Role of microRNAs as Clinical Cancer Biomarkers for Ovarian Cancer: A Short Overview

Abstract

Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate among gynecological cancers. Early clinical signs are missing and there is an urgent need to establish early diagnosis biomarkers. MicroRNAs are promising biomarkers in this respect. In this paper, we review the most recent advances regarding the alterations of microRNAs in ovarian cancer. We have briefly described the contribution of miRNAs in the mechanisms of ovarian cancer invasion, metastasis, and chemotherapy sensitivity. We have also summarized the alterations underwent by microRNAs in solid ovarian tumors, in animal models for ovarian cancer, and in various ovarian cancer cell lines as compared to previous reviews that were only focused the circulating microRNAs as biomarkers. In this context, we consider that the biomarker screening should not be limited to circulating microRNAs per se, but rather to the simultaneous detection of the same microRNA alteration in solid tumors, in order to understand the differences between the detection of nucleic acids in early vs. late stages of cancer. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo models should also validate these microRNAs, which could be very helpful as preclinical testing platforms for pharmacological and/or molecular genetic approaches targeting microRNAs. The enormous quantity of data produced by preclinical and clinical studies regarding the role of microRNAs that act synergistically in tumorigenesis mechanisms that are associated with ovarian cancer subtypes, should be gathered, integrated, and compared by adequate methods, including molecular clustering. In this respect, molecular clustering analysis should contribute to the discovery of best biomarkers-based microRNAs assays that will enable rapid, efficient, and cost-effective detection of ovarian cancer in early stages. In conclusion, identifying the appropriate microRNAs as clinical biomarkers in ovarian cancer might improve the life quality of patients.

Identification and Functional Validation of Differentially Expressed Micrornas in Ascites-derived Ovarian Cancer Cells Compared With Primary Tumour Tissue

“…Thus, shed tumour cells carried in ascites are important for metastasis process. MicroRNAs are small, highly conserved noncoding RNA molecules that play an important role in ovarian cancer metastasis and are considered to be potential biomarkers for monitoring ovarian cancer (10). However, little research had focused on miRNA expression pro le variations in ovarian cancer cells from ascites shed from primary tumour sites.…”

Identification and Functional Validation of Differentially Expressed microRNAs in Ascites-derived Ovarian Cancer Cells Compared With Primary Tumour Tissue

“…Thus, shed tumour cells carried in ascites are important for metastasis process. MicroRNAs are small, highly conserved noncoding RNA molecules that play an important role in ovarian cancer metastasis and are considered to be potential biomarkers for monitoring ovarian cancer (11). However, little research had focused on miRNA expression pro le variations in ovarian cancer cells from ascites shed from primary tumour sites.…”

Biomarkers and Strategies for Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer

“…Changes in different miRNA levels in ovarian cancer cells or tissue have been correlated with proliferation, migration, invasion and chemosensitivity. 58 From a recent review, at least 15 miRNAs are upregulated and 9 downregulated in serum or plasma from ovarian cancer patients.…”