Circulating microRNAs as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer and cancer-related deaths, being responsible for >1,6 million deaths every year, worldwide. The low survival rates of 10-16% occur mainly due to advanced disease at diagnosis. Recent advances in molecularly-targeted therapies have been achieved with the development of inhibitors to driver mutations in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). However, a small portion (~15%) of patients with specific subtypes of NSCLC have benefited from such therapies. Therefore, the identification of clinically applicable biomarkers for early disease detection is urgently needed, to further improve patient survival. In this context, microRNAs (miRNAs) are potent gene expression regulators and have been indicated as potential diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic molecules in several tumors. Our group has applied high-throughput miRNA analysis and identified novel deregulated miRNAs in two major histological subtypes of NSCLC: adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Considering that miRNAs can be detected inblood circulation, our objectives are to quantitate miRNA expression (by NanostringnCounter® analysis) in plasma from patients with NSCLC. By comparing the circulatingmiRNA profile with previously identified tumor specific miRNA profiles, we will be able todetermine whether cancer-specific miRNAs are circulating in plasma from patients.Circulating, cancer-associated miRNAs are potentially useful as a diagnostic tool, for early disease detection (herein defined as early diagnosis). This study may thus contribute for the development of miRNAs as minimally invasive biomarkers in NSCLC. (AU)