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Updated: Apr 30, 2026
MicroRNA Based Liquid Biopsy: The Experience of the Plasma miRNA Signature Classifier MSC for Lung Cancer Screening
Published on: October 26, 2017
Circulating miR-18a: a sensitive cancer screening biomarker in human cancer
Shuhei Komatsu1, Daisuke Ichikawa, Hiroki Takeshita
1Assistant Professor, Division of Digestive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan. skomatsu@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp.
Abstract:
MicroRNAs have been reported to be stably detectable in plasma/serum and to exhibit resistance to endogenous ribonuclease activity because of binding to proteins such as Argonaute-2 and high-density lipoprotein, or being packed by secretory particles such as exosomes. These secretory particles include specific microRNAs and can function as intercellular transmitters. These findings could open-up a new and promising field in the use of circulating microRNAs for cancer treatment. In particular, miR-18a, which is located in the potentially oncogenic miR-17-92 cluster, is a highly expressed microRNAs in several types of cancers. The concentration of miR-18a in plasma/serum of patients with cancer such as esophageal (AUC=0.944), pancreatic (AUC=0.936), hepatocellular (AUC=0.881), colorectal and other types of cancers is much higher than that of healthy volunteers. Such reports provide evidence that circulating miR-18 might be a next-generation biomarker and contribute to cancer screening in non-invasive liquid biopsy, to a clinically-satisfactory degree of sensitivity and specificity.
Insights
Circulating microRNAs, like miR-18a, are stable in blood and show promise as cancer biomarkers. Elevated miR-18a levels in plasma may aid in early cancer detection through non-invasive liquid biopsies.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- MicroRNAs are stable in plasma/serum due to protein binding or exosomal packaging.
- Secretory microRNAs act as intercellular transmitters, opening avenues for cancer treatment.
- The miR-17-92 cluster, including miR-18a, is implicated in oncogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of circulating microRNAs as cancer biomarkers.
- To evaluate miR-18a as a diagnostic marker for various cancers.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of microRNA stability in plasma/serum.
- Quantification of miR-18a levels in cancer patients versus healthy volunteers.
- Assessment of diagnostic accuracy using Area Under the Curve (AUC) values.
Main Results:
- MicroRNAs are protected from degradation in circulation.
- Significantly higher plasma miR-18a concentrations were observed in patients with esophageal, pancreatic, hepatocellular, and colorectal cancers.
- High AUC values indicate strong diagnostic potential for miR-18a.
Conclusions:
- Circulating miR-18a is a promising biomarker for early cancer detection.
- Non-invasive liquid biopsy using miR-18a shows clinical potential for cancer screening.
- miR-18a demonstrates satisfactory sensitivity and specificity for cancer diagnosis.
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