MicroRNAs-Based Imaging Techniques in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy

Cancer is one of the most serious global health concerns in different populations. Several studies indicated that there are many potentially promising cellular and molecular targets for cancer therapy within cancer cells and their microenvironment. Among different cellular and molecular targets involved in cancer pathogenesis, microRNAs (miRNAs) are well known as key targets for cancer therapy. miRNAs are one of main classes of non-coding RNAs. These molecules play important roles in different critical processes of cancer pathogenesis. Hence, this makes miRNAs as a suitable tool for cancer diagnosis and therapy. There are different approaches for monitoring miRNAs in cancer patients. Some conventional approaches including next-generation sequencing, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), northern blotting, and microarrays could be used for assessment of miRNAs expression. Some studies revealed that the utilization of these approaches associated with various limitations. Recently, it has been revealed that molecular imaging techniques are powerful tools for monitoring of different cellular and molecular targets involved in various diseases such as cancer. These techniques help investigators to investigate and monitor miRNAs functions through assessing different targets by fluorescent proteins, bioluminescent enzymes, molecular beacons, as well as various nanoparticles. Therefore, utilization of molecular imaging techniques could assist investigators to better monitor and more effectively treat patients during different phases of malignancy. Here, we give a review on the current state of miRNAs-based imaging techniques in cancer diagnosis and therapy. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 4121-4128, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.