title: Assessment of circulating microRNAs in plasma of lung cancer patients.
abstract: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide and numerous ongoing research efforts are directed to identify new strategies for its early detection. The development of non-invasive blood-based biomarkers for cancer detection in its preclinical phases is crucial to improve the outcome of this deadly disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a new promising class of circulating biomarkers for cancer detection and prognosis definition, but lack of consensus on data normalization methods for circulating miRNAs and the critical issue of haemolysis, has affected the identification of circulating miRNAs with diagnostic potential. We describe here an interesting approach for profiling circulating miRNAs in plasma samples based on the evaluation of reciprocal miRNA levels measured by quantitative Real-Time PCR. By monitoring changes of plasma miRNA-ratios, it is possible to assess the deregulation of tumor-related miRNAs and identify signatures with diagnostic and prognostic value. In addition, to avoid bias due to the release of miRNAs from blood cells, a miRNA-ratios signature distinguishing haemolyzed samples was identified. The method described was validated in plasma samples of lung cancer patients, but given its reproducibility and reliability, could be potentially applied for the identification of diagnostic circulating miRNAs in other diseases.
authors.affiliation: Tumor Genomics Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via Venezian 1, Milan 20133, Italy. orazio.fortunato@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors.forename: Orazio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fortunato
authors.affiliation: Tumor Genomics Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via Venezian 1, Milan 20133, Italy. mattia.boeri@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boeri
authors.affiliation: Tumor Genomics Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via Venezian 1, Milan 20133, Italy. carla.verri@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verri
authors.affiliation: Tumor Genomics Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via Venezian 1, Milan 20133, Italy. davide.conte@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.affiliation: Tumor Genomics Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via Venezian 1, Milan 20133, Italy. mensah.mavis@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors.forename: Mavis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mensah
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via Venezian 1, Milan 20133, Italy. paola.suatoni@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suatoni
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via Venezian 1, Milan 20133, Italy. ugo.pastorino@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pastorino
authors.affiliation: Tumor Genomics Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via Venezian 1, Milan 20133, Italy. gabriella.sozzi@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sozzi
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D011786:Quality Control; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs