Micro-RNAs as potential new molecular biomarkers in oncology: have they reached relevance for the clinical imaging sciences?
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Updated: May 4, 2026
MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method
Published on: October 7, 2025
Frank Berger1, Maximilian F Reiser1
1Department for Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Campus Innenstadt, Nussbaumstrasse 20, 80336 Munich, Germany.
Abstract:
Minimally invasive biomarkers for early cancer detection and monitoring of personalized therapies are of high importance to further improve prognosis in oncological disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs in humans and play a key role in carcinogenesis. In recent years they have emerged as promising biomarkers in oncology. miRNA profiling has demonstrated its capacity for sub-classifying tumors and monitoring of therapeutic effects. Different expression profiles of miRNAs in cancer and the stability of circulating miRNAs potentially provide a clinically accessible molecular monitoring tool of malignant tissues and its response to therapies. Clinical imaging including the modalities PET/CT and MRI is well established for characterizing tumor tissue and sub-classifying morphological, metabolic or vascular treatment response in cancer. Sophisticated clinical imaging biomarkers for cancer detection and monitoring should now been correlatively applied to further validate the potential of miRNAs as oncologic biomarkers for the clinic.
Insights
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) show promise as minimally invasive cancer biomarkers for early detection and therapy monitoring. Profiling circulating miRNAs offers a new tool to track tumor response to treatment alongside advanced imaging techniques.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Minimally invasive biomarkers are crucial for early cancer detection and personalized therapy monitoring.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators in carcinogenesis and emerging as potent oncologic biomarkers.
- Circulating miRNAs are stable and reflect malignant tissue status, offering a clinically accessible monitoring tool.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of minimally invasive biomarkers in oncology.
- To discuss the potential of microRNA profiling for tumor sub-classification and therapy monitoring.
- To advocate for correlative application of advanced clinical imaging and miRNA biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on miRNA biomarkers in oncology.
- Discussion of miRNA profiling techniques for cancer detection and monitoring.
- Integration of clinical imaging modalities (PET/CT, MRI) with miRNA analysis.
Main Results:
- miRNA profiling demonstrates capacity for tumor sub-classification and monitoring therapeutic effects.
- Stable circulating miRNAs offer a viable method for tracking malignant tissue response to therapy.
- miRNAs hold significant potential as oncologic biomarkers when validated with clinical imaging.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNAs represent a promising class of minimally invasive biomarkers for cancer management.
- Combining miRNA analysis with advanced imaging can enhance cancer detection and treatment monitoring.
- Further correlative studies are needed to fully validate miRNAs in clinical oncology.
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