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MicroRNAs

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...

MicroRNAs

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...

lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs

lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs

In humans, more than 80% of the genome gets transcribed. However, only around 2% of the genome codes for proteins. The remaining part produces non-coding RNAs which includes ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, telomerase RNAs, and regulatory RNAs, among other types. A large number of regulatory non-coding RNAs have been classified into two groups depending upon their length – small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNA, which are less than 200 nucleotides in length, and long non-coding RNA...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 16, 2026

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method

Published on: October 7, 2025

microRNAs as cancer biomarkers.

Kjersti Flatmark^1,2,3, Eirik Høye², Bastian Fromm²

¹a Department of Gastroenterological Surgery , Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway ;

Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation. Supplementum

|August 20, 2016

Summary

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial gene regulators and cancer players. Despite their potential as cancer biomarkers due to stability and detectability, challenges remain for clinical application.

Keywords:

Biomarker cancer miRNA

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MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Oncology
Biomarker Discovery

Background:

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key gene regulators discovered in 1993.
miRNAs are implicated in biological processes and human diseases, notably cancer.
Specific deregulation of miRNAs is observed in pathogenic cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the potential of miRNAs as cancer biomarkers.
To discuss the challenges hindering the clinical use of miRNAs in cancer diagnostics.
To identify pathways for establishing miRNAs as reliable cancer biomarkers.

Main Methods:

Literature review of miRNA research in cancer.
Analysis of miRNA properties relevant to biomarker applications.
Discussion of current limitations and future directions.

Main Results:

miRNAs exhibit chemical stability and sensitive detection methods.
miRNAs can be extracted from various clinical samples (tissues, fluids).
No miRNA has yet achieved practical clinical relevance as a cancer biomarker.

Conclusions:

miRNAs possess desirable characteristics for cancer biomarker development.
Overcoming current shortfalls is essential for clinical translation.
Further research is needed to establish miRNAs as reliable cancer biomarkers.