title: An update on microRNAs as colorectal cancer biomarkers: where are we and what's next?
abstract: miRNAs are abundant classes of small, endogenous non-coding RNAs, which inhibit the expression of target gene via post-transcriptional regulation. In addition to an important functional role miRNAs play in carcinogenesis, emerging evidence has demonstrated their feasibility as robust cancer biomarkers. In particular, the recent discovery of miRNAs in the body fluids provides an attractive opportunity for the development of non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis and predictive response to cancer therapy. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and accumulating data provides a compelling case for the potential exploitation of miRNAs as CRC-biomarkers. This review summarizes the current state of literature in the field, focusing on the clinical relevance of miRNAs as potential biomarkers for CRC treatment and discussing the forthcoming challenges to further advance this exciting field of 'academic research' into 'bedside clinical care' of patients suffering from CRC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Laboratory, Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and Baylor Research Institute, Baylor University Medical Center, 3500 Gaston Avenue, Suite H-250, Dallas, Texas 75246-2017, USA.
authors.forename: Yoshinaga
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okugawa
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toiyama
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goel
mesh_terms: D018256:Adenomatous Polyps / Q000235:genetics; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: adenoma; biomarker; blood; colorectal cancer; diagnosis; feces; miRNA; prediction; prognosis