Molecular biology is a widely used and widespread technique in research and as a laboratory diagnostic tool, aiming at the investigation of targets of interest from the obtainment, identification, and analysis of genetic material. In this context, methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time PCR, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification with reverse transcription (RT-LAMP), can be cited. Such methods use enzymes, buffers and thermosensitive reagents, which require specific storage conditions. In an attempt to solve this problem, the lyophilization procedure (dehydration process by sublimation) can be applied, aiming to preserve and prolong the useful life of the reaction components, in cases of temperature variation. In this review, we present a synthesis of the lyophilization process, describing the events of each step of the procedure, and providing general information about the technique. Moreover, we selected lyophilization protocols found in the literature, paying attention to the conditions chosen by the authors for each step of the procedure, and structured the main data in tables, facilitating access to information for researchers who need material to produce new functional protocols.

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells. In this disease, immature blood cells undergo genetic mutations, leading to excessive replication and reduced cell death compared to healthy cells. In cancer, there may be the activation of oncogenes and the deactivation of tumor suppressor genes that control certain cellular functions. Despite the undeniable contribution to the patient's recovery, conventional cancer treatments may have some not-so-beneficial effects. In this case, gene therapy appears as an alternative to classical treatments. Gene therapy delivers genetic material to cells to replace or modify dysfunctional genes, a safe method for neoplasms. One of the types of nucleic acids explored in gene therapy is microRNA (miRNA), a group of endogenous, non-proteincoding, small single-stranded RNA molecules involved in the regulation of gene expression, cell division, differentiation, angiogenesis, migration, apoptosis, and carcinogenesis. This review aims to bring together the most recent advances found in the literature on cancer gene therapy based on microRNAs in the oncological context, focusing on leukemia