Extracellular miRNAs as biomarkers in cancer.
Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. Despite significant progress in the field leading to identification of molecular signatures of individual tumors and the development of targeted therapies, early cancer diagnosis remains a clinical challenge. The emerging era of personalized medicine has intensified research towards biomarkers that can be obtained via noninvasive means. The recent discovery of extracellular vesicles (EVs), nano-vesicles secreted by the cell, in circulation has stimulated interest in their clinical utility as cancer biomarkers. EVs are secreted from all types of cells and their contents reflect the physiological and pathological state of the cell. Multiple clinical trials are underway investigating the clinical potential of EV content to serve as biomarkers and therapeutics. However, much work remains to translate EV content into clinical application.
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: Jennifer.Fleming@osumc.edu.
Jennifer F
JF
Barger
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Mohammad A
MA
Rahman
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Devine
D
Jackson
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Mario
M
Acunzo
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Division of Medical Oncology, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
S Patrick
SP
Nana-Sinkam
D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D000067128:Extracellular Vesicles / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs
Biomarker; Cancer; Clinical trial; Exosome; Extracellular vesicle; MicroRNA