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Updated: Oct 2, 2025
Detection of a Circulating MicroRNA Custom Panel in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Published on: March 14, 2019
MicroRNAs and 'Sponging' Competitive Endogenous RNAs Dysregulated in Colorectal Cancer: Potential as Noninvasive
Brian G Jorgensen1, Seungil Ro1
1Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557, USA.
Abstract:
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract in mammals is comprised of dozens of cell types with varied functions, structures, and histological locations that respond in a myriad of ways to epigenetic and genetic factors, environmental cues, diet, and microbiota. The homeostatic functioning of these cells contained within this complex organ system has been shown to be highly regulated by the effect of microRNAs (miRNA). Multiple efforts have uncovered that these miRNAs are often tightly influential in either the suppression or overexpression of inflammatory, apoptotic, and differentiation-related genes and proteins in a variety of cell types in colorectal cancer (CRC). The early detection of CRC and other GI cancers can be difficult, attributable to the invasive nature of prophylactic colonoscopies. Additionally, the levels of miRNAs associated with CRC in biofluids can be contradictory and, therefore, must be considered in the context of other inhibiting competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) such as lncRNAs and circRNAs. There is now a high demand for disease treatments and noninvasive screenings such as testing for bloodborne or fecal miRNAs and their inhibitors/targets. The breadth of this review encompasses current literature on well-established CRC-related miRNAs and the possibilities for their use as biomarkers in the diagnoses of this potentially fatal GI cancer.
Insights
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators in colorectal cancer (CRC). This review explores their potential as noninvasive biomarkers for early CRC detection, considering competitive endogenous RNA interactions.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- The gastrointestinal tract comprises diverse cell types influenced by various factors.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulators of cellular functions, including inflammation and apoptosis.
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) involves dysregulation of genes and proteins influenced by miRNAs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current literature on colorectal cancer-related microRNAs (miRNAs).
- To explore the potential of miRNAs as noninvasive biomarkers for CRC diagnosis.
- To address challenges in miRNA biomarker analysis, including competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) interactions.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of established CRC-related miRNAs.
- Analysis of miRNA roles in gene suppression and overexpression in CRC.
- Examination of competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks involving lncRNAs and circRNAs.
Main Results:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are significantly involved in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC).
- miRNA levels in biofluids can be complex due to interactions with other RNAs like lncRNAs and circRNAs.
- Established CRC-related miRNAs show promise as diagnostic biomarkers.
Conclusions:
- Noninvasive detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) is needed due to limitations of current methods like colonoscopies.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and their interacting RNAs (ceRNAs) offer potential for novel noninvasive diagnostic strategies for CRC.
- Further research into miRNA biomarkers and ceRNA networks is essential for advancing CRC diagnostics and treatment.
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02:39lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs