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Updated: Jul 11, 2025
MicroRNA Based Liquid Biopsy: The Experience of the Plasma miRNA Signature Classifier MSC for Lung Cancer Screening
Published on: October 26, 2017
Prospects of microRNAs as therapeutic biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer
Jennifer Sally Samson1, Venkatachalam Deepa Parvathi2
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, 1, Mount Poonamallee Road, Sri Ramachandra Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600116, India.
Abstract:
Lung Cancer, the second most common cancer worldwide, remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, contemporarily. More than 85% of identified lung cancer cases are comprised of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Despite the best advancements in the realm of NSCLC therapy, the five-year survival period of NSCLC patients remains unchanged. Underlying complex molecular heterogeneity, delay in early detection resulting in progression of the disease to its advanced stage and acquired resistance of NSCLC cells during therapy have posed additional challenges for circumventing the discrepancies in treatment strategy. microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs, identified as molecules playing an indispensable role in tumorigenesis & progression and metastasis of several cancers, including NSCLC, either by possessing tumor suppressor or by oncogenic functions. As observed across several studies, miRNA dysregulation has been recognised as a causative mechanism behind NSCLC tumorigenesis. In this review, we discuss the role of miRNAs in NSCLC tumor progression caused by their dysregulation, thereby stating their potential therapeutic application in NSCLC as therapeutic biomarkers. We have also highlighted the recent findings of some of the most widely studied tumor suppressor (miR-486, miR-7 miR-34), and oncogene miRNAs (miR-21, miR-224, miR-135b) that can be further explored for its therapeutic potentialities in the management of NSCLC.
Insights
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) development. Understanding miRNA dysregulation offers potential therapeutic biomarkers for improving NSCLC patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer death globally, with non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) comprising over 85% of cases.
- Despite therapeutic advancements, the five-year survival rate for NSCLC remains stagnant due to molecular heterogeneity, late detection, and acquired resistance.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs, are implicated in cancer development, progression, and metastasis, acting as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes.
Purpose of the Study:
- This review discusses the role of miRNA dysregulation in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) tumor progression.
- It highlights the potential of miRNAs as therapeutic biomarkers for NSCLC management.
- The review also summarizes recent findings on specific tumor suppressor and oncogenic miRNAs for therapeutic exploration.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on microRNA (miRNA) function in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).
- Analysis of miRNA dysregulation mechanisms contributing to NSCLC tumorigenesis and progression.
- Identification and summary of key tumor suppressor and oncogenic miRNAs relevant to NSCLC.
Main Results:
- miRNA dysregulation is a recognized mechanism driving non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) tumorigenesis.
- Specific miRNAs exhibit either tumor suppressor or oncogenic functions in NSCLC progression and metastasis.
- Several miRNAs, including tumor suppressors (miR-486, miR-7, miR-34) and oncogenes (miR-21, miR-224, miR-135b), show therapeutic potential.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNA dysregulation is central to non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) development and progression.
- miRNAs represent promising therapeutic biomarkers and targets for novel NSCLC treatment strategies.
- Further research into specific miRNAs could lead to improved clinical management of NSCLC.
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