title: Circulating microRNA as Biomarkers in Hematological Malignancies.
abstract: Hematopoiesis is a highly regulated process controlled by a complex network of molecular mechanisms that simultaneously regulate differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis of hematopoietic stem cells. Aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression could affect normal hematopoiesis, leading to the development of hematological malignancies. Hematologic cancers, which are caused by malignant transformation of cells of the bone marrow and the lymphatic system, are usually divided into three major groups: leukemias, lymphomas, and monoclonal gammopathies. Hematologic malignancies are highly aggressive diseases with high morbidity and mortality. For these reasons, early and easily obtainable markers for diagnosis, risk stratification, and follow-up are essential for improvement of outcome and survival of these patients. Recent studies have provided new insights about the diagnostic value of expression patterns of miRNAs in serum/plasma in these diseases. While the use of circulating miRNAs is only at the experimental level, it appears to have a great potential. This chapter deals with the use of circulating miRNAs as minimally invasive biomarkers in hematologic malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Babak Myeloma Group, Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stankova
authors.affiliation: Babak Myeloma Group, Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kubaczkova
authors.affiliation: Babak Myeloma Group, Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sedlarikova
authors.affiliation: Babak Myeloma Group, Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic. sevcik@med.muni.cz.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sevcikova
keywords: Circulating microRNA; Leukemia; Lymphoma; MDS; Multiple myeloma