Circulating Micrornas as Novel Potential Biomarkers in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers

Malihe Aghasizadeh-Sharbaf, Soodabeh Shahidsales, Seyed Mohammad Reza Parizadeh, Seyed Mahdi Hassanian and Amir Avan

Department of Modern Sciences and Technology; Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Microanatomy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Biochemistry of Nutrition Research Center; Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Cancer Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Authors equally contributed

^*Correspondance to: Amir Avan 

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Abstract:

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are among the most lethal malignancies with extremely poor prognosis. Despite advances in the identification of novel biomarkers, only a very small number of molecular markers have been launched for the detection of patients at earlier stages or management of GI patients. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerged as a molecular regulator of genes involved in key signalling pathways in GI cancers. There is accumulating evidence showing aberrant expression of some known microRNAs in GI cancers, suggesting their potential as diagnostic or prognostic markers. On the other hand, miRNAs have turned out to play an essential role in drug resistance; indicating their values as a novel therapeutic approach to overcome chemoresistance. This mini review provides an overview on the clinical application of miRNAs, in particular circulating microRNAs, as prognostic/predictive biomarkers in gastrointestinal cancers.

Keywords:

Gastrointestinal cancers; MiRNAs; Circulating miR

Cite the Article:

Aghasizadeh-Sharbaf M, Shahidsales S, Parizadeh SMR, HassanianSM, Avan A. Circulating Micrornas as Novel Potential Biomarkers in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers. Clin Oncol. 2016; 1: 1074.