title: Prognostic and predictive miRNA biomarkers in bladder, kidney and prostate cancer: Where do we stand in biomarker development?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Defining reliable biomarkers is still a challenge in patients with urological tumors. Because miRNAs regulate diverse important cellular processes, these noncoding RNAs are putative molecular candidates. This review intends to give a critical overview about the current state of miRNAs as biomarkers in urological cancers with respect to prognostic stratification as well as for individual treatment selection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive review of the published literature was conducted focusing at the clinical relevance of miRNAs in tissues and body fluids of prostate, bladder and kidney cancer. Using electronic database, 91 articles, published between 2009 and 2015, were selected and discussed regarding the robustness of miRNAs as valid biomarkers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A number of miRNAs have been identified with prognostic and predictive relevance in different urologic tumor types. However, the inconsistency of the published results and the lack of multivariate testing in independent cohorts do not allow an introduction into clinical decision making at present.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  miRNA-based biomarkers are a promising tool for future personalized risk stratification and response prediction in urological cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Andrology, Center of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Muenster, Domagkstr. 11, 48149, Muenster, Germany.|Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) Mainfranken, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Oberduerrbacher Straße 6, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Saarland University Medical Center, Kirrberger Strasse 1, 66424, Homburg/Saar, Germany. kerstin.junker@uks.eu.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Junker
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Saarland University Medical Center, Kirrberger Strasse 1, 66424, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heinzelmann
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Bladder cancer; Kidney cancer; Predictive biomarker; Prognostic biomarker; Prostate cancer; microRNA