title: Circulating nucleic acids as biomarkers of prostate cancer.
abstract: Prostate cancer, the most common cancer of western men, requires new biomarkers, especially given that the benefits of PSA testing remain uncertain. Nucleic acids can now be accurately and sensitively detected in human blood. Over the last decade, investigations into utility of circulating cell-free miRNA, DNA and mRNA as novel biomarkers have expanded exponentially. In the near future, they may be routinely used to accurately diagnose cancers, stratify indolent from aggressive disease and inform treatment decisions. However, advancement of such tests into clinical settings is hampered by technical problems with assay specificity and sensitivity, and small study sizes. This review highlights the different forms of circulating nucleic acids and those that show the most potential as viable biomarkers for prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial Centre for Translational & Experimental Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: Ailsa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sita-Lumsden
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: D Alwyn
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dart
authors.forename: Greg N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Brooke
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waxman
authors.forename: Charlotte L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bevan
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen