Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer: Decoding Regulatory Networks for Liquid Biopsy Applications

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Oncology
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) regulate gene expression and cellular homeostasis, with their dysregulation being a hallmark of cancer.
• Diverse ncRNA classes (miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs) are involved in complex regulatory networks influencing tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and therapy response.
• ncRNAs participate in transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional gene silencing, epigenetic modulation, and competitive endogenous RNA interactions, shaping cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an integrated view linking ncRNA regulatory networks with their application as liquid biopsy biomarkers.
• To highlight circulating ncRNAs (c-ncRNAs) as comprehensive indicators of tumor conditions.
• To discuss multi-analyte biomarker strategies combining ncRNAs with cell-free DNA and protein markers.

Main Methods:

• This narrative review synthesizes existing research on ncRNAs in cancer biology and liquid biopsy.
• Focuses on mechanisms of ncRNA regulation and their release into biofluids.
• Examines the potential of c-ncRNAs for cancer detection, stratification, and monitoring.

Main Results:

• ncRNAs are released into biofluids and are stable, making them suitable for liquid biopsy.
• c-ncRNAs demonstrate potential in cancer detection, disease stratification, and treatment monitoring.
• Multi-analyte strategies integrating ncRNAs with other biomarkers enhance diagnostic capabilities.

Conclusions:

• ncRNAs are crucial regulators in cancer and emerging liquid biopsy biomarkers.
• c-ncRNAs offer minimally invasive tools for comprehensive cancer assessment.
• Overcoming technical and clinical challenges is essential for translating ncRNA-based diagnostics into precision oncology.