzagli
Claudio
C
Orlando
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA