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RNA Biomarkers: Frontier of Precision Medicine for Cancer
Xiaochen Xi1, Tianxiao Li2, Yiming Huang3
1MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Center for Plant Biology and Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. xixiaochenneuro@163.com.
Abstract:
As an essential part of central dogma, RNA delivers genetic and regulatory information and reflects cellular states. Based on high-throughput sequencing technologies, cumulating data show that various RNA molecules are able to serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of various diseases, for instance, cancer. In particular, detectable in various bio-fluids, such as serum, saliva and urine, extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) are emerging as non-invasive biomarkers for earlier cancer diagnosis, tumor progression monitor, and prediction of therapy response. In this review, we summarize the latest studies on various types of RNA biomarkers, especially extracellular RNAs, in cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and illustrate several well-known RNA biomarkers of clinical utility. In addition, we describe and discuss general procedures and issues in investigating exRNA biomarkers, and perspectives on utility of exRNAs in precision medicine.
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